RAF airperson

As an RAF airperson, you will work in a variety of trades, mostly in ground support. However, a small number of airmen/women do have flight duties.

Also known as

• Airforce soldier
• Royal Air Force airperson

Work activities

As a Royal Air Force (RAF) airperson, you will be helping to maintain the security of the UK and its allies from the air, as well as providing relief and aid where needed. Most people have ground trades, while a small number have flight duties. There are over 50 different roles you can perform within the RAF, and they fall within the following areas:

• Aircrew.
• Air operations support.
• Air traffic controller, flight operations.
• Catering specialist, chef, driver, mover, distribution specialist.
• Chaplain, human resources, musician, physical training instructor.
• Communications and intelligence.
• Dental nurse, paramedic, RAF medic, nurse.
• Electrician, engineer, ICT technician, general technician, aircraft technician, weapons technician, vehicle and mechanical equipment technician.
• Firefighter, RAF police, regiment gunner.
• Force protection.
• Intelligence analyst, photographer, joint cyber unit.
• Logistics.
• Medical and medical support.
• Personnel support.
• Technical and engineering.
• Weapons system operator.

Whatever role you take on, you must be prepared to live and serve anywhere in the UK and overseas. Sometimes you will have to work in difficult, dangerous (and sometimes life-threatening) conditions.

Personal qualities and skills

As an RAF airperson, you need to be:

• Physically fit.
• Determined.
• Coolheaded.
• Intelligent.
• Energetic.
• Flexible and adaptable.

You need to have:

• Stamina.
• Quick reactions.
• The ability to push yourself.
• A sense of responsibility.
• A readiness to obey orders.
• The ability to work as a member of a team.

Pay and opportunities

Pay during training is £16,235. However, once training has been completed, your starting salary will depend upon the role you perform and could increase to £39,000.

Hours of work for airmen/women vary depending on operational requirements, but may include shifts, early starts, late finishes, weekend work and working on public holidays. You may need to work at short notice, and you should expect to work longer hours during military exercises or on operational missions.

RAF personnel are based at military bases throughout the UK and abroad. RAF personnel can expect to be deployed anywhere in the world, sometimes at short notice. This can mean extended periods spent away from home.

Where are vacancies advertised?

See the RAF’s website for the latest recruitment information.

Entry routes and training 

For entry to most trades in the RAF, you need to be at least 16 – upper age limit varies depending on the role. Those becoming aircrew (weapons systems operators) must be at least 17.5 years old. Women are recruited into all parts of the RAF, all pay scales and role related fitness standards are the same, and unrelated to gender. Potential airpersons – except for pilots – take aptitude and fitness tests and have a health assessment and selection interview at an Armed Forces Careers Office. Potential aircrew and air traffic controllers attend RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire for their tests and interview. Intermediate apprenticeships in the specific role you are interested in are a great place to start, and you can view all the options on the RAF apprenticeships site.

Once selected, most recruits undertake up to 11 weeks of basic military training. Gunners spend 29 weeks in military training. Those learning a trade will then follow a specialised training path. This often includes study for qualifications, such as City & Guilds and Edexcel (BTEC) level 3 National qualifications. Length of training varies from a few weeks to 18 months, depending on the trade you choose. Those becoming aircrew (weapons systems operators) follow initial training with a 10-week leadership training course. This is followed by specialised training for the specific role and type of aircraft to be worked on.

There is a clear route of progression and promotion available to RAF personnel. When you enter the RAF in one of the trades, you usually sign up for nine years’ service.

Rehabilitation of Offenders Act: Some careers in the RAF are exceptions to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. This means that you must supply information about any spent or unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings, if asked. This is different from other careers, where you only have to reveal information on unspent convictions if you are asked to.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. Age requirements vary depending on which role you choose. The youngest age for applying is 15 years and nine months for an airperson (to start aged 16). The oldest is 55 years for a medical officer. If you’re under 18 years of age, you’ll need consent from a parent or guardian before you apply.

Related careers

• Air traffic controller
• Army soldier
• Air traffic services assistant
• Airline pilot
• Royal Marines commando
• Royal Navy rating
• Helicopter pilot - commercial
• Armed forces pilot
• RAF officer