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The Induction Process

The Air Corp Officer Cadet Competition is held when there is a requirement to induct new Pilot Trainee’s and is the only way for potential candidates to join the Defence Forces to become an Air Corp Flight Officer.

Application

Potential Candidates are required to complete an online application form through this website. The dates for the competition are advertised in the National Papers and on this website with applications only being accepted on these dates. All correspondence with applicants will be done through email for the duration of the competition.

Psychometric Testing

All candidates who meet the minimum eligibility criteria will then be invited to attend a Psychometric Testing centre, where they will be required to complete the following tests:

Verbal Reasoning
Numerical Reasoning
Job Simulation Exercise

Overnight Assessment Centre:
Candidates who are successful at the psychometric testing phase are invited to attend an Assessment Centre in the Baldonnel Aerodrome, Dublin. The assessment centre comprises of:-

Induction Fitness Test – this is a pass/fail test, candidates who do not pass will not be allowed to continue in the competition

Realistic Job Preview – Candidates will receive briefs from serving Officer Cadets and Junior Officers to give them an insight to military life

Psychometric and Psychological Assessment – a candidates psychomotor skills, i.e. hand and eye co-ordination are tested at this stage. The psychological assessment is used to access a potential candidate’s psychological state of mind.

Interview

Candidates who are successful at the Assessment Centre will be asked to attend for Interview in the Baldonnel Aerodrome, Dublin The interview is competency based where Candidates will be assessed under the following competencies

Technical Aptitude
Communication/ Interpersonal skills
Leadership and responsibility
Motivation
Maturity
High stress tolerance
Team player

Medical & Security Clearance

The top scoring candidates at the Interview will then be called to attend a full military medical examination, to include a full air medical, in St. Bricin’s Military Hospital in Dublin. In conjunction with this all candidates will be security vetted by An Garda Siochana. Candidates will be required to pass both the medical examinations and security vetting to be considered for induction.

Award of an Officer Cadetship

The candidates who finished at the top of the competitions order of merit will then be offered an Air Corp Officer Cadetship.

Induction

Takes place during the first day of enlistment, where Officer Cadets are required to take the following oath / declaration:-

I........................................................................................., do solemnly swear (or declare) that I will be faithful to Ireland and loyal to the Constitution and that while I am a member of the Defence Forces I will obey all lawful orders issued to me by my superior officers and that while I am a member of the Permanent Defence Force I will not join or be a member of or subscribe to any political organisation or society or any secret society whatsoever and that, if I become a member of the Reserve Defence Force, I will not, while I am a member of the Reserve Defence Force, join or be a member of or subscribe to any secret society whatsoever.

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