Raf - Medical Officer, officer Selection process

[Nikki]

I'm a sixteen and a half year old female who will be applying for a 6th form scholarship to join the RAF as a medical officer when leaving Uni.

I would like any advice/inforamtion on whether the officer selection process is the same for both pilot/medical officers? If not, how does it differ?

I would also be grateful for any info on teh numbers of scholarships offered to potential medical students each year?

I am aware of the recent proposals to cut the defence budget, but have assumed (maybe wrongly) that the desperate shortage of Doctor's also applies to the RAF medical service. Are there palns to cut the number of medical officers?

Nikki

[Thrithraing]

Nikki,

The process is the same; three days at Cranwell, but scores and etc. will be different. Ask your AFCO for more accurate details. They won't bite.

I haven't looked too far outside of the Navy cuts, but it's the Civil Service that seems to have suffered the most. Medical branches seem ok, but I can't really speculate as I do not know for certain. I'll go and find out, then get back to you.

[Scorg]

Wont bite ?
im still licking my wounds

[Nikki]

Thanks for your reply, it's been very helpful. I'll make arrangements to see the AFCO in my area.

Do I have to wait for my GCSE results (out on 26th Aug) or can I make an appointment to start the ball rolling before I recieve them?

Nikki

[Nikki]

Idon't know why, but the post symbol at the side of my name has changed to 'Leading Aircraftsmen', which I'm obviously not. Why has it done this?

Nikki

[Scorg]

with the amount of posts you make that will change as it gets higher, dont worry about it

with regards to AFCO, you dont have to make an appointment, you can drop in at any time, but best to find out when the RAF adviser will be in as they usualy have one day off during the week

[Nikki]

I've been told that people applying for professionally qualified posts such as Doctors, Dentists, Lawyers etc don't have to undertake the aptitude tests as these would not be relevant to their ability to do their job.

Does anyone know if this statement is true? If they do have to do the aptitude tests, how do they differ from those of pilots?

Nikki

[Scorg]

I always thought they still had to do that part, but otherwise they are fast tracked into Initial officer training due to the branch

[Nikki]

I was told by a graduate lawyer who is due to start training at Cranwell in a couple of weeks time. She went through the OASC a few months ago and said the professionally qualified posts were exempt from the aptitude tests, however the rest of the selection process was the same.

This would appear to be logical as Medial Officers require different skills to pilots and aircrew, but I'm not sure whether this would also apply to potential applicants for Medical Officer posts.

Nikki

[Thrithraing]

If it's the same as the Marines, and I can imagine it is, you can start applying before you get your results.

AFCO might have given you some wounds, but they don't have venom....Apart from the stripy ones with facial hair.

[Nikki]

Thanks. I've now set the ball rolling for my application. I just hope it rolls in the direction I want it to!