Post Interview

14th April: Reported at 0930 but interview didn't start till 1030. There were a total of 28 male and female candidates ( 8 females) and OH MAN I WAS FIRST IN LINE. When my name was called, I just took a deep breath, muttered silently "YOLO" and went into the interview room.

LTC Lau Mun Leng greeted me with a warm handshake and seated me down. Basically started with asking me more about myself and then I rattled on about my current job, why I wanted C3 and before I knew it, he asked if there were any questions for him. I asked what is the progression like for C3 to which he replied basically the more proficient the controller gets, the more planes he controls, ultimately would be supervisory/management level. Just like that, he ended the interview in about 15 mins and parted with  "Hope to see you in the force soon!" which made me really happy!

Apparently it was a really busy day for AFRC so I only got the official phone confirmation that I passed interview the next working day. WHEE~~ 

What's left is for AFRC to finish vetting my certs (O lvl, A lvl, Degree cert and transcripts), equipment fitting, BMT briefing, letter of offer and contract signing. I dont know even know exactly when is the enlistment date in July. 

Btw this came in the mail today, more forms to fill up!

Honestly it hasn't really sunk in yet and I don't exactly believe I'm going to TEKONG ?!?!?!?

It's a Date!

Got THE missed call from AFRC on the 27th of March in the morning. I was delirious and immediately went out of office to return the call, to which they told me my C3 interview date, venue and more details. My heart was pumping so fast, I kept saying "okay, okay" but I didn't really register most of the conversation. I had to call back once I was more composed just to reconfirm all the info.

The interview is scheduled for this coming Tues 14th April at CMPB, 9.30am. As the day draws closer, the excitement level just gets more intense. It's finally the last hurdle after all the previous tests. Technically I've been waiting for almost 10 years just for this day hence the pressure I put on myself to perform and do well is pretty high. I want to get in. What's even more exciting is that the results (whether I get in) will be known ON THE SAME DAY itself. Apart from all these excitement, of course the rational part of me kicks in and I start worrying as usual:

Am I SERIOUSLY going into the military??!?!?! Am I going to fit in? What if I'm not physically fit enough? What if I don't like the military lifestyle? I will have to leave my relatively comfortable office job in the bank and there's definitely going to be resistance to change. Am I going to regret this?

HOWEVER, I keep telling myself this: I'm not getting any younger, If I don't try now, then when? And if I don't try, I will always regret it. Next time I look at a fighter plane (or hear its roar in the skies), or go to an army open house and my heart starts pounding (as usual), I'm definitely going to regret not trying. I don't want to be behind the computer screen forever watching the videos and looking at the pictures. I want to be there physically and be IN it. I want my own uniform and my own name tag to be proud of!

I'm sure that after all these years and I still feel THIS excited.. it isn't "puppy love" right?

2010 Singapore Airshow

 2011 RSAF Open House

2014 Singapore Airshow

NAFPA - Pass

Female NAFPA test is only conducted every 3rd Wednesday of the month @ Toa Payoh Stadium, which is pretty inflexible especially if the candidates are already currently working.

Background: from Primary school to JC's NAFPA, I've gotten GOLD every year without much trouble. Not boasting or anything but I really did not have to put in any extra effort other than the normal PE lessons.. My best timing for 2.4km run was 12mins. 

So naturally, I would think that for this NAFPA test I would able to ACE it right? WRONG!

Without those school PE lessons (in university as well as my past 1 year of working life), it really does make such a big difference in my fitness level. For the last 1 year, I've been sitting down everyday at work, going home late for dinner, sleeping in on weekends. As a result I put on a whopping 7 kg  since I started work. I felt like I was doing NAFPA with a mini field pack..  Needless to say results were as follows: (LEFT SIDE)

please check your results, they initially keyed in my shuttle run timing of 122 s (right) instead of 12.2 s (left). They also spelt my name totally wrongly but they said it didn't matter as long IC number is correct. 

It's a BIG wake up call. Since the results,  I've been TRYING to go for jogs after work once a week. Hopefully it will slowly tune my up fitness and shed those pounds.

Oh, another thing to note was, surprisingly a PASS for NAFPA would suffice instead of SILVER, so I've "cleared" NAFPA test now and waiting for the C3 interview which I'm told would be sometime in April 2015 (last stage!)

Well I'm really counting down the days to my interview and apparently on the same day I will know if I made it or not. Yes those jitters are coming but I trust God that He will decide if this is the vocation for me. Finally, after all theses years of waiting, (since sec/JC time), I'm finally at the interview stage. At least the next time I go for an open house, I can tell myself that I tried and there's no regrets anymore.

I'm pretty stoked I'm finally chasing my dreams!

It's official

One part of me is upset yet on the other hand, I'm glad I tried my best. 

So now I'm still in the running for UAV Pilot, C3 and GBAD. Next up its the NAPFA test and minimum Silver is required. If I do pass then I would need to choose and go for the interview. 

After much thoughts, I might go for C3 after all. Although its a broad umbrella term and C3 can be streamed into many disciplines like controller or in the command centre... and much of which I'm streamed into depends on luck.. I guess I would still go for it and let God decide :)

 

My future self? :P

Clipped Wings

Although the aeromedical results are not officially out, I'm more or less prepared that I will not pass for WSO Ftr :( The aeromedical just confirms that I'm just too small to fit into cockpit, sitting height, arm length and leg length are all shorter than the minimum even though I'm 161 cm. I was really upset after the aeromedical, just wishing maybe if I was born a male, I would be able to meet the physical measurement requirements. Well, I have just to accept it and move on, at least I tried right?

Even if I don't get into WSO Ftr, I would still want to join RSAF! I'm still thinking alot about UAV versus C3 vocation and which one would suit me better (provided I do pass the aeromedical). I read online that C3 has higher requirements than UAV to get in so naturally if you do qualify, wouldn't you choose the "harder to get in" one? Well, that's what happened to me in junior college, I went into science stream just because the cut off was lower and I qualified. I regretted that decision because in the end I scored As for my arts and language subjects instead of physics and maths. I regretted cause in my heart I knew i loved the arts more than sciences yet.. I chose science stream just cause it was "harder to get in".

So as of now, I am highly considering UAV Pilot if given the choice. Reasons being...

1. It is the future warfare, there is going to be a higher demand for UAV Pilots
2. I get to fly a remote controlled plane (something I've always wanted to do!)
3. Get to go for overseas training more than C3? (not very sure if its true)
4. Currently RSAF uses UAVs for recon, but maybe in the future there may be UCAVs for strike missions?
5. Able to ensure mission success by providing ground troops vital information, potentially saving lives!


However my fears include..

1. TRAINING. As I mentioned earlier, I'm really bad with Maths and Physics.. I would suppose UAV theory training comes with loads of that.. eg aerodynamics, avionics, etc. (having a passion/interest doesn't mean aptitude). Even with hard work, there's a higher risk of failing the course.
2. Will the job become repetitive and boring? Maybe what I will be doing is just controlling a joystick and looking at a screen everyday?

Too many thoughts so I'm just going to park them one side and wait for my aeromedical results first, then revisit them again :)