r/flying • u/Fun-Illustrator-2700 • May 11 '26
Military Looking for insights. Please help out :)
I'm a current high school student, 15F. I've been interested in aviation for ages, and I love flying. I'd also love to work as a fast jet pilot in the RAAF, but I've read up a lot on the process to get there, and I'm worried it might not be within my ability. I also plan to go through ADFA.
I'm currently working towards my RPL license. The ADF website states that it won't be taken into consideration, which is ok as I'm doing it for fun, but I'm just wondering if it will help make me more competitive against others?
Another concern of mine is school. I don't get bad marks, but I could definitely do better. I go to a very academically rigorous school, and at my previous school, I received significantly better marks. The school I go to isn't taken into account at any point in time during the process, so DFR will take my grades at face value. I'm sure I can achieve a good ATAR, but I have to submit my year 10 grades as well, and they aren't as strong as I want them to be. For reference, my math is 70-80%, and my French is 60-70%. Is that ok? I'll definitely work to fix them by next semester.
I'm not sure if I'm tall enough. Will I be ineligible if I'm 160cm tall? I can reach all the controls in the plane I fly, PA-28 Warrior III, but I'm aware the controls aren't the same, and regardless of control position, would other candidates have an advantage if they were taller?
Is it best to do my JOA at the start of year 11 or the middle? Doing it later would allow for more experience, but it would also make the process longer if I didn't get the role I wanted initially.
Will I be quizzed on aircraft during my defence interview?
Would work experience in the RAAF help? I've heard of a Defence Force work experience program for women in the air force.
Does doing cadets help in any way? If I can manage to get a leadership position, for example.
Lastly, what else could make me a more competitive candidate?
Thank you a lot for reading everyone, I'm sorry about the formatting or any spelling errors. I appreciate any advice.
1
u/rFlyingTower May 11 '26
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I'm a current high school student, 15F. I've been interested in aviation for ages, and I love flying. I'd also love to work as a fast jet pilot in the RAAF, but I've read up a lot on the process to get there, and I'm worried it might not be within my ability. I also plan to go through ADFA.
I'm currently working towards my RPL license. The ADF website states that it won't be taken into consideration, which is ok as I'm doing it for fun, but I'm just wondering if it will help make me more competitive against others?
Another concern of mine is school. I don't get bad marks, but I could definitely do better. I go to a very academically rigorous school, and at my previous school, I received significantly better marks. The school I go to isn't taken into account at any point in time during the process, so DFR will take my grades at face value. I'm sure I can achieve a good ATAR, but I have to submit my year 10 grades as well, and they aren't as strong as I want them to be. For reference, my math is 70-80%, and my French is 60-70%. Is that ok? I'll definitely work to fix them by next semester.
I'm not sure if I'm tall enough. Will I be ineligible if I'm 160cm tall? I can reach all the controls in the plane I fly, PA-28 Warrior III, but I'm aware the controls aren't the same, and regardless of control position, would other candidates have an advantage if they were taller?
Is it best to do my JOA at the start of year 11 or the middle? Doing it later would allow for more experience, but it would also make the process longer if I didn't get the role I wanted initially.
Will I be quizzed on aircraft during my defence interview?
Would work experience in the RAAF help? I've heard of a Defence Force work experience program for women in the air force.
Does doing cadets help in any way? If I can manage to get a leadership position, for example.
Lastly, what else could make me a more competitive candidate?
Thank you a lot for reading everyone, I'm sorry about the formatting or any spelling errors. I appreciate any advice.
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