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The Control Officer role 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).
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This is a diverse and exciting role which directs and supports operations in the UK and around the world. There are 3 key employment areas - Terminal Air Traffic Control (ATC), Area Control and Weapons Controller. Within each of these roles you could be:
- Coordinating air traffic to and from military airfields
- Part of the team that orders Typhoon jets to scramble and intercept suspect aircraft
- Controlling fighter, surveillance, refuelling and unmanned aircraft as they support missions at home and overseas
- Working alongside civilian controllers as an Area Radar Controller, making sure military aircraft operate safely alongside civilian aircraft
- Giving specialist battlespace management support to both UK and missions around the world
- Travelling on military operations as a Tactical Air Traffic Controller, setting up temporary runways
- You will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs (or acceptable equivalents including Functional Skills) at a minimum of 4/C, including English Language and Mathematics or Scottish National 5 (Grade A - C) in 5 subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
- In addition, a minimum of 64 UCAS points which can be accrued from A/AS Levels (or equivalent), T-Levels, or National Diplomas (e.g BTECs/NVQs).
- Should you meet the required 5 GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above (or acceptable equivalents) and not have the minimum 64 UCAS points or UK Degree at 2:2 or higher, please continue to apply. Your approval to continue with the recruiting process will be determined following successfully passing the Computer Based Aptitude Score (CBAT).
- Alternatively, if you hold a UK degree at Grade 2:2 or higher you only need Mathematics and English Language GCSEs (or acceptable alternative), at a minimum of Grade 4/C or Scottish National 5 (Grade A – C) in English Language and Mathematics.

- Be aged 17.5 – 38 years old (must attest before 39th birthday)
- You will need to meet specific Nationality and Residency criteria. Please see full details in the Entry Requirements section below
- Commit to a minimum of 3 years post Phase 2 Specialist Training
- Meet the health and fitness criteria
- Pass a Fitness test - Details below
View all details in the Entry Requirements section below

Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.
You must be aged between 17.5 – 38 years old.
Applicants must also read all of the sections below and make sure they meet all entry requirements before submitting an application.
NATIONALITY
You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom or holder of dual UK/other nationality.
RESIDENCY
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application, but candidates with a minimum of 3 years may be considered.
If you have resided abroad for a period due to work or study, you may still be eligible on a case by case basis. This will be established during the selection process.
The Nationality and Residency requirements are the foundation of obtaining the necessary security clearance. The nationalities of your spouse or partner, and parents, are also taken into account among other factors.
There will be further pre-employment checks and you will be expected to achieve the security clearance of Security Check (SC).
Employment restrictions may be imposed in the future if you are unable to achieve an increased security clearance requirement for selected placements.
You must be physically fit to complete both initial and specialist training, and to do your role effectively. Every candidate's fitness levels are tested as part of the application process.
The first of these is the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) which takes place at a fitness centre local to you. This consists of a 2.4km (1.5m) run on a treadmill (set to zero incline)
How fit you need to be to pass this test varies on age and gender. The PJFT requirements are listed on the charts below (Male and Female).
MEN | |
AGE | 2.4 Km Run |
(Mins) | |
15-16 | 13.52 |
17-29 | 13.20 |
30-34 | 13.49 |
35-39 | 14.14 |
40-44 | 14.46 |
45-49 | 15.17 |
50-54 | 15.53 |
WOMEN | |
AGE | 2.4 Km Run |
(Mins) | |
15-16 | 16.22 |
17-29 | 15.48 |
30-34 | 16.14 |
35-39 | 16.44 |
40-44 | 17.22 |
45-49 | 17.57 |
50-54 | 18.34 |
See here for more information about a training plan
A second fitness test will take place at RAF Cranwell as part of your familiarisation visit. This includes the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT or Bleep test). Standards to achieve will be given during the visit.
Candidates joining the RAF must be medically fully fit, both physically and psychologically, to meet the challenges of military service, during which they will be expected to deploy, potentially at short notice, to locations world-wide that are remote from established medical care.
Certain medical conditions could preclude entry to the RAF. Further details can be found in this document.
Before your application, please note that Body Mass Index Requirements are as follows:
Age | Male and female minimum | Male and female maximum | Male maximum with additional assessment | Female maximum with additional assessment |
18 + | 18 | 30 | 32 | 32 |
16 to < 18 | 17 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
Eyesight requirements vary for different roles. A requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses may be allowed for aircrew.
If you are unsure about any health criteria, please continue your application and your eligibility will be assessed at the medical examination stage.
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.
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 MUST:
- Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
- Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
- Achieve the minimum security clearance of Security Check (SC) for this role
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). - Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
- Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt
Beard Policy:
Serving personnel can wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm).
Usually, candidates are to be clean shaven when being fitted for their respirators in Phase One training, however other methods of creating a clean seal can be advised if this is not possible due to religious reasons.
If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information please contact us.
