Air Operations Control Officer is a leadership role and involves a degree of managerial and organisational command tasks alongside controlling and directing the aircraft.
Air operations support Air Operations (Control) Officer CURRENTLY RECRUITING
The Air Operations (Control) is a diverse, exciting and complex employment area which directs and supports operations both in the UK and around the world. The three key employment areas are Terminal Air Traffic Control (providing an ATC service at an airfield), Area Control (working alongside civilian air traffic controllers at the UK’s Air Traffic Control Centre at Swanwick) and finally as a Weapons Controller (direct fast jet aircraft to intercept potentially hostile aircraft that threaten the integrity of UK Airspace).
Pay During Initial Officer Training £27,200+ + Benefits
Initial pay after training £31,800+ + Benefits
Is this for you?
APPLICANTS MUST:
- Be aged 17.5 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
- Have GCSE at Grade C/4-5 or SCE Standard Grades at Grade 2/Scottish National 5 in English Language, Maths and three other subjects
- Have at least 2 A2 Levels/3 Highers at Grade C or above (excluding General Studies or Critical Thinking) which must total a minimum of 64 UCAS points. Or hold a UK degree at Grade 2:2 or higher (or acceptable alternative)
- You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or holder of dual UK/other nationality and have resided in the UK for at least the last 5 years
- Commit to minimum 12 years service
- Meet the health and fitness criteria
- Pass a General Fitness Test
GREAT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN:
- Analysis and maths
- Aircraft
- Gaming & Computers
WHAT WILL YOU DO?
TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- Coordinate air traffic to and from military airfields.
- Become part of the team that order Typhoon jets to scramble and intercept suspect aircraft.
- Control fighter, bomber, surveillance, refuelling and even unmanned aircraft as they support missions at home and overseas.
- Work alongside civilian controllers as an Area Radar Controller making sure military aircraft don’t clash with civilian airliners.
- Give specialist battlespace management support to both UK and international missions around the world.
- Go away on military operations as Tactical Air Traffic Controller, where you will be in charge of setting up temporary runways.
The three key employment areas are Terminal Air Traffic Control (providing service at an airfield), Area Control (working alongside civilian air traffic controllers at the UK’s Air Traffic Control Centre at Swanwick) and finally as a Weapons Controller (direct fast jet aircraft to intercept potentially enemy aircraft that threaten the integrity of UK Airspace). As an Air Operations Control Officer you could be working from a field, a bunker, a building, a tent, an E-3D aircraft or even an aircraft carrier.
WHY JOIN THE RAF?
Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.
Salary
Benefits Salary
Civilian Role
RAF Role
- Rent from £75p/m
- Free gym
- Subsidised food
- Health care
- World travel
- 6 weeks holiday
TRAINING AND CAREER
TRAINING YOU’LL RECEIVE
Your career will start by completing the Initial Officer Training Course at the RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire. You will complete a challenging 24-week course designed to develop your strength, fitness, leadership and academic skills through a number of indoor and outdoor exercises across the UK.
SPECIALIST TRAINING
Specialist training is delivered at the Defence College of Airspace Control which is split between RAF Shawbury in Shropshire and RAF Boulmer in Northumberland. This training starts with a Foundation Module and is completed alongside the Air Operations (Systems) officers and Non-Commissioned Controller (NCC) students. Following successful completion you will be assigned to a specialist module in one of the core specialisations: Terminal (Airfield) ATC or Weapons Control. You will be able to return at a later date to complete a short conversion course to allow you to undertake roles in any of the other core areas including Area Radar control.
TRAINING AND CAREER
INITIAL TRAINING
Your training will start with a Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) consisting of 4 weekends at your chosen RAF Reserves Squadron, followed by a 15 day residential training course at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. This training course will prepare you for service life in one of the most respected military forces in the world; it is also designed to help you tune into the military environment and way of life. As well as military training, you will learn about the core values, code of conduct and history of the RAF, as well as its unique lifestyle.
SPECIALIST TRAINING
After successfully completing initial training, you will be trained for your specific role in the RAF either at your squadron or another RAF station in the UK.
Commitment and location
You will have to commit to 27 days per year for 12 years minimum.
Each year includes a 15-day block for general RAF training, and 12 separate days for extra training or exercises.
You might be deployed to a UK or overseas base for up to 6 months after the first year.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
ALL APPLICANTS MUST:
Be a citizen of the United Kingdom or holder of dual UK/other nationality and have resided in the UK for at least the last 5 years.
Be aged 17.5 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY
You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or holder of dual UK/other nationality.
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application. However, candidates with a minimum of 3 years will be considered.
Following the MOD announcement that the UK Armed Forces will now be able to recruit commonwealth citizens without the 5 year residency requirement, please note that the RAF continues to apply standard residency requirements for security clearance, ie, DV employment requires 7-years UK residency immediately prior to enlistment; SC requires 3-years.
FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
You must be physically fit to complete both initial and specialist training, and to do your role effectively. To check your fitness levels, we put every candidate through two or three separate fitness tests as part of the application process: Selection Fitness Test, Pre-joining Fitness Test or Pre-recruit Training Course.
How fit you need to be to pass these tests can vary depending on role, age and gender.
| MALES - 100% pass rates: | ||||
| AGE | 2.4 Km Run | Multi-Stage Fitness Test | Press-ups | Sit-ups |
| (Mins) | (Score) | (No.) | (No.) | |
| 15-16 | 11.39 | 9.03 | 20 | 35 |
| 17-29 | 11.11 | 9.10 | 20 | 35 |
| 30-34 | 11.36 | 9.04 | 19 | 32 |
| 35-39 | 12 | 8.09 | 18 | 29 |
| 40-44 | 12.26 | 8.03 | 17 | 26 |
| 45-47 | 12.54 | 7.07 | 16 | 23 |
| FEMALES - 100% pass rates: | ||||
| AGE | 2.4 Km Run | Multi-Stage Fitness Test | Press-ups | Sit-ups |
| (Mins) | (Score) | (No.) | (No.) | |
| 15-16 | 13.54 | 6.07 | 10 | 32 |
| 17-29 | 13.23 | 7.02 | 10 | 32 |
| 30-34 | 13.47 | 6.08 | 9 | 29 |
| 35-39 | 14.13 | 6.04 | 8 | 26 |
| 40-44 | 14.48 | 5.08 | 7 | 23 |
| 45-47 | 15.19 | 5.04 | 6 | 20 |
You can see the protocols for Press Ups & Sit Ups here:
You can download an MP3 file of the Multi-Stage Fitness Test below, listen to the introduction file first:
RAF MSFT: Intro
RAF MSFT: Bleep Test
You can see a video demonstration of the PRTC Fitness Test here:
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION:
There are health requirements that must be met by all applicants:
- Body Mass Index requirements:
| Age | Male and female minimum | Male and female maximum | Male maximum with additional assessment | Female maximum with additional assessment |
| 18 + | 18 | 28 | 32 | 30 |
| 16 to < 18 | 17 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
- Calculate your BMI now, click here.
- Eyesight requirements vary for different roles. A requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses may be allowed for aircrew.
Get in touch if you have any questions about the health criteria, or would like to find out if any additional health requirements apply to your role of interest.
DURING YOUR APPLICATION:
The Medical Risk Assessment that all candidates undergo is there to make sure that you are healthy enough for the intense training required by the RAF. Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet the minimum acceptable medical standard for entry. Your medical history is confidential and is not disclosed to those not authorised to hold this information.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
YOU MUST:
- Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
- Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
- Have a basic background check to get Security Check level clearance
DISQUALIFYING FACTORS
YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR THE RAF IF YOU:
- Have been or are a member of a group that stirs up racial hatred and violence
- Are waiting to appear in court, or have unspent convictions. You may also have to declare spent convictions for certain roles
- Misuse drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids. But each case is considered upon its own merits
- Have tattoos, brands or bead implants that are obscene or offensive.
Any permanent or temporary tattoos, whether ordinarily visible or not, must not be obscene or offensive (eg, racist, anti-religion or belief, crude, overtly sexist, homophobic, drug related or of an extreme political nature). Tattoos may be worn on the side and back of the neck but tattoos on the back of the neck must not extend above the natural hairline (scalp tattoos are not permitted). In addition, tattoos must not be visible below the sleeve cuff while wearing uniform, although a single finger (not thumb) tattoo that could be covered by a ring may be permitted - Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
- Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt
Beard Policy: A revised facial hair policy has been agreed by the Air Force Board which will allow serving personnel to wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard whilst maintaining high standards of appearance. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm). The wearing of beards during Phase 1 and Phase 2 training is currently under consideration and details will be advised when available
If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information contact your local AFCO.
SIMILAR ROLES
01 02