Joining

Sponsorship

Sponsored students are automatically members of their nearest UAS. If you are preparing to go to university you might be eligible for RAF sponsorship through university in the form of University Bursaries and University Cadetships.

Non-Sponsored Undergraduates

If you are just starting university or wish to join for your remaining time, please read the following details and requirements to find out what applies to you.

Which Universities Do We Recruit From?

  • University of Manchester

  • UMIST

  • Manchester Metropolitan University

  • University of Salford

When and Where Do We Recruit?

Recruitment is usually done during Freshers' Week by staff and students from MASUAS. Potential members will receive a short informal interview and will be asked to fill in a few forms; about you, your hobbies, background and other general information. The details for this year's initial interviews are as follows:
17-20 September 2001, between 10.00hrs and 17.00hrs,

at the Precinct Centre, over Oxford Road, Manchester (opposite the library).

Applicants who pass this first stage will then be asked at a later date to a formal interview and medical. Those successful at stage 2 will be invited to join the Squadron.

Eligibility

To join a UAS you must become a member of the Volunteer Reserve. Membership entitles you to fly in military aircraft of the RAF, and you must also satisfy some age, educational, and nationality requirements. Broadly speaking this means you must be:
  1. Older than 17 and a half years on joining and younger than 23 and a half years old on graduation from University.
  2. A full time undergraduate with 2 A levels or equivalent, studying for a first degree with at least 5 terms remaining before graduation.
  3. You must have been born in the United Kingdom, or in a country which was at the time a member of the Commonwealth or the republic of Ireland. In addition, you must have been a citizen of one of these countries since birth.

Enlistment

If you are selected for UAS training you are enlisted in the RAFVR with the status of Officer  Cadet. You are not commissioned and the UAS membership carries no obligation on the part of the RAF to offer you a commission - nor for you to join the RAF. As an RAFVR member you are, however, subject to Air Force Law and are expected to behave in a way that does not bring the RAF into disrepute. Your UAS membership can be  terminated if you fail to make what your UAS Squadron Commander regards as satisfactory progress - or if you request it.

Health

Service personnel are required to  have a good level of fitness and health. At recruitment you will be required to fill out a detailed medical questionnaire stating your current state of  health, and you medical history. If you have any medical problems about which you are  unsure, then telephone MASUAS prior to the recruitment day for advice.

Contacting Us

If you wish to know more about us, or if you are unsure about any details on this web page, you can email us at MASUAS@dial.pipex.com by clicking here, or you can telephone us on:
01704-872287 ext 7237.