RAF Apprenticeship
Discussion
Hi all,
Well I have been interested in planes since I was young. Been to RAF Leuchars every year and sometimes RIAT Airshows. When I was 12 I joined the ATC. During this time I flew tones of hours in prop and non prop aircraft. I also went shooting every weekend and my drill team came third in a competition. I did a few camps and learned amazing new skills. It was fantastic. The only problem I had was the itch uniform and STANDING FOR HOURS! I HATED THAT.
Last year I was thinking about joining the RAF but I didn't apply. I'm now thinking about doing one of the apprenticeships. I'm thinking about doing the Flight Operations Assistant Apprenticeship.
Here is a link : http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/jobs/apprenticeships...
I was just wondering if anybody had done an apprenticeship with the RAF and if it was good? Or should I just jump right in to the RAF. To be honest my grades are not the best,i really wanted to be a pilot or weapons tech but my grades just dont cut it so this role would suit me better . I just don't want to do an apprenticeship for a year then be dumped back on the streets.
Any advice would've great thanks.
Well I have been interested in planes since I was young. Been to RAF Leuchars every year and sometimes RIAT Airshows. When I was 12 I joined the ATC. During this time I flew tones of hours in prop and non prop aircraft. I also went shooting every weekend and my drill team came third in a competition. I did a few camps and learned amazing new skills. It was fantastic. The only problem I had was the itch uniform and STANDING FOR HOURS! I HATED THAT.
Last year I was thinking about joining the RAF but I didn't apply. I'm now thinking about doing one of the apprenticeships. I'm thinking about doing the Flight Operations Assistant Apprenticeship.
Here is a link : http://www.raf.mod.uk/careers/jobs/apprenticeships...
I was just wondering if anybody had done an apprenticeship with the RAF and if it was good? Or should I just jump right in to the RAF. To be honest my grades are not the best,i really wanted to be a pilot or weapons tech but my grades just dont cut it so this role would suit me better . I just don't want to do an apprenticeship for a year then be dumped back on the streets.
Any advice would've great thanks.
Personally, I would assess exactly what you want to get out of it. Obviously, if you wanted to be a Pilot, then you would need the necessary entrance qualifications, otherwise the chances of you seeing behind the initial OACTU doors are very slim.
If you're going Weapons Tech, then you'd be going down the non-commissioned route, and entrance requirements aren't as high, although talking to some of the NCOs I knew at Cranwell, certainly made it sound like the NCO course is bloody tough!
After saying all this, I don't know a great deal about the apprenticeships. However, if you're serious about going for it, then look into all avenues. If you really want to work in the RAF, then a more permanent role may be the better choice. If you just want a recognised qualification to use elsewhere, then it may be a good choice if you want to approach something more specialised after a couple of years. In my opinion though, if you're going to spend 3 years getting an apprenticeship with the RAF, then depending on the trade, it may be more beneficial going for a permanent role anyway.
There is a load of information on their website about the various programmes and entrance criteria, so would be worth doing more research to decide exactly what you want to gain from it.
If you're going Weapons Tech, then you'd be going down the non-commissioned route, and entrance requirements aren't as high, although talking to some of the NCOs I knew at Cranwell, certainly made it sound like the NCO course is bloody tough!
VTECBOY said:
I just don't want to do an apprenticeship for a year then be dumped back on the streets.
I highlighted this because in any case, you just can't be sure. I was on IOT at Cranwell back in 2010 training as a Pilot Officer and suffered a knee injury that put an end to my training. I was gutted, but not quite as much as the guys on my Squadron who got their commission, only to find out 2 months later that they were being made redundant as part of the MOD cuts.After saying all this, I don't know a great deal about the apprenticeships. However, if you're serious about going for it, then look into all avenues. If you really want to work in the RAF, then a more permanent role may be the better choice. If you just want a recognised qualification to use elsewhere, then it may be a good choice if you want to approach something more specialised after a couple of years. In my opinion though, if you're going to spend 3 years getting an apprenticeship with the RAF, then depending on the trade, it may be more beneficial going for a permanent role anyway.
There is a load of information on their website about the various programmes and entrance criteria, so would be worth doing more research to decide exactly what you want to gain from it.
Thanks for replying. We it's only a year for the apprenticeship that is what I was worried about. I think I would rather have a secure future within the RAF. So might apply for a proper job through them.
I had a friend who I followed all through his training and he got put into helicopters then to be laid off because they couldn't fund him. So it cost what to train him? Then they do that. Pointless.
That really sucks about your leg btw
.
I had a friend who I followed all through his training and he got put into helicopters then to be laid off because they couldn't fund him. So it cost what to train him? Then they do that. Pointless.
That really sucks about your leg btw
.Ah, its no biggie. Important thing is I gave it a shot and found out anyway. Best thing for you as well by the sounds of it. If its something you really want to do, and you don't have any major responsbilities at the moment, then go for it.
In terms of apprenticeships, you're going to get training either way, and you're going to be paid either way. With an NCO job (if you do go that route), you'll be being paid whilst training, and will be learning a great deal more skills in the process as well, so if you get through selection and start training with them, the benefits you will receive in the long term are far greater.
Plus, the RAF life is a great one and if you can withstand the banter and the physical beastings (you'll have to be pretty bloody fit!), then you'll be perfectly fine.
In terms of apprenticeships, you're going to get training either way, and you're going to be paid either way. With an NCO job (if you do go that route), you'll be being paid whilst training, and will be learning a great deal more skills in the process as well, so if you get through selection and start training with them, the benefits you will receive in the long term are far greater.
Plus, the RAF life is a great one and if you can withstand the banter and the physical beastings (you'll have to be pretty bloody fit!), then you'll be perfectly fine.
Hi there,
From reading your post it sounds like you're misunderstanding things slightly. An apprenticeship with the RAF doesn't work as simply as you do 1 year and complete your apprenticeship, if they don't want you any longer or they have no job for you then they get rid of you. Nothing like that in fact.
What would happen is, you join the RAF, you sign up for 9 years. You'll do your 7 or 9 weeks basic training (not sure which it is now) then you will go on to your trade specific training. After your trade training you will then be posted to a station somewhere in the UK (or possibly abroad if you're lucky) and you will carry out on the job training. Within the year (depending on the trade you join up as, for some trades it can be up to 4 years) you will have completed your apprenticeship. You will then have 8 more years to serve in the RAF, although there are opportunities to leave at certain points if you wish.
So it's not a case of apply for an apprenticeship or apply for a more permanent role. There is no distinction like that. If you apply to join up, and you are successful, then you join the RAF and that's it.
I hope that helps you to make your decision.
Steve.
From reading your post it sounds like you're misunderstanding things slightly. An apprenticeship with the RAF doesn't work as simply as you do 1 year and complete your apprenticeship, if they don't want you any longer or they have no job for you then they get rid of you. Nothing like that in fact.
What would happen is, you join the RAF, you sign up for 9 years. You'll do your 7 or 9 weeks basic training (not sure which it is now) then you will go on to your trade specific training. After your trade training you will then be posted to a station somewhere in the UK (or possibly abroad if you're lucky) and you will carry out on the job training. Within the year (depending on the trade you join up as, for some trades it can be up to 4 years) you will have completed your apprenticeship. You will then have 8 more years to serve in the RAF, although there are opportunities to leave at certain points if you wish.
So it's not a case of apply for an apprenticeship or apply for a more permanent role. There is no distinction like that. If you apply to join up, and you are successful, then you join the RAF and that's it.
I hope that helps you to make your decision.
Steve.
I'm biased as I'm an AV tech JNCO, but Flight Ops Assistant is duller than watching paint dry! So is the Officer version too - and that's coming from Flt Ops Officers too! Fine if your RAF 24/7 for the rest of your life, but not much to offer related jobs wise in civvie street.
Careers office do make the jobs sound all grand and super cool, reality often isn't, but by then you've been suckered in and think your trade is the best in the airforce and the most integral part of the RAF as a whole, kinda like shineys!
The answer you are looking for is... Aircraft techie (AMM route now) or become a loady!
Careers office do make the jobs sound all grand and super cool, reality often isn't, but by then you've been suckered in and think your trade is the best in the airforce and the most integral part of the RAF as a whole, kinda like shineys!
The answer you are looking for is... Aircraft techie (AMM route now) or become a loady!
Some good suggestions above, and as has been said, which I had no idea about, the only real way you're going to be able to work with the aircraft is to do avionics/mechanics, both of which require the same type of entrance qualifications if I recall correctly. There are of course other roles that would get you close to the aircraft, but it all depends on what you'd want to be doing with them.
Given what has been said, you'd still need to join as a JNCO before doing an apprenticeship anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to go along to one of the careers offices and have a talk with them to find out more, or do some homework on it and see exactly what you would need to take it further.
Given what has been said, you'd still need to join as a JNCO before doing an apprenticeship anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to go along to one of the careers offices and have a talk with them to find out more, or do some homework on it and see exactly what you would need to take it further.
Yep, just pop along to a careers office and get the brochures etc, just remember that the cpl/sgt in there may not be the trade that you want to join as so he'll be 'career office knowledgeable' but actual real life may be different although they will have an appreciation of what other trades do. A good idea is to arrange through the career office a visit to your nearest airbase and visit a Sqn to get an idea of what AMMs do.
If you want aircraft, join as a AMM, believe me the entry quals are basic as you learn as you go. You will do your 9wks at Halton at basic, leave as a AC rank, 6months at Cosford learning your basic spannering, lineying, a/c servicing etc, get your LAC rank,then go to a frontline Sqn for circa 2-3yrs, upto a year in LAC rank then do your TATS A and B and get your SAC rank. After 2-3yrs, you'll head back to cosford and back to school to get your BTEC and finish after 18months as a SAC(T) and onto techie high pay band. Also you start your NVQ, which when complete combines your BTEC and key skills, to award you a Modern Apprenticeship. You also will be sent on specific A/C Q courses now to become educated on the aircraft and gain Q annotations, which can get you city and guilds quals too if you pay for the award. More importantly it gains you the system knowledge. 3 annual assessments and you are elidgible for promotion (it's not a guarantee!!).
Im a techie, and took me 11yrs to get promoted to Cpl (i was on the 'old' SAC(T) system, but not the JT system before that (which is essentially the new AMM system now) I also work with the first AMM to get promoted to Cpl, he's a good lad and good at his job.
Btw, you don't join as a JNCO (Cpl and above), You earn it!!!!
If you want aircraft, join as a AMM, believe me the entry quals are basic as you learn as you go. You will do your 9wks at Halton at basic, leave as a AC rank, 6months at Cosford learning your basic spannering, lineying, a/c servicing etc, get your LAC rank,then go to a frontline Sqn for circa 2-3yrs, upto a year in LAC rank then do your TATS A and B and get your SAC rank. After 2-3yrs, you'll head back to cosford and back to school to get your BTEC and finish after 18months as a SAC(T) and onto techie high pay band. Also you start your NVQ, which when complete combines your BTEC and key skills, to award you a Modern Apprenticeship. You also will be sent on specific A/C Q courses now to become educated on the aircraft and gain Q annotations, which can get you city and guilds quals too if you pay for the award. More importantly it gains you the system knowledge. 3 annual assessments and you are elidgible for promotion (it's not a guarantee!!).
Im a techie, and took me 11yrs to get promoted to Cpl (i was on the 'old' SAC(T) system, but not the JT system before that (which is essentially the new AMM system now) I also work with the first AMM to get promoted to Cpl, he's a good lad and good at his job.
Btw, you don't join as a JNCO (Cpl and above), You earn it!!!!
Edited by PaulG40 on Thursday 2nd August 17:00
The ICT apprenticeship is also worth a look - I'm a TG4 Cpl, been in 7 years and it's been great so far.
Advantage over the aircraft trade (AMM) is that you will reach the higher payband earlier.
9 weeks at Halton, 1 year at Cosford where you complete the BTEC and majority of NVQ, then posted to your first unit where you will be promoted to SAC after a couple of weeks. After completing 18 months out of training you will have completed the apprenticeship and move to the higher payband.
We are heavily involved with the Typhoon and UAVs, as well as various mission support systems for other aircraft. There are posts all over the place, from main flying stations to sneaky beaky places such as GCHQ.
If you have any questions on the trade then give me a shout.
Advantage over the aircraft trade (AMM) is that you will reach the higher payband earlier.
9 weeks at Halton, 1 year at Cosford where you complete the BTEC and majority of NVQ, then posted to your first unit where you will be promoted to SAC after a couple of weeks. After completing 18 months out of training you will have completed the apprenticeship and move to the higher payband.
We are heavily involved with the Typhoon and UAVs, as well as various mission support systems for other aircraft. There are posts all over the place, from main flying stations to sneaky beaky places such as GCHQ.
If you have any questions on the trade then give me a shout.
ben_h100 said:
Advantage over the aircraft trade (AMM) is that you will reach the higher payband earlier.
.
...By creating some massive 'Erections' .
Only kidding
Time in trade training is a downside to being TG1, some love it and look to the future, a few others it annoys. Your looking at 4 1/2yrs on the lower pay band before getting onto our fat techie pay packets.
A big bone of contention in the RAF at the minute is other 'non techie' trades sneaking onto the higher payband, although only as CPL's and above. But that in itself is a massive can of worms!
ben_h100 said:
The ICT apprenticeship is also worth a look - I'm a TG4 Cpl, been in 7 years and it's been great so far.
Advantage over the aircraft trade (AMM) is that you will reach the higher payband earlier.
9 weeks at Halton, 1 year at Cosford where you complete the BTEC and majority of NVQ, then posted to your first unit where you will be promoted to SAC after a couple of weeks. After completing 18 months out of training you will have completed the apprenticeship and move to the higher payband.
We are heavily involved with the Typhoon and UAVs, as well as various mission support systems for other aircraft. There are posts all over the place, from main flying stations to sneaky beaky places such as GCHQ.
If you have any questions on the trade then give me a shout.
Hmm involved with the Typhoon you say eh? And some nice £££s as well. Sound good to me! What's amm? Or am I having a blonde moment even though I'm not blondeAdvantage over the aircraft trade (AMM) is that you will reach the higher payband earlier.
9 weeks at Halton, 1 year at Cosford where you complete the BTEC and majority of NVQ, then posted to your first unit where you will be promoted to SAC after a couple of weeks. After completing 18 months out of training you will have completed the apprenticeship and move to the higher payband.
We are heavily involved with the Typhoon and UAVs, as well as various mission support systems for other aircraft. There are posts all over the place, from main flying stations to sneaky beaky places such as GCHQ.
If you have any questions on the trade then give me a shout.
AMM - Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic.
It all depends on what you want to do, be close to aircraft or just have something to do with them. being fixing aircraft, being sat in them and day to day contact with them, learning the servicing routines and prep for before flight and after flight and delve into the systems that keep it up in the air. Sat next to them while on full reheat is nuts!
As in the real world in civvie street, training and 'time in' getting the experience of the goings on etc is paramount, you not let loose with 6months experience and told off you go, as your actions could directly or indirectly kill the pilots, or yourself and crash the aircraft. Safety is Absolute. What you have done on the aircraft is meticulously documented and you sign off on the parts you've worked on and tested, and also flight serviced, albeit someone like me as a Cpl over signing your work as a supervisor, and then dependant on the system it has a further independent check aswell by someone not involved in the job.
This is why aircraft techies/engineers have a hard on over what we do.
It all depends on what you want to do, be close to aircraft or just have something to do with them. being fixing aircraft, being sat in them and day to day contact with them, learning the servicing routines and prep for before flight and after flight and delve into the systems that keep it up in the air. Sat next to them while on full reheat is nuts!
As in the real world in civvie street, training and 'time in' getting the experience of the goings on etc is paramount, you not let loose with 6months experience and told off you go, as your actions could directly or indirectly kill the pilots, or yourself and crash the aircraft. Safety is Absolute. What you have done on the aircraft is meticulously documented and you sign off on the parts you've worked on and tested, and also flight serviced, albeit someone like me as a Cpl over signing your work as a supervisor, and then dependant on the system it has a further independent check aswell by someone not involved in the job.
This is why aircraft techies/engineers have a hard on over what we do.
VTECBOY said:
ben_h100 said:
The ICT apprenticeship is also worth a look - I'm a TG4 Cpl, been in 7 years and it's been great so far.
Advantage over the aircraft trade (AMM) is that you will reach the higher payband earlier.
9 weeks at Halton, 1 year at Cosford where you complete the BTEC and majority of NVQ, then posted to your first unit where you will be promoted to SAC after a couple of weeks. After completing 18 months out of training you will have completed the apprenticeship and move to the higher payband.
We are heavily involved with the Typhoon and UAVs, as well as various mission support systems for other aircraft. There are posts all over the place, from main flying stations to sneaky beaky places such as GCHQ.
If you have any questions on the trade then give me a shout.
Hmm involved with the Typhoon you say eh? And some nice £££s as well. Sound good to me! What's amm? Or am I having a blonde moment even though I'm not blondeAdvantage over the aircraft trade (AMM) is that you will reach the higher payband earlier.
9 weeks at Halton, 1 year at Cosford where you complete the BTEC and majority of NVQ, then posted to your first unit where you will be promoted to SAC after a couple of weeks. After completing 18 months out of training you will have completed the apprenticeship and move to the higher payband.
We are heavily involved with the Typhoon and UAVs, as well as various mission support systems for other aircraft. There are posts all over the place, from main flying stations to sneaky beaky places such as GCHQ.
If you have any questions on the trade then give me a shout.
As for the UAVs, we are involved heavily as well.
Also involved with other aircraft to a lesser extent such as Sentinel and C130.
If you are posted into the right job, then you can expect to have civilian qualifications galore; Cisco, fibre optics, Microsoft, web design, etc.
There's the whole Navaid side of the trade as well, for example all the radars, ILS, beacons and radios on the airfield are maintained by us.
There are also many niche jobs that fall into other areas, for example the sneaky beaky stuff. You may undergo DV clearance which can be very useful in civilian life.
Granted we are not working directly on the aircraft, but we are one of the trades (apart from aircraft techies obviously!) that directly support air power.
The trade is very broad so there is bound to be something that floats your boat.
As for pay, well as an ICT Tech, as long as you have no hiccups during training and complete the Advanced Apprenticeship (you will complete it, the RAF ensure you do), then after two and a half years you will be on at least £25k.
Jesus h christ, every trade allegedly supports air power. Corporate, rubbish. The aircraft techies do the ral work everyone else could be replaced by a civvy. Chris avionics tech 10 years now offshore.
ben_h100 said:
Yes, we are involved with the Typhoon to such an extent as that the aircraft cannot start a mission without the system we support. As far as I'm aware (I haven't been posted on a sqn yet - maybe in the future), there are dedicated teams of our trade on the Typhoon sqns that maintain the system and go with the aircraft.
As for the UAVs, we are involved heavily as well.
Also involved with other aircraft to a lesser extent such as Sentinel and C130.
If you are posted into the right job, then you can expect to have civilian qualifications galore; Cisco, fibre optics, Microsoft, web design, etc.
There's the whole Navaid side of the trade as well, for example all the radars, ILS, beacons and radios on the airfield are maintained by us.
There are also many niche jobs that fall into other areas, for example the sneaky beaky stuff. You may undergo DV clearance which can be very useful in civilian life.
Granted we are not working directly on the aircraft, but we are one of the trades (apart from aircraft techies obviously!) that directly support air power.
The trade is very broad so there is bound to be something that floats your boat.
As for pay, well as an ICT Tech, as long as you have no hiccups during training and complete the Advanced Apprenticeship (you will complete it, the RAF ensure you do), then after two and a half years you will be on at least £25k.
As for the UAVs, we are involved heavily as well.
Also involved with other aircraft to a lesser extent such as Sentinel and C130.
If you are posted into the right job, then you can expect to have civilian qualifications galore; Cisco, fibre optics, Microsoft, web design, etc.
There's the whole Navaid side of the trade as well, for example all the radars, ILS, beacons and radios on the airfield are maintained by us.
There are also many niche jobs that fall into other areas, for example the sneaky beaky stuff. You may undergo DV clearance which can be very useful in civilian life.
Granted we are not working directly on the aircraft, but we are one of the trades (apart from aircraft techies obviously!) that directly support air power.
The trade is very broad so there is bound to be something that floats your boat.
As for pay, well as an ICT Tech, as long as you have no hiccups during training and complete the Advanced Apprenticeship (you will complete it, the RAF ensure you do), then after two and a half years you will be on at least £25k.
Let's stay away from the inter trade b
hing on this thread
For reference, I've worked in my JPA 11.7yrs as an Avionics Tech on Tornado GR4, F3, Harrier GR9, Jaguar (real life ops ones, not Cosford ones!) and Typhoon. Currently on a GR4 frontline Sqn.
...and everyone knows it's the shineys that keep us up in the air, while us techies do their JPA admin for them!
H100 - AirPower - you sound like you've just done the online JMLC AirPower study?! lol
hing on this thread For reference, I've worked in my JPA 11.7yrs as an Avionics Tech on Tornado GR4, F3, Harrier GR9, Jaguar (real life ops ones, not Cosford ones!) and Typhoon. Currently on a GR4 frontline Sqn.
...and everyone knows it's the shineys that keep us up in the air, while us techies do their JPA admin for them!
H100 - AirPower - you sound like you've just done the online JMLC AirPower study?!
lol Edited by PaulG40 on Saturday 4th August 01:38
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