RAF officer

As an RAF officer, you will command, motivate and lead teams of aircrew. After initial training, you’ll train in your chosen specialist area, for example, as pilots, navigators or administrative officers.

Also known as:

Airforce officer
Officer (RAF)
Royal Air Force officer

Work activities

The RAF is made up of different trades and branches. Officers specialise in particular areas and are responsible for aircrew under their command. Roles fall into the following areas:

Aircrew: Pilot, remotely piloted aircraft system pilot

Air operations support: Air traffic officer, flight operations officer, flight operations manager

Communications and intelligence: Intelligence Officer

Force protection: Intelligence officer, RAF police officer, RAF regiment officer

Logistics: Logistics officer

Medical and medical support: Dental officer, medical officer, medical support officer, nursing officer

Personnel support: Legal officer, media operations officer, personnel officer

Technical and engineering: Engineer officer

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, especially if working as aircrew.

Personal qualities and skills

As an RAF officer, you will need:

A responsible attitude.
Leadership skills.
Administrative, organisational and management skills.
Communication skills.
Stamina and endurance.
Physical fitness.
Motivate.
Make decisions.
Lead by example.
Impose discipline.
Accept responsibility.
Work well as a member of a team.

Pay and opportunities

RAF officers earn between £27,273 to £42,009. Pay depends on rank, role and service length.

Hours of work for RAF officers vary depending on operational requirements but may include shifts, early starts, late finishes, weekend work and working on public holidays. As an RAF officer, 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. You 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 careers website for the latest recruitment information.

Entry routes and training

You can usually enter the RAF as an officer from the age of 18. However, for a number of specialisms the minimum age of entry is different. You can apply to join the RAF as an officer after sixth-form/college, higher education, or employment. The RAF also offers sixth-form and university sponsorships. To enter, you need to successfully complete aptitude tests, a health assessment (including two or three fitness tests) and a selection interview.

All successful applicants have 30 weeks of Phase One Initial Officer Training, with a strong emphasis on leadership and management skills. When you’ve finished this, you will begin Phase Two training, which is in your chosen area of expertise. The duration of this training depends upon which role you are looking to specialise in.

There is a clear route of progression and promotion available to officers in the RAF. You join the RAF for a minimum length of service. This varies, according to your specialism, but is usually between six and 12 years.

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.

Qualifications

To enter the RAF as an officer, the usual minimum requirement is:

Two A-levels
Five GCSEs (grades 9-4), including English and maths.

However, entry requirements do vary according to your chosen job role. For example, graduates are preferred in some roles; and professional qualifications may be accepted, preferred or even required.

Adult opportunities

Age limits apply to this occupation. Age requirements vary depending on which role you choose. To serve as an officer, you must be aged between 18 and 54.

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