On Government Service

The mail came in yesterday: Medical questionnaire to be completed and brought along for CMPB medical test this coming Friday. 

On a side note, after much thoughts and research, I've ranked the vocations in order of my preference.
1. WSO Fighter
2. UAV Pilot
3. C3

Although there's a high chance I'm going to fail the medical for WSO Fighter, large part of me is hoping against hopes that somehow I'll make it through. Maybe over the night I'll grow 1 cm taller, maybe my arms and leg lengths are what they need, maybe, just maybe :)

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Compass Test Results

Gave them a call yesterday and I passed Compass Test for 3 out of the 4 vocations: WSO fighter, UAV Pilot and C3!

Well, I must say I extremely happy cause my 1st choice from the beginning was always the WSO Fighter. It's pretty hard to explain why WSO over Pilot but just so glad that I'm over my first hurdle!

Thought that the next test would be the Aeromedical test but actually its the CMPB medical test that determines my PES. Need to get an A or B to qualify for WSO fighter.

Checked for available dates through the phone call with AFRC and settled for next Friday 3rd Oct. No confirmation SMS sent, just suppose to expect a snail mail from them that contains some forms and medical questionnaire.

HYPED UP FOR IT!

PILAPT

Recalled the official name of the RSAF Compass Test and went to Google it:

What is the pass mark for PILAPT ?
There is no set pass mark as this will vary depending on the organisation. PILAPT® is often part of a wider series of assessments, and is used in conjunction with other data such as interviews, other tests and simulator exercises.

Also, found another piece of research that took on the psychological view of the Compass Test. It helped me to better understand the rationale behind all the different type of tests and which area it simulates for an actual pilot. Hope that it would prove to be of good use to anyone who stumbles upon this blog :)

Compass Test

Woohoo I'm alive and survived today's compass test! It was a grueling 4.5 hours worth of mental stretching in the morning followed by going back to work till 730 pm. I tend to focus more on the bad parts hence if anyone asked me how was it, I'd say it went horrible...  Well in truth there was some components that I was better in and some components i totally flunked. So here are some aspects I probably flunked more so than others: 

1. BAD TIME MANAGEMENT. there was a 60 questions test with 15mins allocated. Didn't plan my time properly so left about 10 questions blank. Those questions were about reading and interpreting the flying instruments which were quite doable. 

2. JOYSTICK. Contrary to the rumor that playing computer games would help in this aspect, it's totally the opposite. I'm so used to "W" on the keyboard to move forward, but for the Joystick, pushing it forward meant actually moving the line on the screen backwards.  

There was a flying test where you had control a stick plane to fly through squares, I practically flew over all the squares. The score I had was 4 out of 1-10 (1 being the worst). The sensitivity couldn't be controlled either so when I wanted to fly DOWN, I instinctively push the joystick backwards which made the plane fly upwards (more than I wanted it to fly). Corrective attempts just made it worse. 

If only I had my mouse and keyboard:

Cloud Serpent Sky Race

Netherwing Dragonmaw Race

3. NUMBERS. I could not say more. Any test components that needed mental calculations or counting was outright horrible.

- 5 seconds to remember 12 digits and churn it back out. NOPE

- number sequencing test: NOPE

- counting test (abit like 7-up game): NOPE

- counting test WHILE handling JOYSTICK: NOPE NOPE

Ended the compass test around 12.45pm, got back to work and the day continued as "normal" (zombified cherie) : work, OT, dinner, gaming time :)

Results are supposed to be out 1-2 weeks later.  What's done's done and although I try to convince myself  NOT TO WORRY, I can't exactly contain my expectation to pass the compass test.

The Start

I'm going for the RSAF Compass test tomorrow: 

Don't really know what to think or feel, seems like I'm still dreaming. One hand I'm really excited hoping that I'll pass this test to go on to the next stage which is the aeromedical test. On the other hand I'm like.. am I seriously doing this? Am I seriously working my way towards joining RSAF and leaving behind my pretty much comfortable life now? I've always wanted to join the army/airforce but somehow I've left that dream somewhere in the back of my mind, just going on through with life - graduating and then working a 8 to"6" office job in the banking sector (no doubt loads of OT but which job in the banking industry doesn't OT?)

So how did I suddenly end up going for the compass test? 

30 August 2014: Went to RSAF open house (RSAF@Heartlands) this year at Yishun. Found out about the RSAF ladies Seminar.

6 September 2014: Went for the ladies seminar with my sister and it got me really hyped up. Somehow applied to indicate my interest for Pilot & WSO. At that time I was thinking to myself, #YOLO!!! I'm getting older by the years, might as well try my best so when I'm 50 years old I wont regret not trying to live my dream. 

11 September 2014: Got a SMS from RSAF telling me my compass test is scheduled on the 15th September. Rushed to get urgent leave from work (which is REALLY hard to get) and I earnestly thank my TM/Boss for understanding. 

14 September 2014: Night before the Compass Test and I'm writing this. Thought that if i was chasing my dream, might as well blog it to record :) Went to research abit on Compass Test and more or less you can't really prepare for it. I'm getting anxious but hey, need to remind myself #YOLO! If its meant to be then I'll pass it. If not then ok at least I tried and back to my life: work, eat, sleep, WEEKENDS, work, eat, sleep, repeat.