Afternoon all

[Giren]

Hello there!

I'm completely new to the site today, I'm not sure why I haven't found it before but ho hum here we are anyway. What a great resource, there is such a small amount of info on the web for me (RFA applicant) and I'm struggling to satisfy my urge for more information on the course/career.

I am currently at the end of the recruitment process for the RFA Engineering officer cadet, passed AIB at the end of last year, got ENG1 and awaiting security clearance and paperwork etc.

If everything goes through my BRNC date is 20/5, and then off to Fleetwood on the FD route.

Just wanted to say hi to everyone and hopefully I'll get to know you a bit more, and learn a bit more about life as a cadet!

Thanks for reading.

[CharlieDelta]

Hello and welcome! Congratulations on getting through the RFA selection, I hear it's tough!

[Giren]

It wasn't easy but the hardest part for me was getting all the paperwork together and keeping track of what I have sent off. Finally got the last pack ready to send now, I think I have sent off something like 8 id photos in total!

Have to say the AIB was great fun!

[Ganner]

Hey Giren I should be starting on 20/05 too so we should have a chat it will be good to go down to Dartmouth allready knowing someone and we can share an ironing board!

[Giren]

Hey Giren I should be starting on 20/05 too so we should have a chat it will be good to go down to Dartmouth allready knowing someone and we can share an ironing board!

Ah great! I hope you're not too fit though! That's the main thing I'm worried about. How did you find the recruitment process?

[Ganner]

I’m not fit now but i just finished my job so I can concentrate on getting super fit over the next twelve weeks! I found it challenging but really rewarding and when i walked out of the room in AIB i had the biggest smile on my face and a great sense of achievement! Then I found the paperwork filling in hard, not because of anything on the side of the RFA but because it seemed my doctors wanted to charge me a hundred pounds and take 2 weeks to do anything in regards to past medicals, inoculations and blood tests. I was worried I wouldn’t get all my information in on time, I think that was the worst part! All in all i loved it, AIB was so much fun looking back and knowing you have gone through such a challenging process gives you real confidence and i cannot wait t get started! How about you? When did you go on AIB?

[Giren]

My AIB was 11-13th of December. I came out of the PLTs and Planning exercise with a massive smile on my face, only to be told I had a borderline pass and would have to wait up to 2 weeks for a definite answer. Thankfully got a call the next day at 9am to say it was a pass.

I'm getting my inoculations done today, ?150 for 3 though. At least we get reimbursed for them, with regards to the blood test I just gave blood at a clinic and they send you your grouping through the post for free

I'm really looking forward to getting this all started though as I am getting increasingly bored working a 9-5job behind a desk all day.

[The H]

Congratulations to you both on completing and passing the AIB.

I went through this process in 2010 and yes all the inoculations/ENG1 etc are reimbursed.

My advise for BRNC is actually not to take it to seriously. I went on a pre-BRNC day organised by the RFA where we all met beforehand. You will be better off if you have RTO (Ratings to Officers) if your group, as they will give you a good idea of what the RFA is really like. (Nothing like BRNC really).

Secondary advice would be to get as fit as possible. Again not a major requirement for the RFA itself, however, not only does it make the fitness you will be doing at BRNC easier it makes life easier. (Which is obviously a good thing.)

[Steve]

You will be better off if you have RTO (Ratings to Officers) if your group, as they will give you a good idea of what the RFA is really like. (Nothing like BRNC really).

I will strongly agree with this. AIB and BRNC give a totally wrong impression of the RFA.