Go to the section on Joining and follow the guidelines and instructions.
UBAS recruits from the following universities:
Students joining UBAS become Officer Cadets within the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR). The membership is normally for 2 years but may be extended in certain circumstances. There is no commitment to join the RAF or to serve on operations. Students may resign from the RAFVR at anytime.
The Squadron has a nominal strength of 67 Officer Cadets. Approximately 30 are recruited each autumn.
UBAS has a small fleet of aircraft with which the staff provide flying instruction for all students (not just those who wish to be pilots in the RAF). Students are allocated 10 hours per year flying instruction but several manage to get more. UBAS also runs a number of adventurous training expeditions both at home in the UK and abroad with the aim of developing confidence, courage, team and leadership skills. Most students will have the opportunity to go on at least one overseas expedition per year. Aside from flying and adventurous training, students on UBAS may visit RAF bases during their vacation time to learn more about the RAF and the roles of its various personnel. Time is also spent, with the staff, learning basic military skills, leadership training, practising public speaking, various sports events and there is also a strong social life centred around the Squadron. These activities are all designed to prepare those who join the RAF for their early careers but will also provide a good skill base for those who go on to careers outside the military.
Yes. The RAF respects the private lives of its personnel regardless of sexual orientation and has strict rules about any form of harassment or bullying.
Yes, of course. The RAF welcomes high calibre people from all ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The first priority of your time at university must be academic success. That said, most students find that they have the time to take part in activities even when on degree courses with large amounts of contact time.
All members of the RAF and the RAFVR have to maintain a reasonable level of fitness to be able to do their jobs and take part in any of the activities. It is not a superhuman level of fitness but one that anybody who engages in regular sport or physical activity will have no difficulty achieving. All members of UBAS are subject to bi-annual fitness testing involving a multi-stage fitness test (shuttle runs), sit-ups and press-ups. Anyone not achieving the requisite level of fitness is given advice and remedial training to help them achieve a healthier lifestyle. In addition, anyone who wishes to take part in water-based activities will also have to pass the RAF swim test.
There is no joining fee and your travel expenses linked to Squadron activities will be reimbursed. In addition, officer Cadets can earn up to 35 days pay per year and subject to certain constraints earn a small tax-free bounty. Some activities (notably overseas expeditions) will incur a personal contribution and taking part in social events will incur a cost. However, most of our Officer Cadets are not from wealthy backgrounds and manage their finances well.
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