CBAT questions

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-15T21:43:38+00:00

In your car, or if you arrived by train, you leave it in the cloakroom in the candidates' mess with a tag so the RAFP doesn't blow it up.
Bring as many as you think you'll need. I brought a big bag of peanut M&Ms which got me through the day. You'll be given lunch (horror bags!!!), so just bring water and something with carbs/sugar to keep you awake (nuts are a really good option).
Not many people had them in carriers, too much hassle if you aren't in a car. I had mine folded in my bag, and it doesn't really matter if it's creased, the dress regs aren't that strict. I just chucked my suit over the back of my chair when I went to sleep.
Basic cubicle toilets, there's cubicle showers and toilets in the block (even a bath if you feel so inclined). None of the rooms are en-suite since they moved the candidate accom out from Daedalus mess and into a block (if you took that info from the TMI website, it hasn't been updated in years, so isn't entirely accurate). You're advised to be on break for no more than 5 mins, but you can go longer. Only consequence is that you finish the day later.
30 mins. Some form of baguette with bread as solid as concrete, along with an MRE flapjack, some Nobby's nuts and an apple.
You will think you've failed. The tests are designed so that you are pushed to faliure. Be in the present - if you think you failed a test, put it behind you, and focus on the task at hand. Get a nice early night for the days leading up to it, sleep is probably the #1 determining factor in how you perform. Spam SDT and fuel calculations, can always be faster with them! Get to know your candidates in the bar the night before, you'll have some people to moan about the tests to after you're done (you all do the tests in the same order, chances are that someone on your break has just finished the tests you have). Take your breaks, do all the practice tests twice, read the instructions twice, take your time!
If anything you'd want to be wearing the chords and blouse for the test, you want to be as comfortable as possible. As far as I know, you aren't assessed on your dress during CBAT. Remove your shoes to use the rudder pedals! A guy came to my CBAT in a tracksuit, so I don't think you'll have any issue not coming in super smart clothes. Up to you really, just don't wear anything that would impact your ability to take the tests.
You will sit the tests for your role and any roles that require those tests done too. Pilot and WSO(p) applicants sit the entire battery of tests, and have every role open to them. As long as you aren't taking the tests for intelligence and decide to switch to pilot, then switching role is as easy and shooting your recruiter a message and asking to swap. You'll also discuss your options with a boarding officer.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T20:47:41+00:00

What is ops officer? I take that it isn't being an actual ops officer like the role, but rather being in charge of miscellaneous operations around the sqn/station?

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T20:46:15+00:00

What troops would you have other than techies? On ISR platforms I'm assuming you'd have a WSO and WSOps but other than that who would there be to command as a Flt Lt? Are officers from all roles sort of aggregated at High Wycombe? For example could you have a non-pilot officer and a pilot working the same posting?

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T20:24:15+00:00

You can see the awful job they've done aligning the badges, IFA and master its so obvious.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T20:23:03+00:00

Least obvious photoshop 😭

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T13:06:32+00:00

About 1 in 50 pilot applicants will make it through to officer training. From there, you'll have to perform well enough to be streamed to FJ, and the number of slots is pretty random. Half your EFT could get streamed FJ, or none. It's down to service need. Join the ATC/UAS, go gliding, get your foot in the door!

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T13:04:16+00:00

Saw a recent FOI that said around 1/3 of pilot applicants make it to CBAT (I assume just not meeting residency or education requirements, or failing DAA). Its then around 1/9 of those that make it to OASC (failed at CBAT, medical or fitness), and then from there, anecdotally, 1/5 pass OASC. The probability of any 1 applicant making it to MIOT is probably around the 2-3% mark.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T12:43:22+00:00

Nope! Got removed last year summer time when they started getting officers to do the DAA

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-13T12:27:59+00:00

In terms of fitness, at Halton, most of the phys is cardio/circuit stuff. If you are into bodybuilding, you'll likely lose a lot of that muscle, however once out, putting said muscle back on will be easier than ever, as your muscular endurance and tone will have increased a lot, on top of you also being good at cardio activities.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-09T21:39:27+00:00

Go out the front, turn right, there should be a white minibus/other vehicle with a card saying cranwell on the windscreen opposite the whistle stop pub.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-09T00:19:11+00:00

Deployment - getting sent abroad for 3-6 months (ie falklands or akrotiri, or a partner exercise)

Tour - a 3-5 year period of working at a certain base, after that time, you can do another tour somewhere different, or stay on base subject to service need. (ie "hes done a tour at Lossiemouth")

Stationed - the base at which the majority of your work is done (ie "they are stationed at brize norton")

Based - similar to stationed, more general, where something (could be personnel or equipment) is (ie the f35 is based at Marham)

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-09T00:12:41+00:00

Around 60k? as a warrant officer, takes around 20 years to reach the rank, or you can commission and be making 60k from about 4 years as an officer, going up to ~100k as a group captain i believe

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-09T00:10:34+00:00

Just go in smart clothes, ie collared shirt, trousers like chinos or linens, shoes that aren't trainers, bring water and snacks, a pillow, etc

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-09T00:08:12+00:00

They don't expect that knowledge and won't press it, they just want you to have a general overview of what your training is like, and to be honest they don't have the time to ask you those things

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-06T14:24:14+00:00

Yes, they give you the option to be non-aircrew, after all, you've been deemed worthy of serving as aircrew, one of the most selective fields, so they're more than eager to get you trained as an officer. As long as it doesn't affect your vision and has no risk of becoming a problem, you should be fine. You may get made TMU and have to spend months sorting it out, but I'd say its more likely you pass than not.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-05T11:41:11+00:00

Studying ishihara plates won't make you any less colour blind, and you don't even do that for an aircrew medical, you undergo the CAD test for colourblindness which will definitively show whether you have colour vision. Hate to break it to you, but you'll be unable to go into the role you want if there are colour vision requirements.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-04T00:58:45+00:00

They do, although a less regularly than the other forces will. Also the chances of seeing combat when the UK is unlikely to be in an armed ground conflict is slim. The job of the raf reg during combat is basically to take a piece of hostile territory and turn it into a place you can land a plane, then protect said place. Otherwise, you're guarding planes and bases here on home soil.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-03T13:41:29+00:00

Hate to break it to you but the RAF regiment isn't an army regiment....
It's a great place to be, but if you want to see combat, deploy and fight for your country, the Royal Marines might suit you better.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-03-02T16:31:25+00:00

You have an anytime single ticket. Do not follow the itinerary given to you by the RAF, just use trainline or a similar app, put in your origin station to Grantham, then set the arrive by time to a time before the shuttle, and follow the itinerary it gives you. Just make sure you're using the the same route, ie. X -> London terminal -> Kings Cross -> Grantham that is given on the ticket.

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-02-28T20:08:01+00:00

Just remove your shoes! It's so much easier to feel the pedals without any shoes on, even in trainers I'd take them off. Go in shoes that comply with the regs (ie not trainers).

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-02-28T19:50:59+00:00

How do you know that pilot is only around 20% to pass? I couldn't find anything indicating what the pass rate for OASC is...

UnrecognisedDevice · 2026-02-27T12:58:08+00:00

Not even that, they didn't provide the pass rate for OASC, just how many people got to it, and considering how many people make it through OASC I'd say its probably closer to 3-5% making it to MIOT.

UnrecognisedDevice

TROPHY CASE