The Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre

To join the RAF as an officer, you must first pass a series of selection tests. If you are applying for an aptitude based branch like Pilot, Air Traffic Control, Aerospace Battle Manager or Intelligence, you will first have to attend the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) at the RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire to complete aptitude tests. If successful, or if you are applying for a non-aptitude branch, you will attend a 2 day selection procedure.

Your time at OASC will help you decide whether a career as an RAF officer is for you. It also gives us an opportunity to assess your aptitude, medical and physical fitness, and ability to succeed with further training.

Your assessment will be overseen by a selection board of 2 officers and overseen by a third officer who is the Board President. Once the Selection Process is complete either the Permanent President of the Aptitude Board or Permanent President of the Ground Board - a senior RAF officer, will have the final say on the grade you receive.

OASC at a glance

• You’ll complete a series of aptitude tests on a PC. The number of tests you do will depend on the career you have applied for and the specialist skills required.
• Once we have the results of your aptitude tests, we’ll review your performance, focusing on the skill levels that are most important for the career you have selected.
• You will be given many briefings during the Selection Process to let you know what you need to know and what you need to do. Do not be afraid to ask questions.
• For the exercise phase you’ll be grouped with three to five other candidates and complete five exercises that show your leadership potential and style in a variety of challenging environments.
• You’ll be interviewed. This will be an opportunity to tell us about yourself – your achievements, your team involvement, why you want to join the RAF and what you know about the RAF.
• An occupational health assessment will confirm that you are fit to carry out military service.
• You’ll also need to complete the Selection Fitness Test which involves a 2.4 km treadmill run, press ups and sit ups. RAF candidates for the Defence Sixth Form College will be required to complete a Multi-stage Fitness Test (MSFT), sometimes called the “beep test”, in place of the 2.4 km run. Find out more about fitness.


When you leave OASC, the officers who assessed you will discuss your performance and present you to one of the Permanent Presidents. The Permanent President will award you a grade and will consider your competitiveness compared to other candidates applying for the same branch.

You’ll receive your results about three to four weeks later. If you’re successful at OASC, your next step will be the 30-week Initial Officer Training (IOT) course.

For more information view the RAF College Cranwell - Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre or call 0845 605 5555.