I am a civilian but can guide you through my experiences.
1. You must be in possession of NADRA Smart Card.
2. You should convert your O Level and A Level certificates and obtain equivalence certificates from IBCC.
If you are only done with the part-1 of A Level, you can still apply provided you have 65% marks in A Level part-1 and obtain a hope certificate to pass your A Level part-2 with the desired marks.
3. Visit PAF Information & Selection Centre (I&SC), if there is one near you. You can have information from there too. Nonetheless, lets continue guiding you here for now.
4. Becoming an officer is called commission. There are two types of commissions: Permanent Commission (PC) and Short Service Commission (SSC)/ Special Purpose Short Service Commission (SPSSC).
5. PC is advertised twice per year for intermediate/ FSc/ A Level students. Inbetween there is also at times SSC/SPSSC for graduates and other candidates with higher qualifications for various branches that are non-GDP and have to do with admin. Their job tenure is less as compared to the ones who are selected through PC. Same goes for army and navy. Seniority is given as per qualifications and the the type of commission one has applied for.
6. Now we will only focus on GDP (General Duties Pilot). Basic requirements are:
Age: 16-22 years
Gender: usually male but sometimes females can also apply when mentioned in advertisement
Nationality: Pakistani
Marital Status: Unmarried
Height: Minimum 5 feet 4 inches/ 163 cm
Eyesight/ vision: 6/6 each eye without glasses
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Educational Qualifications:
You will be needing minimum 60% marks in your A Level with subjects combination of Physics and Maths or Biology (same as pre-engineering or pre-medical).
7. If you find yourself fit as per the above requirements, you will apply either online on
www.joinpaf.gov.pk or visit PAF I&SC, if and when a commission is announced. You can track it in leading English newspapers and also on the above PAF website. 162 GDP is going to be announced in the coming months. Be ready for that.
8. You will print-out your online test slip/roll no. slip if you are applying online from your own home or it will be given to you if you are applying/registring through PAF I&SC.
9. A GDP candidate is required to pass 3 online tests:
i. Intelligence (verbal/ non-verbal)
ii. English
iii. Physics (based on FSc/ A Level syllabus).
All the above tests would be MCQs. You will be required to pass them each within a limited time. For example, you will be given 35 minutes to solve 100 questions of intelligence, 30-40 minutes to solve English and same for Physics.
The intelligence test requires practise and habit of not getting stucked in a single question. First solve the easy ones and when you have plenty of time, move back towards the ones that require time.
Your speed should be 3-4 MCQs per minute for intelligence test.
Once you clear intelligence test, you will undergo the next tests of English and Physics which are comparatively easier and less in hurry. Be sure to practise the basic grammar and learn idioms.
Buy a book by Dogars or Khokhar brothers to practise the above 3 tests. Consider buying
Super Excellent Academic and Intelligence Book by Nazar Sattar Khokhar.
It should be for GDP and not airman. It gives a very good practise for the aforementioned tests. All the prep can be done from this single book. But you must check its contents and audience before buying it.
10. Once the online tests are over, your roll no. slip would be stamped as per your result: Pass/Fail.
It is noteworthy that if a candidate fails intelligence test, he/she is not allowed to attempt the rest of the tests because he or she has failed. You will have to reappear in next course. This is called screening test. A candidate has ONLY 3 chances in entire life whether you appear after intermediate or after your graduate or postgraduate studies. So make sure you are NOT screened out otherwise you will lose a chance.
11. Candidates who qualify online tests are given a time and date for initial medical examination which is to be carried out in the same centre by a GDMO (General Duty Medical Officer) and medical technicians. If there are any complications, a candidate is referred to CMH/MH to be examined by a specialist doctor.
12. Once the medical examination is clear, an interview time and date is given. It too is conducted in the same centre by the CO (Commanding Officer) who usually happens to be a Squadron Leader. The interview is conducted in a friendly manner and candidates are passed without any difficulties unlike the interviews of army.
13. Upon clearing your interview, you will be given ISSB forms to fill-up and return after 1-3 days.
14. Then you will have to wait for your ISSB call-up letter which could be issued after 1-4 months of forms submission. In the meanwhile, work on your stamina and the upcoming exams of ISSB. You have to be prepared for that as well.
15. ISSB (Inter Services Selection Board) is of 4 days:
Day 1. Reporting Day: You will report at your mentioned ISSB centre, go through documents submission, height and weight measurements, chest no. allotment, snapping a picture, room allotment and filling bio-data forms till evening.
Day 2. Psych Dimensions/ Interview with Psychologist: Screening Test will be conducted, comprising of intelligence tests (verbal/ non-verbal) and mechanical aptitude tests. If you fail to qualify that, you will be deemed to have failed, but will continue with the tests of the next few days. In the past, if a candidate failed screening test at ISSB, he or she used to be sent back home that very day. Now rules have been relaxed and they still let you experience the entire duration of ISSB.
You will then have an inteview with psychologist.
Day 3. GTO (Groupt Testing/Task Officer) Tests/ Interview with Deputy President: All the candidates would be assembled in a large hall where GTOs will come turn by turn and announce chest numbers. Accordingly, a queue will be made and all the GTOs will lead their groups firstly for indoor tasks/tests and then for outdoor tasks/tests.
a. Indoor Tasks/ Tests: introduction, group discussions, group lecture, group/ map planning.
b. Outdoor Tasks/ Tests: Individual obstacles, full group tasks, half group tasks and final group task.
Day 4. Conference Day: ISSB selectors sit together and discuss the performance of every candidate. Few are recommended and most are not recommended.
The above tests can be scheduled differently for different groups. For further details and guidance, buy an up-to-date book of Dogars about ISSB.
16. CMB (Central Medical Board): All the ISSB recommended candidates are sent to CMB Lahore or Karachi. There they undergo detailed medical examination which lasts for a few days.
17. Flying Aptitude Test (FAT): There are a series of tests that are to be passed. I have never been to CMB and FAT therefore cannot guide you further.
18. Air Head Quarters Merit List: A merit list is prepared and desired candidates are intimated for joining their training at PAF Academy Asghar Khan, Risalpur.
19. 3 years Training: You will have to complete a BSc and an year of flying training, successfully, to be considered for PC. If any problems or shortcomings arise during training, cadets are accommodated in other branches.
For further details, please follow this
link. It will tell you all about the basic flying training, conversion courses at Mianwali for becoming a combat pilot and a transport pilot and finally the advanced tactics and weapons training at Combat Commanders School, Sargodha.
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