Join the RAF’s own fighting soldiers.

Your work

Overview

The RAF Regiment is a highly specialised force with responsibility for providing all infantry orientated support to deployed air operations. Specialists in infantry operations in support of aircraft, the RAF Regiment conducts the defence of RAF airfields overseas, a unique Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear protection capability, forward air controlling, combat search and rescue, support to special forces operations, State and RAF Ceremonial tasks and the co-ordination of the RAF’s wider Force Protection needs.

As an RAF Regiment Gunner, you’ll become a specialist in infantry tactics and fieldcraft, operating a range of weapons from grenades and rifles, right up to anti-tank missiles, heavy machine guns and mortars; the RAF Regiment also has an impressive array of state of the art surveillance systems, designed to aid the location of the enemy so that the RAF Regiment can move in for the kill using any one of a number of vehicles. The RAF Regiment must be able to do this any time of the day or night, in any weather and environment, so they train in areas ranging from the desert to the Arctic to the jungle. Whatever the conditions, the enemy must not be allowed to stop our aircraft from flying!

Like most people in the RAF, you’ll probably move jobs every few years, and each job is known as a tour. There is a wide range of roles available to RAF Regiment Gunners, including:

• patrolling as part of a team in a large area surrounding an airfield to deter, locate and destroy any enemy attacker;
• working with the Army to call in and direct close air support;
• recovering downed aircrew or other important personnel;
• parachuting into a hostile environment to secure an airfield for RAF or coalition use;
• providing specialist capabilities to warn, and counter the effects, of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons;
• providing training for RAF personnel to operate in today’s dangerous operational environments; and
• taking part in ceremonial events in front of the Royal Family, visiting Heads of
State and VIPs.

Within your first few years, you’ll almost certainly be deployed on an overseas operation or exercise. You are likely to spend several months a year out of the UK in places as diverse as Canada, Central America and the Middle East.

Your first tour

For your first tour, you’ll be posted to an operational RAF Regiment squadron in the UK. Here you will consolidate your training and specialise in all the tactics, weapon systems and surveillance equipment to ensure that our overseas flying bases are free from enemy interference. You’ll train hard with your mates and then be proud to serve alongside them with the confidence of knowing that you are working with the best.

Your training

Initial training

Like everyone in the RAF, you’ll start your career with a period of training. The initial training for RAF Regiment Gunners is a course lasting 29 weeks at RAF Honington in Suffolk; this is the Regimental home and is a place to which you will return with fond memories over the course of your career. You’ll be taught how to handle and fire weapons expertly and how to survive and fight in all environmental conditions. The course includes navigation, infantry tactics, fieldcraft and lots of physical training. You’ll make friend that will last a life time and you will get to know them better than you know your own brother.

RAF Regiment training is a real test of character, determination and the will to succeed. By the end of the course, you’ll be at peak physical fitness and you’ll have learned how to operate effectively whatever the environmental conditions. The training needs to be hard to give you the confidence to overcome any situation that you find yourself in on operations; with determination you can do it. You will also complete your Apprenticeship, including an NVQ Level 2 in Policing and Security Services as well as Key skills. Once you’ve completed your basic training, which will include learning to drive, you’ll get your first posting.

Ongoing development

As your career progresses, we’ll continue to train you in new skills, particularly in new weapon systems. There are opportunities to learn specialist combat medical skills, to undertake management and leadership training and to complete GCSEs, A-levels and more advanced NVQs as your career develops. In addition, you’ll have the chance to gain qualifications in adventurous sports such as mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing and canoeing and lead training as an Enhanced Team Leader.

Your future

Prospects

You’ll initially join the RAF for a period of 9 years. After a year, you’ll be eligible for promotion to Senior Aircraftman providing you pass your Trade ability test. Further promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is for the taking; if you have what it takes, and the determination to succeed, the sky’s the limit.

Transferable skills

The qualifications and experience you can gain are as valuable in the civilian world as they are in the RAF – which means that whenever you decide to leave the RAF, you’ll be well placed to find a new job. As you move up through the ranks, you will gain a great deal of practical management and leadership experience, which you will have the opportunity to develop into related civilian qualifications. Gunners who have left the Service recently have started their own businesses or joined the police and other emergency services. We will give you the confidence to succeed in whatever you choose to do.

Entry qualifications

Age limits

16-36



Physical requirements

It will be a great advantage if you enjoy sport or take regular exercise; if you can’t swim already, we will teach you. We are looking for tough, robust men who enjoy the outdoors and practical work. If you have a history of epilepsy or fainting, or if you have certain types of colour blindness, you will not be able to join the RAF as an RAF Regiment Gunner. In addition, because the job may involve hand-to-hand combat, the RAF Regiment is open to men only.

Academic qualifications

None required.

Entry tests

You must pass a test at the AFCO. You also need to attend the Potential Gunner Acquaintance Course at RAF Honington in Suffolk. This is a short course designed to give you a chance to find out more about life as a Gunner and the demands of the basic training course. You’ll have interviews with RAF personnel as well as spending a night under field conditions. It’s a great taster and will give you a really good insight to see if life as a Gunner suits you; give it a go, it could be the beginning of the best years of your life.

The course will also give you an insight into the standards of fitness required, and includes some basic physical tests that you must pass in order to be able to start your training. You should be able to run 3 miles in 24 minutes (the test is run as a shuttle run multi-stage fitness test) and do 25 sit-ups and 10 press-ups in a minute each. In addition, you will undertake a 3km march carrying around 10 kilos of kit and must attempt a short swim. If you are determined you can do it.

Nationality

You must have been a citizen of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland since birth.

Residency

Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the five years immediately preceding your application.

Equal opportunities

The RAF values every individual’s unique contribution, irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social background. However, for reasons of combat effectiveness, the RAF Regiment is open to men only.