Pontius
War Hero
Besides swaggering, sleeping, attempting to sleep during daytime hours without the Commander finding out and telling you off, getting lost on the boat because you've gone below 2 deck and not in the direction of the Wardroom (whilst swaggering some more) and bronzing in your WAFU special clicky bed, there is a fair bit to do and I can't really remember ever being bored on the carrier, with nothing to do.
As everyone will always point out; you're an officer first and then a pilot (or a weirdo first and then an observer who, nevertheless, has to pretend to be an officer). You'll have the joys of running a division where, with your Divisional Chief, you'll be responsible for the welfare, promotion, disciplinary proceedings and 'care' of about 15 sailors. Sometimes this will take so much of your time (especially when it comes round to report writing time) that you'll curse the day you decided to join the Senior Service and not mince around like a poncing lightweight Crab, whose report writing is all done by their engineering officers. However, the divisional system is, truly, an excellent way to get to know the people for whom you're responsible, help them through their RN careers and help you in your development as an officer (and, I reckon, person).
Fear not, though, for divisional work will not be it. You will find yourself with 'secondary' duties in your roles as an officer and also in your professional regimes. For instance, you may find yourself running the squadron fund, auditing classified material or ensuring everyone is up-to-date for all their drills, as the squadron's survival officer. At the same time you'll be expected to be progressing through your qualifications as an aviator. Getting 'combat ready' (as the light blue fraternity term it), getting night qualled on the boat, specialising in a flying regime: qualified flying/helicopter instructor, air warfare officer, electronic warfare officer etc.
So, all in all, you'll be kept busy with your professional roles, your officer roles, your swanning about making the chix swoon roles (they really love WAFUs, despite what they say to the contrary) and that's before you get to the socialising
Yes, do get involved with the ATC and do it properly. Get as much out of the organisation as you possibly can (you can always give back later in life). Get your D of E awards, get your gliding and flying scholarships, try out for the International Air Cadet exchange, shoot, camp, do the leadership courses. All these things will help you through the AIB and later on in your RN training. I'm 99.9% the AIB doesn't give a damn if you've been an air cadet or a sea cadet; it's being part of the organisation that's important and getting as much from it as you can.
In the meantime, develop a healthy fixation for the smell of rubber as you'll be living and swaggering in a rubber suit for a lot of the time on the boat :-D
As everyone will always point out; you're an officer first and then a pilot (or a weirdo first and then an observer who, nevertheless, has to pretend to be an officer). You'll have the joys of running a division where, with your Divisional Chief, you'll be responsible for the welfare, promotion, disciplinary proceedings and 'care' of about 15 sailors. Sometimes this will take so much of your time (especially when it comes round to report writing time) that you'll curse the day you decided to join the Senior Service and not mince around like a poncing lightweight Crab, whose report writing is all done by their engineering officers. However, the divisional system is, truly, an excellent way to get to know the people for whom you're responsible, help them through their RN careers and help you in your development as an officer (and, I reckon, person).
Fear not, though, for divisional work will not be it. You will find yourself with 'secondary' duties in your roles as an officer and also in your professional regimes. For instance, you may find yourself running the squadron fund, auditing classified material or ensuring everyone is up-to-date for all their drills, as the squadron's survival officer. At the same time you'll be expected to be progressing through your qualifications as an aviator. Getting 'combat ready' (as the light blue fraternity term it), getting night qualled on the boat, specialising in a flying regime: qualified flying/helicopter instructor, air warfare officer, electronic warfare officer etc.
So, all in all, you'll be kept busy with your professional roles, your officer roles, your swanning about making the chix swoon roles (they really love WAFUs, despite what they say to the contrary) and that's before you get to the socialising
Yes, do get involved with the ATC and do it properly. Get as much out of the organisation as you possibly can (you can always give back later in life). Get your D of E awards, get your gliding and flying scholarships, try out for the International Air Cadet exchange, shoot, camp, do the leadership courses. All these things will help you through the AIB and later on in your RN training. I'm 99.9% the AIB doesn't give a damn if you've been an air cadet or a sea cadet; it's being part of the organisation that's important and getting as much from it as you can.
In the meantime, develop a healthy fixation for the smell of rubber as you'll be living and swaggering in a rubber suit for a lot of the time on the boat :-D
