Flight Lieutenant Heidi Smith
Job role: Aerospace Battle Manager

Joined the RAF: 2002

Overseas travel: Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Belgium and Afghanistan

Career highlights:

• Qualifying as a combat-ready Weapons Controller
• Completing the Tactical Leadership Programme – a course that hasn’t been done by many Fighter Controllers as it tends to be run primarily for aircrew
• Working as a Weapons Controller in Afghanistan in support of troops on the ground

‘I joined the RAF after finishing a degree in Applied Mathematics at the University of Wales, Cardiff. Once I’d finished Initial Officer Training, at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire, I was trained up as a fire fighter and helped to cover during the fire brigade strike. This took six months while I waited for my Fighter Control specialist training to start.

‘I qualified as a Fighter Control Officer in 2003, specialising in weapons control. I was posted to RAF Buchan in Aberdeenshire, where I worked in the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC). When RAF Buchan closed in 2004, I was posted to the newly refurbished CRC at RAF Boulmer in Northumberland to continue my first tour.

‘During this time, I went on detachments to Cyprus with a Tornado GR4 squadron in support of the aircrew’s combat-ready training, and completed the Tactical Leadership Programme at Florrennes Air Base in Belgium. I also spent four months in the Falklands where I was detached as a Weapons Controller.

‘In 2006, I was posted to Number 1 Air Control Centre at RAF Kirton in Lindsey, Lincolnshire. I’ve recently come back from a three-month deployment in Afghanistan where the Air Force is supporting coalition troops on the ground.

‘I’m going back to Afghanistan in a couple of months. At the moment I’m doing a mixture of training and admin support to help personnel serving over there, including keeping in touch with their families.’

Web Chat session with Flight Lieutenant Heidi Smith - Wednesday 25 July 2007

All questions were moderated for content and suitability.

FABArcticMonkeys: How long were you on the Tactical leadership training in Belgium for? And did you ask to be put on this course or were you told to go on it?

Heidi Smith: I was in Belgium for five weeks. My boss was asked for a suitable candidate, and I was in the right place at the right time!

Matt7101: What secondary dutys do u have?

Heidi Smith: At the moment I am OIC (Officer in charge) of the Ladies football club. I'm also involved in looking after the charts that we require for daily control of aircraft in the UK. And making sure that they are all up to date.

Doog: Did you do the firefighting while you were waiting for your preferred choice to have a space?

Heidi Smith: I did the firefighting while I waiting for my fighter control course to start. It was a six month hold, and it was good to be out of the training environment for a while before starting more training. You don't often have to wait so long for a place on a course. But I thoroughly enjoyed it.

loz slater: how hard is the training to become a fighter controler

Heidi Smith: The training is hard, but well worth it in the end. It is an interesting job with lots of aspects to it. It takes roughly nine months to become qualified. However, people take longer or shorter as required. Once qualifying, you are always training for something. Be it for a supervisors role or just a more specialised part of the job.

Matt7101: As your job is not 9 til 5 do u the same time off as others?

Heidi Smith: It varies from year to year. And what job you are in at the moment. You generally stay in one job for no more than two years. At the moment I'm in a deployable unit, so I'm taking leave as and when I can get it. But generally there is no problem taking your leave requirement. A lot of fighter controllers work shifts, in which they have days off incorporated in to their pattern.

Matt7101: What other career would u have choosen if u hadnt been successful as a fighter controller?

Heidi Smith: It would definitely have been another job in the RAF people who are unsuccessful with fighter controller training generally do go on to do another trade in the RAF. In civillian street, I'd have probably been in another uniformed service of some type.

Nadia: as a female officer in the raf are you treated very differently to the men and how do you cope with the fitness

Heidi Smith: I do not feel that I'm treated differently to the men at all. However, the fitness levels are slightly different. And I do not struggle to pass them each year.

Matt7101: Do u get to do alot of sport and activitys?

Heidi Smith: It depends what job related stuff I have on at the time. I'm always the first to volunteer for any adventurous training opportunities that come up. I spent a week in Wales doing water sports just before I went off to Afghanistan. And I'm actively involved in the football club.

flyer88: Hi Heidi, Wots the most exciting thing you've done in the RAF?

Heidi Smith: I got a trip in an F3 (Tornado F3!), whilst I was in the Falklands. It made me feel sick as you like! But at least now I can tell everybody that I've been supersonic.

md: does the raf support equestrian sports?

Heidi Smith: It's not a sport that I'm involved in, but I know there are opportunities out there.

rebecca: How would you rate your IOT?

Heidi Smith: The IOT course has changed considerably since I went through Cranwell. So I'm not really up to speed on what it involves now. But I look back on my time at Cranwell fondly but it was hard work!

Kieran: do you ever get to be airborne as part of your job being a fighter controler?

Heidi Smith: There is the option to be a fighter controller on the AWACS aircraft. It's not something I've done yet. But would definitely not say no to it if the opportunity arose.

Nadia: im looking to join next year , i am working on my fitness but do you have any tips on how i can prepare myself for the interviews and the tests

Heidi Smith: There's loads of information and tips on the RAF careers website. The thing I benefitted most from though, was keeping current with 'current affairs'. For at least six months before I went to selection. So that I could talk about the issues fluently without having to rack my brain for recently crammed information.

rebecca: Would you recommend your job to other people?

Heidi Smith: Yes definitely. As a Weapons Controller, I control aircraft regularly (obviously!) And never fail to get a buzz when I go out on the radio. If a Sortie (mission) goes really well you feel a sense of pride afterwards.

AndyS: As an Officer, are the roles you get involved in extremely varied? For example, although your main role is Fighter Controller do you also get the chance to 'muck-in' and involve yourself pratically with Humanitarian Aid operations

Heidi Smith: In Afghanistan there was a period of heavy rain up in the mountains, which caused landslides and flooding. And we were asked to re-roll aircraft in particular hellicopters to go and help the local civillians, providing aid and rescue if required.

loz slater: what degrees or a-levels did u have to do

Heidi Smith: Take a look at the the Jobs section on the website which has lots of great info!

Doobie: How do you cope with being away from friends and family?

Heidi Smith: It is tough being away from friends and family, but it's great coming back and catching up with everyone again! And is a good excuse for welcome home parties!!! While you're away, the welfare package includes phonecalls home and internet access when available. It does depend on where you are.

Webs: What made you decide to be a fighter controller specifically? Is it a job that sends you all over the world?

Heidi Smith: I wanted to become a Fighter Controller, because besides aircrew trades, fighter control allows you to get quite involved in the pointy side of things!

Jamesy: Hi. I am hopefully going to go to Welbeck to do my A-levels. Did you go there or go to a different college?

Heidi Smith: Hi there. I didn't go to wellbeck I stayed in the school where I did my GSCE's.

louise: Does your job ever get too tiring? With all the hard jobs you have to do?

Heidi Smith: Sometimes if you've had a really busy console session, you can feel quite exhausted afterwards. However, you normally also feel a sense of achievement in what you've done. (As long as it went well!)

AndyS: How do you find living in the Officer's Mess on base? Do you find there is always someone around or something to do after work and at the weekends?

Heidi Smith: I lived in the officers mess for five years, but i now live out. It's a good social environment and there's normally someone in the bar to have a relaxing drink and a natter with after work.

Jamesy: i am a really sporty girl so i was just wandering if you still have lots of time to play sports being an Officer?

Heidi Smith: It depends what job you're in at the time. And how busy you are. I have managed to keep up my hockey and other numerous sports since joining.

stevie3: Why did you choose the RAF over a career in the Army or Navy?

Heidi Smith: I'm seasick! Army - erm - would have been an option actually. But RAF was always what I wanted to do.

Matt7101: Is there a chance to stay in touch with all the people you completed training with?

Heidi Smith: Plenty! The intranet has an email facility and I'm often in contact with them on my lunch breaks of course!

Matt7101: Is the food in the officers mess good? are there lot of choices?

Heidi Smith: Yes! But I'd avoid having cooked breakfasts every day!

AndyS: Although many of the overseas bases are closed now, is there still a lot of opportunity to travel and spend time abroad? Do you often do training with the Forces in the US?

Heidi Smith: There are exchange posts with lots of other NATO nations Fighter Controllers. We do a lot of training with the US. Both in this country and we travel over there. We have to stay in Vegas. I'm trying to get on the next Vegas detachment.

steve: I used to be an army bobsleigher, If I joined the RAF as an officer would it still be possible to participate in such events?

Heidi Smith: There is actually an RAF bobsleigh team. I'm sure they'd be happy to have you! We did have a bobsleigh team in the olympics (if I remember rightly!)

stevie3: When you meet new people, or maybe old friends from school, what do they think of you being in the RAF?

Heidi Smith: I'm always very proud to say what i do. I come from such an unmilitary background. They're often quite surprised.

Rhena: Hey I'm sitting my aptitude test tomorrow, any last tips to help me?

Heidi Smith: Nope but good luck and relax!

Moderator: This chat session closes in 10 minutes.

Kieran: Why fighter control and not air traffic control?

Heidi Smith: Fighter control is more to do with the actual missons that the RAF takes part in. And that is what appealed to me.

Tom-JJ: Have you travelled alot since joining?

Heidi Smith: While I was in the Falkland Islands I got to take a trip to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands on a Hercules and it's an experience I'd never have had the chance to do if I hadn't joined.

Matt7101: What has been the best part of your job so far?

Heidi Smith: The best experience so far has been my recent three months in Afghanistan. It was incredibly busy and I'm not looking forward to having to do it all again, but it feels really good to have done my job for real and hopefully made a difference.

Matt7101: WAs it just luck to be posted to the Falklands?its somewhere i have always wanted to go.

Heidi Smith: There are a few fighter control jobs in the Falklands. And most fighter controllers do get to go at least once for a four month detachment. I thoroughly enjoyed it. And the wildlife is fantastic!

Moderator: This chat session closes in 5 minutes.

stevie3: Have you worked closely with forces from other countries? Which ones are best?!

Heidi Smith: We work very closely with forces from other countries. The tactical leadership programme involves many NATO nations. And in Afghanistan we get to work with all the coalition forces out there very closely.

AndyS: Have you ever worked onboard ship with the Navy?

Heidi Smith: No i haven't, (seasick!) but we do have exchange posts with the Navy some of which are onboard ship.

Matt7101: Have u learned any languages or is english fine?

Heidi Smith: Luckily English is the language of the air so wherever I go, everybody understands English. I have a lot of respect for people from other countries who do my job not speaking their first language.

Views expressed during the web chats are those of individuals and do not necessarily reflect RAF policy.