RAF advice



I'm close to applying to join as an intelligence officer but won't finish my qualification which allows me to join until June. Is it likely the application process will take longer than 6-9 months? As I don't fancy waiting until June to start the whole application.
 
I'm close to applying to join as an intelligence officer but won't finish my qualification which allows me to join until June. Is it likely the application process will take longer than 6-9 months? As I don't fancy waiting until June to start the whole application.
As you go through the application process they will ask you for your earliest available date. If you're successful at OASC then you'll be allocated onto a course at Cranwell that best fits with your availability.
 
Morning,

My 18yr old went for his RAF test yesterday and did ok, in fact one mark from the various engineering options that he was really after. However he still has various options, he is seriously considering 'Survival Equipment Specialist' and 'Intelligence Analyst'. Just wondering if anyone of you have experience of this? And whether these could be useful if/when he leaves service and enters civilian life.

Other options that he can do include 'Firefighter', 'PTI', 'Personnel Support' and 'Pharmacy Technician'

Cheers
Ex-RAF aircraft fitter here (Yep, that's where the username came from) and I hope I can help your lad make the right choice.
I also was a mark or two off from qualifying as an apprentice so went in as an aircraft mechanic airframes which was still trade group 1. Find out about which trade groups he can join as they decide the pay level, I think SES was TG2 when I was in. SES is a good trade to have and would be more hands on than the others you mentioned. Does he want to work on aircraft specifically? Sounds like he does so I'd go the SES route, more fun, technical trade and importantly, not a "shiney". SES used to get some really cool postings like mountain rescue and fighter squadrons. He can always apply for other opportunities after joining as I knew a few lads who went onto aircrew training (Sergeant aircrew like loadmaster/air engineer) or go for an officers commission (I know quite a few lads who were SAC's with me but are now Squadron leaders).
 
Walking around with JT tabs on makes you a big hit in the wraf block too 😁

Unfortunately JT is long gone now. There's just SAC(T), which can pay reasonably well. Top whack in my trade is now above the £30k mark.
 
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Unfortunately JT is long gone now. There's just SAC(T), which can pay reasonably well. Top whack in my trade is now above the £30k mark.

Yeah i heard there were no JTs anymore (friends son joined up), bit weird but thats progress i suppose. When i joined as a mech i was on 8k 😳
 
Yeah i heard there were no JTs anymore (friends son joined up), bit weird but thats progress i suppose. When i joined as a mech i was on 8k 😳
The last of the JTs graduated in 2003ish. Of aircraft leckies (also sadly no more) my course was no 44, graduating in 2002, with the last one being 50 I think. I did 5 years as a JT before getting my tapes then the last JT that I saw was about 2013.
 
The last of the JTs graduated in 2003ish. Of aircraft leckies (also sadly no more) my course was no 44, graduating in 2002, with the last one being 50 I think. I did 5 years as a JT before getting my tapes then the last JT that I saw was about 2013.

Last one I saw was in 2015, he was on one of the squadrons based at Lossie.
 

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