Raf Non-commissioned Aircrew

Typical Salary

£15,672 To £35,151

Typical Hours

Variable variable

evenings / weekends / bank holidays away from home

How To Become a Raf Non-commissioned Aircrew

You can get into this job through:

an apprenticeship
applying directly

College / University

Apprenticeship

You could apply to join the RAF through an HM forces serviceperson intermediate apprenticeship.

entry requirements vary

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

You can apply directly to join the RAF.

You'll need:

at least 5 GCSEs grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) including English and maths, and a science for some roles
to be over 17.5 years old - upper age limit varies depending on the role
to be physically fit

For some roles like weapons system operator linguist, you'll need to be fluent in at least 2 languages.

If your initial application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to someone at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do, and take an aptitude test.

If you successfully complete the initial stage, you'll be invited to attend further interviews and assessments, which include fitness and medical tests.

Other Routes

Other Routes are not listed for this job.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

physical fitness and endurance
patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
excellent verbal communication skills
the ability to work well with others in a team
concentration skills and quick reactions
the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
thinking and reasoning skills
to be flexible and open to change
to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

Day To Day Tasks

You’ll specialise in a particular role, like:

acoustics operator - using radar and sonar to search for and monitor submarine and surface shipping movements
loading aircraft, including weapons, supplies, parachutists, and troops
helicopter winch operator for search-and-rescue operations
electronic warfare systems operator - tracking movements on land, sea and in the air, relaying information to commanders about the position of units, and working on early warning defence systems
linguist - monitoring electronic surveillance equipment, translating radio and telecommunications traffic, and taking part in search-and-rescue operations

Working Environment

You could work in a warzone or at a military base.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding.

Career Path & Progression

With experience and further training, you could progress to flight sergeant, then to master aircrew. You could also apply to become a commissioned RAF officer.

You could go into a wide range of careers once you leave the RAF, depending on your skills, training and qualifications.

The Career Transition Partnership, Quest and Troops to Teachers have more information on careers outside the armed forces.

Volunteering Opportunities

You can join the RAF Reserve to get some experience of what life is like in the air force and to learn new skills at the same time.

You'll need to:

be between 18 and 54
commit to at least 27 days a year
attend a 2-week training camp each year

If you're between 13 and 18 years old, you can join the Air Cadets.

You'll visit RAF bases and develop some of the key skills that the RAF will be looking for in their recruitment selection process should you go on to apply.

Tips & Information

Further information

You'll find more details about working in the RAF through RAF Careers.

Restrictions & Requirements