Defence Force

[FlipXW]

I forgot to update this earlier. Well i had the joes day, and everything went very good.
I got my list of jobs I can do based on the aptitude test results and was extremely happy with how I went. After going through it with a recruiter I discovered I am able to apply for Pilot. It would be an extreme longshot but I figure there is no harm in trying. It requires further testing so i'll be back there in a couple of weeks for the next step. If im unsuccesful i'll go back to plan 1.
Here is my results sheet for what I can apply for based on the test, did quite well.

[Elmo]

Good luck with it mate!! I done 4yrs with the Army and loved it, I still miss it now and then, like alot of the others have said it's what you make of it. Although I was only a general enlistee, having this on my resume has helped my civvie career leaps and bounds to the point where I've now recently just started my own business using alot of the stuff I've learnt on how to manage things and staff, from not only the civvie jobs I've had, but alot or more from the ADF one.

[fordomatic]

i just got back from tully, anyone who has been there will know what i'm talking about. It's what you make of it. I've been in 2 years done a deployment and am going away again at the end of this year, infantry the only corps.

[AusM]

I hear the sniper corp are recruiting!

[devilcv8]

looks the same as my son's job list. ended up picking ecn 065, but now at Kapooka he's applied to change to ecn 063

[b2tf]

I reckon if I was seriously thinking about joining I would aim to get into SECPOL in the RAAF, looks like an alright job to me.

[AusM]

Originally Posted by b2tf

I reckon if I was seriously thinking about joining I would aim to get into SECPOL in the RAAF, looks like an alright job to me.

You serious?? Boring as batpoo 99% of the time and constant shift work, often alone. If you go into the dog handler stream, at least you're a bit more operational. And you get to play in the playground more often:



Also, before East Timor flared up, they were due to be culled to civilian contract. When the war money drops off again, they'll be on the chopping block once more no doubt...

[FlipXW]

Hey guys just abit of an update on the loooong process. Next tuesday I go in for my advanced testing for pilot. From what the guy told me it will involve some math, physics, spacial awareness and hand eye co-ordination type excercises.
Is anyone here able to offer some help, advice or a little insight into what I may be up for come tuesday?
Cheers Phil.

[XlR8TED]

Originally Posted by PhilXR8

Hey guys just abit of an update on the loooong process. Next tuesday I go in for my advanced testing for pilot. From what the guy told me it will involve some math, physics, spacial awareness and hand eye co-ordination type excercises.
Is anyone here able to offer some help, advice or a little insight into what I may be up for come tuesday?
Cheers Phil.

A long day...

I went through the pilot application process about 3 years ago, but withdrew my own application after the flight screening process (2 weeks live in at BFTS).

The pilot assessment day, for me, was quite a few tests given in quick succession. You would finish one & then be given the next. A fair bit of math...so be ready to be able to perform quick mental calculations, get familiar with how to read information off aircraft instruments & practice imagining aircraft moving in a 3D space. One of the tests will show you an aircraft in a particular position, and then ask what it would look like if it did X.

This is all the simple stuff really though. Flight screening was the tough bit! But also the most fun. At the end of most lessons, the instructor would start trying to make us chunder...few loops, barrel rolls etc...we had a tally going.

I've just re-applied as an Air Combat Officer...might see you up there one day. :

[FlipXW]

Thanks for that XRSex. We did aircraft stuff in engineering, so i have a little knowledge on how they work and reading dials etc, but i'd really like to learn abit more. Is there any site or something that can give me the same sort of questions that I may get? Or like a basic pilots handbook type thing?
Cheers mate. And goodluck with Air combat officer .

[67XRT]

Originally Posted by PFdesign

You serious?? Boring as batpoo 99% of the time and constant shift work, often alone. If you go into the dog handler stream, at least you're a bit more operational. And you get to play in the playground more often:



Also, before East Timor flared up, they were due to be culled to civilian contract. When the war money drops off again, they'll be on the chopping block once more no doubt...

Are you in the Mustering? If so some one has seriously mislead you. The MWD stream was one of the few specialisations that were not earmarked for civilianisation and despite the hacking at the knees from uneducated and poorly informed individuals (usually civies) the stream will stand up to far more scrutiny than other specialisations within Air Force.. Yes, there is shift work and a lot of time spent on your own however, the rewards are tangible and you have a work mate that will look out for you without question when the 1% event appears. For the most part you operate at a higher level than most and have the opportunity to deploy.

[67XRT]

Originally Posted by PhilXR8

I forgot to update this earlier. Well i had the joes day, and everything went very good.
I got my list of jobs I can do based on the aptitude test results and was extremely happy with how I went. After going through it with a recruiter I discovered I am able to apply for Pilot. It would be an extreme longshot but I figure there is no harm in trying. It requires further testing so i'll be back there in a couple of weeks for the next step. If im unsuccesful i'll go back to plan 1.
Here is my results sheet for what I can apply for based on the test, did quite well.

One trap that I constantly see is the recruiting process selling short the opportunities of applicants, you have the opportunity to apply at a high level, take it so often I see young kids come in with a high level of both educational and life experience only to be sold short on a job that is not really for them. If you have a genuine interest in a certain job, research, access some time with the people employed in that job and ask Questions Questions Questions, and above all take anything told to you by a civilian recruiter with a grain of salt as they have a vested interest in getting you to sign up. At the end of the day you make the decision that you want not what they may present as bright and shiny.

[XlR8TED]

Originally Posted by PhilXR8

Thanks for that XRSex. We did aircraft stuff in engineering, so i have a little knowledge on how they work and reading dials etc, but i'd really like to learn abit more. Is there any site or something that can give me the same sort of questions that I may get? Or like a basic pilots handbook type thing?
Cheers mate. And goodluck with Air combat officer .

I'm not really sure to be honest. They're pretty intuitive I think, but if you haven't seen them before, it could be hard to get the info you need quickly (they don't give you much time!).

I'd pick up an older copy of flight sim (just so it's cheaper) and have a go with that. Easy way to see how the readings change when you're doing different things.

[FlipXW]

I passed :

[Fev]

awesome! so you goin for it!

[savagE]

Don't become an Airy Fairy. Join the Army like me! Join me in ECN 063. Ill meet you here in Pucka. ASLAV Trainee.

[Fev]

man i wanna join the forces but i cant with my back the way it is.. i couldnt handle the physical labor and everything :( i'd love to be a pilot though

[FlipXW]

Nah ill be an Airy Fairy thanks :P. Yea still aways to go but im 1 step closer now. I think i'll be off to Tamworth for flight screening next.

SavagE: Whats ASLAV, im not up to date with army abreviations?

[TOASTED]

yea id definately be in the airforce over the army or navy any day. while their all shooting eachother on the groand im gonna zip over the top at 1425MPH and drop a nuke. all whilst sitting on my with one hand on the steering wheel and a XXXX stub between my knees

[Fev]

they dont have steering wheels lol

[savagE]

Originally Posted by PhilXR8

Nah ill be an Airy Fairy thanks :P. Yea still aways to go but im 1 step closer now. I think i'll be off to Tamworth for flight screening next.

SavagE: Whats ASLAV, im not up to date with army abreviations?

:

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by craigosmoddedEF

yea id definately be in the airforce over the army or navy any day. while their all shooting eachother on the groand im gonna zip over the top at 1425MPH and drop a nuke. all whilst sitting on my with one hand on the steering wheel and a XXXX stub between my knees

If they give you the keys and a nuke I am leaving the country.




I see ASLAVs and Abrams Tanks all the time with my job, as well as some of the other interesting defence hardware. Amazing stuff and if I was in school again I would give serious though to a career in the army as a mechanic or recovery mechanic - something that puts you around the machinery and teaches you how it all works. Truly amazing stuff when you see some of the gear in them.

[FlipXW]

Ok guys, A week tuesday I have my assessment day where I will undergo a psychological interview, a medical assessment and a Defence Interview.
Obviously going for pilot I have researched this particular field e.g. Whats in the job description, the training, location etc. Im presuming I will be asked the normal interview type questions such as why you want the job, what hat attracted you to the defence force and so on.

My question is, is there anything inparticular that I should read up on that could help me in the interview? or possible questions they might ask.
Cheers Phil.

[Ford_V8]

Hey,

I'm in a similar position as you, although haven't finished school yet (year 12 at the moment). Had my YOU session (JOES day) today actually. I had been considering a GAP year job as I wasn't 100% certain on what I wanted to do but my careers counsellor said I performed very well on the aptitude testing and that I should definitely be considering an officer position. Also seeing pilot down there on the suitable jobs sheet certainly gets me thinking.

As far as your interview goes, make sure you know how long your training will be, when and where, what you will learn, what your return of service obligation will be, the type of aircraft you will fly eg. Seahawk/Sea King (Navy), C-130, Orion etc (Air Force), Blackhawk, Huey etc (Army). Best way to get up to scratch is know all the info on the website back to front, also research individual aircraft away from the defence site and learn as much as you can. Also, make sure you know as much as you can about the defence force in general (current deployments, future acquisitions of aircraft and equipment etc), remember that you will have an OSB in Canberra after the general interview if you pass so you will need to know that kind of information there as well. The more you know and the better you demonstrate your knowledge of the area the better your chances are of getting a letter of offer.

What are your actual preferences? Are all 3 Pilot? Are you applying for graduate entry (ADFA) or non-grad? Also do you have much or any previous flying experience?

Best of luck, and make sure to post up how you went after your assessment day.

Cheers

EDIT: Remember you can obtain any information that DFR holds in relation to your application through the freedom of information act, including interview performance evaluation and test results. It's probably worth keeping this in mind.

[FlipXW]

G'day mate,
Congrats on your result today.

Thanks for the advice, appreciate the reply. And I will be sure to study up before then.
Preferences are AF Pilot, Navy Pilot and GDO(ground defence officer) also Air Force. Applying for DEO non-grad. I have had no previous flying experiance as iv'e never really had the chance/funds to do so.

Yea I believe the OSB for pilot entry is at the end of the flight screening course. OSB is the bit im dreading lol.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do. If your not sure i'd do a gap year first then decide.

[Ford_V8]

Hey mate how'd you end up going with your assessment day? On the long waiting list for flight screening + OSB now?

[Mk II]

Hey phil,

I've got my YOU session in about 2 weeks and was just wondering what sort of stuff was in it?
Did you do much study before going in? And do you get your sheet of job opportunities on the day?

Mk II

[FlipXW]

Originally Posted by Ford_V8

Hey mate how'd you end up going with your assessment day? On the long waiting list for flight screening + OSB now?

It's been moved to next wednesday. so ask me then lol.

Originally Posted by Mk II

Hey phil,

I've got my YOU session in about 2 weeks and was just wondering what sort of stuff was in it?
Did you do much study before going in? And do you get your sheet of job opportunities on the day?

Mk II

G'day mate.

I didn't do any study as such. You basically sit an IQ type test, which you can't really study for. Just have a basic idea of what you want to do and why as you sit a very short (5 min) interview to discuss your job results. Yes you do get your sheet on the day. So if your undecided you can take it home and do a little research on your opportunities.
Other than that its just a bit of sitting around waiting. Plus a very short chat confirming your medical details.

[Mk II]

Originally Posted by Philxr8

G'day mate.

I didn't do any study as such. You basically sit an IQ type test, which you can't really study for. Just have a basic idea of what you want to do and why as you sit a very short (5 min) interview to discuss your job results. Yes you do get your sheet on the day. So if your undecided you can take it home and do a little research on your opportunities.
Other than that its just a bit of sitting around waiting. Plus a very short chat confirming your medical details.

Thanks heaps for that, the way i read it it was more of an exam then just an IQ style test.
Good luck on Wednesday by the way.

[fordomatic]

i did it two years ago before i joined (obviously) basically it is an iq test, if you get a question you don't know, don't waste time on it, move on and come back to it later if you get time. for the interview once you decide what you want to do, make sure you know your job description and what your in for.