This will help you to adjust to military life. Along with fitness and military training, you’ll learn about the RAF lifestyle.

You will be taught the basic skills of mechanical and electrical engineering and learn the principles of engineering and maintenance of parachutes, life rafts, and Pilot Flight Equipment; including night vision devices, helmet mounted displays and oxygen systems.

On successful completion, you will be promoted to Air Specialist Class 2 (AS(2)) and assigned to your first unit.

You will be adding immediate value to RAF and UK air operations.

You may work on a flying station providing direct support to the operation of combat air, multi-engined aircraft or helicopters. Alternatively, you may work within the Airborne Forces environment, maintaining parachute equipment for UK military parachutists; this could involve working on active parachute drop zones both in the UK and overseas. You may support the delivery of Survival, Evasion, Resistance & Extraction training, providing assistance in the instruction of aircrew practising survival training on land, or at sea. With additional experience and when demonstrating the required competence levels, supervision will be reduced.

After completing one year’s total service, provided you have passed Specialist Training and a Professional Workplace Assessment, you will be eligible for promotion to AS(1). Following promotion to AS(1) and on completion of a further Professional Workplace Assessment and the level 3 Diploma; you will attain the rank of AS(1) Technician. This may afford the opportunity for further training, providing you with the skills to carry out additional and more complex tasks in your workplace.

During Specialist Training you will gain a Level 2 Diploma in Aerospace & Aviation Engineering (Survival Equipment Maintenance) and a Level 3 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance (Survival Equipment).

During your first tour you will complete the portfolio element of the Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance (Development Competence) and, where eligible and following an End Point Assessment, you will be awarded your Level 3 Survival Equipment Fitter Advanced Apprenticeship. As new equipment and aircraft enter Service, the aim is to accredit specialist training, to ensure that you hold recognised civilian qualifications as part of your career development.

There are opportunities to undertake the management and leadership training required for promotion and to join relevant civilian professional associations and bodies; as an Air Specialist Class 1 (AS(1)) holding the Level 3 qualifications as part of your training, you meet the UK Engineering Council standard as an Engineering Technician and are able to apply for registration as such.

Furthermore, you will be able to employ your new-found military and leadership skills on adventure training expeditions in the UK and around the world.

As your skill levels and leadership potential develop further, promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is judged on merit and by competitive selection. As you gain more experience you may be offered employment in areas such as at the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine, undertaking the development, trials, testing and aircraft integration of new, often technologically advanced, airborne life support equipment and pilot flight equipment entering service, or providing expert advice in support of aircraft accident investigations and determining causes of equipment failure.

There may well be opportunities to work outside your specialisation. As you advance through the ranks on merit, you will have an increased opportunity to lead and direct, managing resources and manpower within your work to deliver the required outputs whilst instilling the high standards expected within the RAF, maintaining excellence both within and outside your chosen specialisation of Survival Equipment (SE) Specialist.

The skills you learn with us as a Reserve will complement those that you use in the wider world, providing value at work and at home too.