RAF AIRCREW

What is the work like?
The Royal Air Force's (RAF) main responsibility at home is to defend UK airspace. It also operates a search and rescue service at sea and on land. Its role abroad is to operate both as a fighting and peacekeeping force. In addition, it brings aid to the victims of war and natural disaster.
Airmen/women provide specialist skills in around 50 different trades. They also have military duties. These may include guarding RAF stations and taking part in military operations, exercises and training.
The trade areas are:
Aircrew - non-commissioned aircrew act as the RAF's eyes and ears in an operational environment, and also work in search and rescue. They include weapon systems operators who specialise in electronic warfare or acoustics (hunting submarines and ships).
Engineering and technical - specialists who work on equipment that ranges from aircraft engine components to hydraulics and flying helmets for aircrew. They include aircraft technicians (avionics), aircraft technicians (mechanical), survival equipment fitters, weapons technicians and general technicians. Up to one third of RAF personnel work in the engineering and technical area.
Catering and hospitality - responsible for catering in the UK and overseas, in-flight and on attachment. They include caterers and chefs.
Force protection - responsible for protecting airbases, aircraft and RAF personnel. They include RAF Regiment gunners (the RAF's specialist infantry unit), police and firefighters.
Medical and medical support - provide services either in NHS hospitals or on RAF bases in the UK, and are trained and ready to go overseas. They include dental nurses, dental technicians, registered nurses, student nurses, pharmacy technicians, operating department practitioners, biomedical scientists, radiographers and environmental health technicians.
Personnel support - support RAF personnel in various ways. They include personnel administration assistants, physical training instructors and musicians.
Air operations support - support RAF aircraft. They include aerospace systems operators, flight operations assistants and air cartographers.
Communications and intelligence - operate the RAF's communications and information systems. This includes monitoring electronic pictures and maintaining telecommunications equipment used on missions all over the world. It also includes intercepting and analysing messages from the enemy. They include ICT specialists, intelligence analysts, intelligence analysts (voice), photographers and aerial erectors.
Logistics and equipment - control stock, manage budgets, transport equipment and make sure it arrives on time, where it is needed and ready for action. They include drivers, movers and suppliers.
Hours and environment
Airmen/women need to be available for duty at all times, but they usually work office hours over a five-day week. Occasional weekend work may be required. Some roles involve shifts, early starts and late finishes. On exercises or operations, working hours can be long and changeable.
At an RAF station, airmen/women work alongside hundreds of people. Many RAF stations are like small towns, with shops, gyms, crèches and banks.
Airmen/women may be posted to RAF bases in the UK or overseas, for example in Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Ascension Island and Gibraltar. They may also go on operations and exercises anywhere in the world, including conflict zones such as Afghanistan.
Salary and other benefits
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the type of job, qualifications, promotion and length of service.
Starting pay, after initial training, is around £16,000 a year.
Senior aircraftmen/women earn between £16,676 and £27,599 a year, depending on their trade.
Non-commissioned aircrew are paid £26,314 a year after completing their first six months of training. On completion of training, they are paid between £31,239 and £35,218 a year. They also receive flying pay, the amount depending on how long they have served.
Skills and personal qualities
Airmen/women should:
be able to work well as part of a team
be self-disciplined
be able to follow orders and use initiative
be prepared to serve their country anywhere in the world
have the ability to stay calm under pressure
be able to organise work and pay attention to detail
be physically fit
be prepared to travel and be away from their families for long periods.
Interests
It is important to:
enjoy being active
be prepared to learn new skills
enjoy the armed forces' lifestyle.
Getting in
There are more than 30,000 non-commissioned personnel in the RAF. Competition for trades varies. The RAF's careers website has a list of the trades most in demand on the 'search jobs' page.
Airmen/women join the RAF for a minimum length of service. The length of service required varies, but it is usually between six and twelve years. There are circumstances that allow people to leave before then. For example, it is possible to give notice to leave following the completion of three years' service after training. Many airmen/women extend their careers in the RAF well beyond the number of years they initially join for.
Entry routes
Entry to many trades is possible at 16 years of age. Some trades set a higher minimum age:
16.5 - suppliers
17 - environmental health technicians, student radiographers, drivers, movers, musicians
17.5 - aircrew, firefighters, intelligence analysts, operating department practitioners, student nurses
17.7 - medics
18 - police
21 - registered adult and mental health nurses.
No formal qualifications are needed to become an RAF Regiment Gunner. Qualifications required for other trades vary. Some require at least two GCSEs (A*-G), including English language and maths, while most others require between two and five GCSEs (A*-C), including English language and maths. A science or technology-based subject at GCSE is required for some trades and some medical trades require A levels or equivalent. See the RAF careers website for full details of entry requirements for each trade.
All candidates must pass aptitude tests designed to test reasoning and comprehension skills. They must also pass a fitness test, a health assessment and interviews.
Applicants must be of British, dual British, Commonwealth or Irish nationality when they apply. There are stricter nationality requirements for some jobs.
The upper age limit for entry to most trades in the RAF is 29 years. It is 32 for student and registered nurses. It is 33 for the RAF police and 36 for aircrew, caterers and RAF Regiment Gunners.
The RAF offers Apprenticeships in various fields including aircraft technician, hospitality, security guarding, public services, business and administration, providing aviation operations on the ground, information technology, warehousing and storage. Advanced Apprenticeships are available in aeronautical engineering, communications technologies and photo imaging.
Training
RAF Regiment Gunners train for around five months at RAF Honington in Suffolk. All other trainees undertake a nine-week training course at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.
Further specialist training follows. The length of training varies with different trades.
Increasingly, trade training involves working towards nationally-recognised qualifications such as NVQs, City & Guilds Awards, Higher National Diplomas (HNDs) or degrees.
All RAF personnel are encouraged to take advanced qualifications as their careers progress.
Getting on
Those who join the RAF as airmen/women or non-commissioned aircrew can progress to management roles or apply to become commissioned officers.

RAF OFFICER

What is the work like?
The main responsibility of the Royal Air Force (RAF) at home is to defend UK airspace. It also operates a search and rescue service at sea and on land. Its role abroad is to operate both as a fighting and peacekeeping force. In addition, it brings aid to the victims of war and natural disaster.
Officers are the senior managers of the RAF. They manage, lead and take responsibility for the welfare of the airmen and airwomen in their command. They also specialise in one of the following roles:
Pilots fly aircraft in air combat and ground attacks, to transport troops and equipment and in search and rescue. They may fly fast jet, multi-engine or rotary wing aircraft.
Weapons systems officers manage air-to-air combat in Tornado aircraft or operate weapons systems in other aircraft.
Engineer officers specialise either as aerosystems engineers, responsible for the weapons, avionics and propulsion systems of all kinds of aircraft or as communications electronics engineers, maintaining every type of communications link, from telephone exchanges to satellite communications.
Catering officers manage accommodation, restaurants and other eating areas, reception areas, bars and lounges. They also set up and manage catering in the field.
RAF police officers lead the RAF's own police force.
RAF Regiment officers lead infantry units which defend RAF airfields and other installations from ground and low-level air attack.
Dental officers are qualified dentists, practising on UK bases and overseas.
Medical officers are qualified doctors, providing medical care for RAF personnel and their families.
Medical support officers support the RAF's medical services in a range of management and administrative roles.
Nursing officers (in the Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service) provide nursing services to RAF personnel.
Personnel officers provide support services such as personnel management, accounting, estate management or public relations.
Chaplains minister to the wider RAF community, including service families.
Legal officers are qualified barristers and solicitors. They advise in criminal cases and conduct prosecutions both in the UK and overseas.
Physical education officers arrange fitness programmes, organise adventurous training and run a wide range of sports facilities.
Training officers design, set up and run training courses.
Air traffic control officers use radar and communications equipment to help aircraft take off and land and provide pilots with flight and navigation information.
Aerospace battle managers manage battles in the sky. Some are weapons specialists who direct combat aircraft, surveillance specialists who monitor the skies and gather war-fighting information, and space specialists who warn of missiles and hostile intelligence-gathering satellites.
Flight operations officers plan and manage the RAF's flying tasks.
Intelligence officers obtain, analyse and provide defence intelligence.
Supply officers manage the movement of personnel, aircraft, freight, fuel, explosives and technical equipment.
Hours and environment
Officers need to be available for duty at all times, but they usually work office hours over a five-day week. Occasional weekend work may be required. Some roles involve shifts, early starts and late finishes. On exercise or operations, working hours can be long and changeable.
Many RAF stations are like small towns, with shops, gyms, crèches and banks.
Officers may be posted to RAF bases in the UK or overseas, in territories such as Cyprus, the Falkland Islands, Ascension Island and Gibraltar. They may also go on operations and exercises anywhere in the world, including conflict zones such as Afghanistan.
Salary and other benefits
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the type of job, qualifications, promotion and length of service.
Pilot officers earn around £23,475 a year. Graduates may be offered enhanced promotion and can expect higher salaries.
Flight lieutenants earn from £36,160 to £43,002 a year.
Squadron leaders earn between £45,548 and £55,550 a year.
There are different pay scales for some specialist officers who join with professional qualifications. Salaries are higher for the most senior personnel.
Skills and personal qualities
RAF officers should:
be able to manage and lead people
be able to work as part of a team
have strong communication skills
be prepared to serve their country anywhere in the world
be able to accept responsibility and make decisions under pressure
be able to communicate clearly with people
be physically fit
be able to think and react quickly
be able to lead by example and motivate others
be prepared to travel and be away from their families for long periods.
Interests
It is important to:
be interested in challenging work and learning new skills
enjoy the armed forces' lifestyle.
Getting in
There are almost 9,000 officers in the RAF.
Officers join for a minimum length of service. This is usually between six and 12 years. Many extend their career in the RAF well beyond the number of years for which they initially join up.
Competition for some specialisations can be fierce. The RAF's careers website has a list of the officer roles most in demand.
Entry routes
Entrants need to be aged at least 17 years and six months (older for some specialisations).
Entry to many specialisations is with at least two A levels and five GCSEs (A*-C), including English and maths or equivalent qualifications. Many entrants are graduates. Some roles have more specific entry requirements:
engineer officers need a relevant degree or professional qualification
medical officers, nursing officers, legal officers and chaplains must be professionally qualified
dental officers can train as dentists with the RAF or can enter after qualifying
physical education officers need a relevant degree
training officers must have a degree or a professional qualification
catering officers need a relevant HND, degree or professional qualification.
Applicants must be of British, dual British, Commonwealth or Irish nationality when they apply. For security reasons, there are stricter nationality requirements for some roles. For example, intelligence officers must have been British citizens since birth.
The RAF offers a range of sponsorship schemes for those in school sixth forms and at university.
Applicants have to pass a series of selection tests held at the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF College Cranwell, in Lincolnshire. The selection process lasts for up to four days and includes aptitude tests, fitness assessments, interviews and an occupational health assessment.
There are upper age limits for entry. These range from 23 years for pilots to 55 years for medical and dental officers. The upper age limit for entry to most branches is 36 years.
Training
Entrants first take the 30-week initial officer training course at RAF College Cranwell.
Professionally qualified entrants, such as medical officers and legal officers, undertake shorter training (around three months) at Cranwell.
After successfully completing initial training, officers go on to specialist training in their chosen branch.
Getting on
Promotion is possible to flight lieutenant, squadron leader, wing commander, group captain and beyond.

So what is the best career to go into in the RAF?

Many peole think that being a Officer in th RAF is the best thing but not always. For those peole who like management and who want to go higher in their career to increase pay and presence being a officer suits you. But for people who want to have a more hands on job that they actually enjoy being part of the aircrew sounds more your thing.

So youve made up your mind and want to be a Officer in the Raf but cannot choose which role.
vist: www.raf.mod.uk/careers
There are over 20 different roles as a officer in the Raf and obviously the role of a pilot is the most glamerous but most competative.

RAF or civvy street?

The RAF has many advantages over being in civvy street. The RAF is classed as a way of life rather than just a job you have to earn money. Although civvy pay and RAF pay are similar there are many more perks with beig in the RAF than in civvy street. In the RAF you get cheeper housing, food allowances, more oppurtunities to take qualifications, travel allowences, free health care, pay towards childrens education and most of all a cracking pension, especially the officer trades. So being in the RAF may be a more glamerous lifestyle than you might think. On duty you are encouraged to take part in sport and any oother activities that you may like to do. For those who are really good at their sport may be able to get sponsorship to take them higher. However in civvy street you may get a good company car but thats about it.