Gutted

[Oblivion]

Well, after 12 long years at school, I am finally at my last year at school. Thinking of my future, I decided to apply for the Air Force as a Pilot with full backing from my parents. So I did the test thing that they have, and according to the recruiting officer, got a very high grade of pass.(I'm a Mr. Smartypants ) The next day I went to go have the interview. They did the usual questions, and told me they will contact me about the outcome. Got a letter in the mail today saying that I did not have the necessary qualifications to become a pilot, saying that I have deficiencies in leadership and working in a team environment, and have a 12 month stand down period before I can re-apply as a Pilot.

Needless to say, I was fucking gutted. Been set on being a Pilot since I was 7. So to hear that was a real letdown. The thing is, I have never been given any leadership opportunities at school. My high school is a majority sporting school. All the prefects are the captains of sports teams, and even the Head Boy is in the 1st XV Rugby. They have never had any academic prefects, and I am not a real sporting person. Never have been. So now I'm pretty much clueless on what to do now really. I do not want to do the course that Massey University does, partly because I do not want a $180,000 student loan at the end of 3 years. The next thing that I was thinking of was the RNZAF officers scholarship, but that has the same hurdles that I have to face, If I were to become a Pilot. I know that a few of you were in the same position as me a few years ago, and I was wondering if you guys could give me some input on what you think I should do.

YES I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A BIKING FORUM AND NOT A COUNSELING SERVICE.

[Ender EnZed]

Got a letter in the mail today saying that I did not have the necessary qualifications to become a pilot, saying that I have deficiencies in leadership and working in a team environment, and have a 12 month stand down period before I can re-apply as a Pilot.

Find out what you need to do to not have deficiencies in leadership and working in a team environment. Someone might know on here but I assume the Air Force will tell you what you need if you ask them. Talk to your careers adviser at school, they should also be able to point you in the right direction.

Very broadly: Get a job, join something that involves people (it doesn't really matter what and definitely doesn't have to be through school) and then get some references that praise your team work and leadership ability. You've got 12 months.

[Maha]

Prefect are wankers..
Leadeship skills are to be aquired, not something that is taught by a maths/english/art teacher.
Take the next twelve months to learn/build leadership skills.
Leadership starts with confidence.
Working within a team environment is best done with the aquired leadership skills.

[JimO]

i think your big problem is our airforce dont have any planes, the wanker doing your interview probably made that up to make you feel bad

[Mom]

YES I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A BIKING FORUM AND NOT A COUNSELING SERVICE.

Ignore the knockers mate, good post and bummer for you to be turned away. There is a process to follow, there are so few slots available in the Air Force the positions are well over subscribed. Have a search through the forum threads, there are some dedicated to this very issue.

Get yourself a job, a lowly one, say at MacDonalds. Get stuck in and over impress the frachise owner. Take advantage of every course they offer and every approach to become a team leader. Join the Boys Brigade or Scouts as a youth leader. Start taking cubs or keas. Get working or...

I am sure there are plenty of thinsg that a smart lad like yourself can think of to gain some needed skills. Good luck eh, and keep us posted.

[Robert Taylor]

i think your big problem is our airforce dont have any planes, the wanker doing your interview probably made that up to make you feel bad

Its not a real Air Force since the Lesbian lefty sisterhood callously dismembered it.

[jaffaonajappa]

Ignore the knockers mate, good post and bummer for you to be turned away. There is a process to follow, there are so few slots available in the Air Force the positions are well over subscribed. Have a search through the forum threads, there are some dedicated to this very issue.

Get yourself a job, a lowly one, say at MacDonalds. Get stuck in and over impress the frachise owner. Take advantage of every course they offer and every approach to become a team leader. Join the Boys Brigade or Scouts as a youth leader. Start taking cubs or keas. Get working or...

I am sure there are plenty of thinsg that a smart lad like yourself can think of to gain some needed skills. Good luck eh, and keep us posted.

This is great advice.

Noting the Air Force is harder than EVER to join at the moment - facing large redundancies this year, and cutbacks all over the place. Suspect they are being ultra picky with all candidates. Actually, am surprised they are even recruiting at this point.

The skills they are looking for are very very rarely found in teenagers. The odd prefect from the top schools may have them - those 'boys clubs' schools seem to produce a disproportionate number of them too, but its a rare trait to find in teenagers.

They are basically looking for someone with a 25 year olds maturity, life experience, and focus - or determination - all the time the candidate must display a deliberate Team Spirited approach to group work.

Like Mom has said - get out int he world, get some experiences under your belt, and try again in 12 months.
While waiting, also, hit the library. Theres millions of books on military training, leadership, teamwork / environment - and also some on how to bullshit your way through interviews. Study the lot.

Also, if funds permit, get some one-on-one training for a professional - there are recruiting and CV outfits around that can speed up your learning, and help with them interviews.

[Laava]

To be honest, and don't be offended cos I know I don't have those leadership skills either, if you have to ask what to do next then that is exactly what you shouldn't need to do. They are looking for very decisive and headstrong type people. Air force pilots are required to fly to extremes that no other professional pilot is even allowed to. If you can prove to them otherwise then awesome. But you may have to fly in a different direction insted. As in PPL and then CPL or go in to the RNZAF in avionics etc and rise thru the ranks as an aquaintance of mine did. Good luck tho!

[R6_kid:Me]

Go to Outward Bound, sooner rather than later. Ignore the 12 month stand-down and come up with a plan for yourself to address the deficiencies they have perceived in you - remember they are using data that goes back over 40yrs so they know who makes a pilot and who doesn't, the problem is that you have to be an officer first, and to be an officer you have to be a leader - though some in the Defence Force may find this last point hard to believe based on their experience!

I'm in the same trap as you mate, except for me it's been a 7yr process. Flick me a PM and I'll get back to you with my thoughts.

There are a multitude of ways to become a pilot, but if you have your heart set on military flying then you need to play their game with the intention of far exceeding their expectations.

I don't know about working at Mc D's, but you can certainly do a lot of things to bring out your leadership potential, the challenge is going to be finding a place to put them to use. Look at getting involved with youth programs, coaching sports/teaching music/tutoring, but I really do recommend you look at something like OPC/Outward Bound/Spirit of Adventure.

Are you still at school?

[Oblivion]

Prefect are wankers..
Leadeship skills are to be aquired, not something that is taught by a maths/english/art teacher.
Take the next twelve months to learn/build leadership skills.
Leadership starts with confidence.
Working within a team environment is best done with the aquired leadership skills.

Yeah. I do have confidence, but I think that finding how and when to apply it is a whole new skill. I do work well in a team, but I think that because I have never had a chance to show anyone, its kinda useless to say it.

And yes, most prefects are wankers. Some are bloody good blokes, and some are complete fuckwits. Guess the positions of Dick of the Year has to go to someone important

Ignore the knockers mate, good post and bummer for you to be turned away. There is a process to follow, there are so few slots available in the Air Force the positions are well over subscribed. Have a search through the forum threads, there are some dedicated to this very issue.

Get yourself a job, a lowly one, say at McDonalds. Get stuck in and over impress the franchise owner. Take advantage of every course they offer and every approach to become a team leader. Join the Boys Brigade or Scouts as a youth leader. Start taking cubs or keas. Get working or...

I am sure there are plenty of things that a smart lad like yourself can think of to gain some needed skills. Good luck eh, and keep us posted.

The trouble of me actually finding a job is the fact that when I can find the time to go and apply for a job, they are usually taken in a snap. Guess thats why its a recession eh?

I am doing scholarship stuff this year, and don't want my performance in that to suffer drastically.

Start small and keep trying would be the best thing wouldn't it?

This is great advice.

Noting the Air Force is harder than EVER to join at the moment - facing large redundancies this year, and cutbacks all over the place. Suspect they are being ultra picky with all candidates. Actually, am surprised they are even recruiting at this point.

The skills they are looking for are very very rarely found in teenagers. The odd prefect from the top schools may have them - those 'boys clubs' schools seem to produce a disproportionate number of them too, but its a rare trait to find in teenagers.

They are basically looking for someone with a 25 year olds maturity, life experience, and focus - or determination - all the time the candidate must display a deliberate Team Spirited approach to group work.

Like Mom has said - get out int he world, get some experiences under your belt, and try again in 12 months.
While waiting, also, hit the library. Theres millions of books on military training, leadership, teamwork / environment - and also some on how to bullshit your way through interviews. Study the lot.

Also, if funds permit, get some one-on-one training for a professional - there are recruiting and CV outfits around that can speed up your learning, and help with them interviews.

Thanks, Will do.

[unstuck]

Every No is one step closer to yes. If you have a dream that you are passionate about,do whatever you feel inspired to do to get there.Read about great leaders,spend time with leaders. Do not listen to any negative crap. You can do anything you want in life with the right attitude,so go for it. No is not final,and does not mean the end of your dream.

[Mom]

Go to Outward Bound, sooner rather than later. Are you still at school?

Great advice! And yes he is.

Yeah. I do have confidence

Back yourself then! Listen to R6_kid, he really does know what he is talking about.
I like what Laava sad too, no offense meant, but good sound advice.

[Oblivion]

I think that the school has info about the Outward Bound course. Will look tomorrow. A Family Friend went, and she said that she enjoyed the hell out of it.

I always thought that it was just an experience kind of thing, not a leadership course. Need to look at things before I assume.....

AND TO WHOEVER MADE THE TAG, I'M SORRY OKAY

[JimO]

you would have better luck looking to the Australian airforce at least they have some planes

[jaffaonajappa]

you would have better luck looking to the Australian airforce at least they have some planes

Heard ya hte first time.

The kids got a dream. He may have the perseverance to achieve it. Let him be.
And...id rather fly a Herc in NZ, than even an F35, in dingoland.