Royal Air Force airmen or airwomen work in a wide variety of support roles, mostly in ground support. A smaller number of airmen or airwomen are aircrew and have flight duties. All RAF airmen or airwomen must be ready to go to war. They may provide support on the ground or fly aircraft.
The Work
In ground support you could be:
working in one of many different trades in 7 main areas: air operations support, intelligence, force protection, logistics, medical and medical support, personnel support and technical and engineering
working in a machine shop, office or outdoors, depending on your trade
supporting aircrew in a war zone.
In aircrew you could be:
flying on multi-engined aircraft or helicopters
operating weapon systems
looking after equipment while on flights
taking part in patrol and observation flights
flying in combat zones, in time of war.
In both areas you could be:
taking part in training exercises, in the UK or overseas, to practise for battle
undertaking exercise programmes in order to keep fit.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
what job you do.
New recruits start at £16,844 a year whilst in professional training. Initial pay after training is usually £21,425 a year, but in some specialist roles it is more. You get extra allowances in some jobs and for being overseas.
The following rank scales are a general guide:
Aircraftman/woman and Senior airman/airwoman - £21,425 to £29,665
Lance Corporal - £28,351 to £31,043
Corporal - £33,065 to £34,922
Sergeant - £37,198 to £40,057
Flight Sergeant - £41,872 to £49,067
Warrant Officer - £52,746 to £54,818.
The RAF provides subsidised food and accommodation as well as uniforms and protective clothing, free healthcare and a pension.
Conditions
Working conditions vary, depending on where you are and what you are doing.
Most RAF personnel live on base although some homes are rented or privately owned. If you are married or in a partnership you may be able to live in Service Families' Accommodation.
You may be away from home and family for several months at a time, especially if on short term posts abroad.
You can be sent anywhere in the UK or abroad, sometimes at short notice.
You might have to work in very hot or very cold weather or in other extreme conditions.
Generally you work normal office hours, but sometimes you are required to work longer, irregular hours and you might have to work shifts.
You are entitled to 38 days holiday a year.
It is not always adventurous and exciting; there is a lot of routine work.
Many RAF staff rarely fly in the course of their work.
You should be aware that in the RAF, you may at times be operating in difficult and dangerous conditions and there may be the risk of injury or death.
Specific entry and eligibility requirements vary depending on the role you choose, but in general are as follows.
For most jobs you can join from the age of 16, but for some trades you must be 17.
The maximum joining age is 47, but may depend on the type of job.
If you are under 18 your parents or guardians must agree to you joining.
Qualifications vary depending on role but you generally need 2-5 subjects at National 4 or 5. English, Maths and a science subject or a language would be preferred, and may be necessary for some roles.
For some roles, such as musician, you must have the necessary qualifications before you join the RAF.
You must meet residency and nationality requirements – they are shown on the RAF website.
There are 7 stages to the application process: aptitude test; selection interviews; health assessment; fitness test; pre-recruit training course; and finally acceptance followed by training. This process normally takes around three months.
You must be fit and healthy with your body weight in proportion to your height.
The conditions on leaving and how much notice is required varies depending on which branch or specialism you are in. The RAF or Armed Forces recruitment offices would advise on this.
There is a National 4 Skills for Work course in Uniformed and Emergency Services, which introduces school pupils to careers in the armed forces, emergency services and Merchant Navy. Contact the Scottish Qualifications Authority for details. Some colleges also run Entry to the Uniformed Services courses.
able to accept strict discipline and follow instructions quickly
good at working in a team
able to react quickly
able to remain calm and to work in dangerous situations.
Training
Most entrants do a 10-week Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.
This is followed by role-specific training for your chosen job.
Some aircrew roles also involve a 10-week training course in leadership and management skills, at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
RAF Regiment Gunners do an additional 18-week training course at RAF Honington in Suffolk.
You will continue to do short training during your time in the RAF, to keep you up to date.
Getting On
Promotion for airmen or women depends on how well you do, and taking RAF training courses can help you get on – for some jobs you must pass certain training courses.
To become a corporal and sergeant you go through a selection process.
The highest non-commissioned officer rank is that of warrant officer, but you can apply to become a commissioned officer if you are suitably qualified.
When you leave the RAF, you will be able to use a lot of your skills in other jobs.
More Information
For detailed information about the Royal Air Force, phone 0345 605 5555 or visit the Royal Air Force website to find your nearest recruitment centre.
