Flight Lieutenant Sam Stewart describes her career as a dental officer in the RAF. The RAF offer sponsorship to selected dental students through the five years at dentistry university.
How it all began
I applied for this sponsorship during my second year. This involved a trip to my local Armed Forces Careers Officer where I had an initial interview to confirm my interest in joining the RAF.
More importantly, I was given the opportunity to ask questions. I particularly wanted to know how my role as a dentist, or Dental Officer, linked in to the wider role within the RAF and the Defence Dental Services (DDS).
Selection
Dental Officer Selection involves a four-day process at the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. The four days involve a basic medical examination, computer aptitude tests, a formal interview, fitness testing, leadership exercises both individually and as a team in the classroom, and practical leadership exercises in a hanger. Although challenging, it was also very rewarding and, in addition to learning new things about myself, it was an opportunity to meet some great people, some of whom remain friends five years later.
Having been awarded an RAF bursary (cash at the start of the academic year) in my 3rd year, I was encouraged and expected to join the University Air Squadron. This presented some amazing opportunities - I was able to get 12 hours of flying tuition in a training aircraft (the Grob Tutor), I learnt to ski on a University Air Squadron ski trip and I helped to organise a summer ball at a lovely country estate near Bath. A year later my bursary award was upgraded to a Dental Cadetship, a monthly salary, making me a very wealthy student!
Basic military skills
I graduated from Bristol and had an eleven-week Specialist Entrant and Re-entrant Initial Officer Training Course ahead of me, also at RAF Cranwell. Along with fellow professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Padres and Lawyers) I learnt the basic military skills of weapon handling, drill, physical training and leadership. This culminated in two exercises in the field where I put my new skills into practice.
The foundation scheme
Along with seven other first year Dental Officers from the RAF, Army and Navy, I arrived at RAF Halton in Aylesbury for the first of seven residential weeks spread throughout the foundation year. Within the first week, we had all become firm friends and, in the midst of lectures, presentations and coursework, we found some time to socialise. The DDS foundation scheme runs weekly courses approximately every six weeks as all the foundation dentists are based over the UK & Germany. Although the majority of foundation modules are based in Aylesbury, one of the weeks was held in Rheindahlen, Germany, and I also spent three weeks on a paedodontic detachment at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. The DDS foundation scheme is a packed course and high standard of work is expected. The work load involves a Key Skills Portfolio, a Clinical Audit Project and a Case Presentation. Like the civilian foundation schemes, there is also a professional development portfolio to complete. My foundation trainer, an experienced dentist with an MSc, was able to give me endless support as he was not under the time and financial pressures associated with civilian practice.
There are amazing opportunities to be had; work hard and you can make it happen!
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