Weapon Systems Operator
Name: Keeley Winship 
Age: 29
Rank: Flight Sergeant
Base: RAF Kinloss
Combing the world’s oceans from the North to the South Pole, hunting and tracking submarines and surface ships, Acoustic Specialist Weapon Systems Operators patrol the waters from the skies.
Sound cool? Keeley Winship thought so too! And we spoke to her to find out what it’s really like flying in the RAF.
Q. What drew you to the RAF?
A. I had wanted to join the RAF since I was a teenager. I joined the Air Cadets when I was 14 – my dream was to fly RAF aircraft.
Unfortunately, despite winning an RAF flying scholarship and completing the course at Dundee Airport, I didn’t pass the aptitude test for Pilot training and was forced to reassess my options.
Q. So what made you choose the WSOp role?
A. Through the Air Cadets I had already learnt how to glide. It was through gliding that I met an RAF WSOp. He told me about his job in the RAF and it sounded fantastic. I visited my local Armed Forces Careers Office in Birmingham and it all just took off from there.
Q. What was WSOp training like?
A. When I joined there were five girls on basic training and we had a great time, living together in a barrack block. It was tough for all of us, both male and female, but the RAF tends to attract like-minded people, so we all bonded really easily and the support was fantastic.
I then completed the next phase of training, which included all the basic aircrew skills including principles of flight, communications, meteorology and survival training. I was then streamed WSOp Sensor and completed a further 12 weeks’ training, and then 17 weeks of training to recognise ship and submarine electronic signatures.
Q. What’s it like being a female in the RAF?
A. I was the only female WSOp on the Squadron when I started, but that didn’t make any difference to how I was treated. Doing a good job is what earns respect, not whether you are male or female. We are a team and that is what counts.
Q. What are your favourite parts of the role?
A. Every day is completely different, that’s the perk for me. Often there is just a week’s notice to find out where you might be going next and before you know it you could be half way around the world. I have spent time in countries like Canada, Malta, Sicily, France, Turkey, New Zealand, India, Oman, Iraq and the Caribbean.
Q. Wow! Sounds like you’re always on the move!
A. Not really. I still get lots of time to go the gym and keep fit. I also had the chance recently to complete a Duke of Edinburgh Gold award, which the RAF allowed me extra time off for.
WSOp Acoustic sound like the challenge for you? Hear more about it
