RAF/Navy related question here...

[Millie]

Would being dyslexic exclude you from a career, esp with the RAF? Ive searched the "you cant join if...." section and its not listed, but you have to pass a literacy test to be accepted, will they make allowances?

[jondy]

You write well Millie. Your career may not involve things that worry you. The wealthiest person I know is very dyslexic it does not hold him back.

Go for it, Persist, keep trying, you can not fail in the end.

John

[baldowrie]

I agree, you don't have to spell well to be in the services. As long as you show you have the capability and knowledge, or willingness to learn, then I can't see them docking points because you can't spell. Good grief if they did half the service personnel would get the sack!

[Millie]

Its for my son, hes got to apply by feb as he leaves school summer 2007. Ive not mentioned my concerns to him, but I just want to be sure myself, as it would be awful for him to get there and then feel let down. He was going to go into college to do catering, but he feels he would have better opportunities with catering in either the RAF (preffered) or the navy.

[2steps]

My OH was turned down by the army as he has adhd but I found this http://www.rafcareers.com/istherafforme ... joinif.cfm and it looks like your son should be ok :) there's also an advice line you could phone and find out for sure. My brother wants to join the RAF too. Good luck

[PurpleDragon]

I think there may be some problem if there is colour blindness though

[Millie]

I agree, you don't have to spell well to be in the services. As long as you show you have the capability and knowledge, or willingness to learn, then I can't see them docking points because you can't spell. Good grief if they did half the service personnel would get the sack!

Im not too worried about his spelling, but more about the fact he struggles over reading words. If hes not sure he sometimes second guesses, which could be a tad dangerous in certain situations lol.

Thanks for the help all, I shall email them and triple double quadruple check lol!

[Millie]

I think there may be some problem if there is colour blindness though

Ah no colourblindness but he does wear glasses which will preclude him from certain jobs. Hopefully not catering though

[Stonehead]

I'd suggest he goes into an armed forces recruiting office ASAP and have a good talk with the staff, setting out exactly what he'd like to do, what his conditions entails, and what they think his chances would be.

Details of where to find them on the RN website.

Personally, I'd recommend the RN - navy slushies are by far the best IMO. But then again, I'm biased!!

[Tensing]

The RN certainly don't exclude you for Dyslexia, and the RFA the auxilary service who support the RN actually activily encourage dyslexics, before of the other skills that often go hand in hand with the condition. Have a look at the link below from the Marine Society who encourage young people in to merchant navy careers.

http://www.marine-society.org/Marine%20 ... n/dyslexia

Out of interest does he go to cadets, either ATC (Air Training Corps) or SCC ( Sea Cadets)?

Like Stonehead I'd have to recomend the RN.

[paradox]

I spent 11.5 years in the R.A.F and when i first started my technical phase of training it was dicoverd that i sufferd from a numeric form of dislexia.
At the time i was told even though i couldent be stopped from being in the R.A.F because of my dyslexia i couldent continue in my chosen trade.
This caused me to deny i had dyslexia and just struggle on pretending to be learning difficulty free.
This was a struggle for me but i still graded higher in exams than the majority of my course.

When i returned to the R.A.F technical training school 3 years ago to undertake further training so i could be promoted one of the maths tutors called me to one side after a class and asked me if i had ever been diagnosed with dyslexia.
I told him i had but i hid it so i could continue with my career.
He then told me that the policy on learning difficulties had changed and i recieved loads of tips and support.
I used an orange transparent sheet over exam papers which made them easier to read for me and i was also allowed an extra half an hour in exams to account for the way i worked out my sums (i work out sums in a very long winded way as i have to brake them down to the smallest possible the rebuild them back up to get the answer to one part of an equasion).


Sorry for waffling.
In answer to your question H.M forces allow you to join them if you have learning difficulties and the offer a wealth of support.
In my experiance in the forces its not how clever you are or what learning difficulties you have that bothers people.
If your willing to put 100% effort in to everything you do even if your tired hungry and uninspired then you will go far.

pop into you local forces careers office and have a chat with them in there to discuss what you would like to do.

You may find the R.A.F are not recruiting in many trades for a few yaers especially the technical trades as the R.A.F is going through a major shake up at the moment and as far as im aware most of the technical training facilitys are being used to train the saudi airforce as the suadis are paying us well for the training.


Good luck with whatever you decide but remember the forces are not just a job its a completly differant way of life.

[Stonehead]

In my experiance in the forces its not how clever you are or what learning difficulties you have that bothers people.
If your willing to put 100% effort in to everything you do even if your tired hungry and uninspired then you will go far.

Couldn't agree more. Also helps if you later decide to become a smallholder, crofter or self-sufficientish type!

remember the forces are not just a job its a completly differant way of life.

And can be a complete shock for those who don't come from services backgrounds. That's why some cadet experience can help a bit.

The main thing to remember is the "team" always, always comes first. That can be bloody irritating at times, but it's vital, necessary and has its rewards.

[Tensing]

The RAF are also changing their entry criteria, all the trades that cuurently state you need no formal qualifications for, you will do soon. I over heard the RAF woman the other day when I took my son along to se the RN AFCO.

[Millie]

LOL at the reply!

Dear Enquirer,

Thank you for your enquiry. Unfortunately your question relates to a specific topic, please contact the RAF Careers Team on 0845 605 5555

[Millie]

Checked out RN and dyslexia not a problem :D