Student Nurse entry to the RAF is a great way to start your career. You will train with us and, once graduated, you will begin your career as an RAF Registered Nurse, providing direct nursing care in a variety of different clinical settings.
Your role as an RAF Nurse could include transferring patients by air (aeromedical evacuation), working in an overseas field hospital and being on standby to support high readiness UK forces. You will maintain and develop the skills as a military nurse in order to provide the highest possible levels of nursing care in peacetime and on operations.
Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
It is desirable that all candidates should have some nursing/caring experience (voluntary or paid employment). Any declared experience should be accompanied with a reference.
RECRUIT TRAINING
Your career will start with a 10-week Basic Recruit Training Centre at RAF Halton. The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you will also learn about the RAF lifestyle.
NURSE TRAINING
Undergraduate nurse training for the Royal Navy, Army and RAF are undertaken at and accredited by Birmingham City University alongside civilian student nurse colleagues. Applicants will be required to sit the Numeracy, Literacy and IT tests set by Birmingham City University on the morning of the interview. The 3-year course consists of a 12-month common foundation phase followed by a 2-year adult speciality branch programme with clinical placements in civilian and some Service areas. Student nurses graduate as a Registered Nurse on part 1 of the NMC register with a BSc (Hons).
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.
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.
ALL APPLICANTS MUST:
Be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth.
Be aged 17 - 47 years (Must attest before 48th birthday)
Be a citizen of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, holder of dual UK/other nationality or have been a Commonwealth citizen since birth.
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 Home Office 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.
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 |
| 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 |
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:
BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION:
There are health requirements that must be met by all applicants:
| 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 |
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.
YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR THE RAF IF YOU:
If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information contact your local AFCO.
