ENGINEERING Weapon Technician CURRENTLY RECRUITING

As a Weapon Technician, you will be in charge of maintaining and managing weapons and explosives, making sure they’re ready at a moments notice. These include aircraft bombs, smart weapons, missiles, ammunition and individual weapons.

Learn more about this role

Pay During First Six Months £16,840+ + Benefits

Pay Upon Completion Of Technical Training* £24,995+ + Benefits

* With a minimum 1 year's service from attestation

Apply as a Regular


Is this for you?

APPLICANTS MUST:

  • Be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
  • Have GCSE at Grade C/4-5 or SCE Standard Grades at Grade 2/Scottish National 5 in English Language, Maths and an approved Science-based subject
  • You 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
  • Commit to minimum 3 years post Phase Two Training
  • Pass the Defence Aptitude Assessment
  • Pass a Fitness Test - Detail below

GREAT FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN:

  • Aircraft
  • Building and Problem solving
  • Travelling the world

VIEW ALL ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Ejection seat removal/fit/maintenance. Canopy/Pylon/Role equipment removal/fit
  • Smart bombs/Guided missiles/Weapon aiming systems/ Gun ammunition and Decoy Flares
  • Explosive Safety/Storage of explosives

It is a job with a great deal of responsibility as the equipment you handle is often extremely dangerous and safety is always crucial. There is also plenty of variety; from quite early in your career, you could be arming aircraft with bombs, guided weapons, missiles, loading aircraft guns or working on an aircraft flight line, servicing aircraft and preparing them for flight. You will be responsible for the servicing, maintenance and repair of ejection seats, aircraft gun systems and missile launchers. You will have other responsibilities too such as the maintenance, care and issue of the weapons used by your station, including rifles, pistols and machine guns, as well as heavier weapons such as mortars used by the RAF Regiment.

You could be responsible for the safe storage and control of aircraft weapons and flares and also the building and the fitment of smart weapons and flares to the aircraft.

Like most people in the RAF, you could move jobs every few years as part of your through service career management and have the opportunity to diversify and experience a wide range of jobs and equipment (each job is known as a ‘tour’). You will be able to set preferences for the type of tour you would like to undertake and there is also the opportunity to undertake roles outside of your trade. Within your first few years, you will get the opportunity to deploy overseas in support of the RAF’s mission.

WHY JOIN THE RAF?

Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.

Salary
Benefits Salary
Civilian Role
RAF Role
  • Rent from £75p/m
  • Free gym
  • Subsidised food
  • Health care
  • World travel
  • 6 weeks holiday

See All Benefits

TRAINING AND CAREERS

TRAINING YOU'LL RECEIVE

Your career will start with 10-weeks of basic recruit training at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to military life. As well as fitness and military training, you will also learn about the RAF lifestyle.

SPECIALIST TRAINING

The next step is a specialist training course at Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering Cosford, near Wolverhampton, which lasts about 12 months. This course is designed to give you a basic understanding of your role as an RAF Armament Specialist, including the awareness of explosive safety requirements and the maintenance and repair skills of aircraft weapon systems, weapon launching systems and aircraft escape systems.

More Details +

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

During your specialist training you will be enrolled on a Level 3 Engineering Technician Apprenticeship, the Technical Certificate element of which is a Level 3 Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance (Military) and delivered entirely in training. You will be required to complete the portfolio element of the Level 3 Diploma in Aviation Maintenance competence qualification during your first tour when you leave specialist training and conduct an End Point Assessment
to be awarded your Apprenticeship.

ONGOING TRAINING/DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

As your career progresses, we will continue to train you in new skills, and you will develop as a technician. You may be posted to a specialist area of employment, such as an aircraft squadron, an RAF Regiment squadron, or as part of an Expeditionary Armament Squadron. You could also have opportunities for management and leadership training. The qualifications and experience you will gain in your RAF career can support accreditation and membership of industry recognised professional bodies.

YOUR FIRST TOUR

For your first tour you may join a flying squadron at an RAF base where you could be employed on the maintenance and repair of aircraft weapon systems and involved in storing and handling
different types of weapons; you could also be responsible for fitting these weapons onto aircraft ensuring that they are fit for use. Also, you could be responsible for the care and maintenance of weapons used by your station and, whichever role you undertake, you will work alongside experienced technicians and gain exposure to more complex maintenance and repair work which will help your professional development.

YOUR FUTURE CAREER PROSPECTS AND PROGRESSION

After completing one year’s total service, you will be eligible for promotion to Senior Aircraftsman, providing you pass a Trade Ability Test and Basic Trade Training. As you gain experience and complete your Level 3 development competence qualification, you will achieve Technician status. Further promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is dependant on successful completion of the Engineering Technician apprenticeship and then on merit by
competitive selection. As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and manpower within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest standards expected within the RAF.

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

The Diplomas and Apprenticeship that you can earn are as valuable in the civilian world as they are in the RAF. Furthermore, as an armament specialist and aircraft engineer in the RAF, the
skills and qualifications you will have gained will place you in good stead for a wide range of employment fields when you leave the RAF.

TRAINING AND CAREERS

TRAINING YOU'LL RECEIVE

10 weeks of basic recruit training at your chosen RAF Reserves Squadron then a 15 day residential training course at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.

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.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

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 (with ‘right to work’ immigration status).

Be aged 16 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday).

* Minimum 1 years’ service from attestation and successful completion of Professional Workplace Training.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

Have these minimum grades:

  GCSE GCSE 2017 SNE
Mathematics C Grade 4 Grade 5
English Language C Grade 4 Grade 5
Science or Technology C Grade 4 Grade 5

find a list of the approved subjects here

You can see what the RAF accepts in lieu of GCSEs & A Levels here.

NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY

You 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 (with ‘right to work’ immigration status).

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.

FITNESS REQUIREMENTS

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 at least two separate fitness tests 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 the following:

  • 2.4km (1.5m) run on a treadmill (set to zero incline)
  • Achieve the required number of press-ups - within 60 seconds
  • Achieve the required number of sit-ups - within 60 seconds

The second fitness test will take place at RAF Halton on day one of your initial training. This consists of the following:

  • Achieving the required score on the Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT or Bleep test)
  • Achieve the required number of press-ups - within 60 seconds
  • Achieve the required number of sit-ups - within 60 seconds

How fit you need to be to pass these tests can vary depending on role, age and gender. The requirements are listed on the charts below (Male and Female).

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
45-47 12.54 7.07 16 23

 

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
45-47 15.19 5.04 6 20

You can see the protocols for Press Ups & Sit Ups here:

PJFT/PRFV Protocols

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 PRFV Fitness Test here:

RAF PRFV Fitness Test

A 12-week fitness plan with detailed information to help you get ready for all of the fitness tests can be downloaded here.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION:

There are health requirements that must be met by all applicants:

  • Body Mass Index requirements:

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

  • Eyesight requirements vary for different roles. A requirement to wear glasses or contact lenses may be allowed for aircrew.

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.

BACKGROUND CHECKS

YOU MUST:

  • Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
  • Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
  • Have a basic background check to get Security Check level clearance

DISQUALIFYING FACTORS

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). In addition, tattoos must not be visible below the sleeve cuff while wearing uniform, although a single finger (not thumb) tattoo that could be covered by a ring may be permitted
  • Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
  • Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt

Beard Policy: A revised facial hair policy has been agreed by the Air Force Board which will allow serving personnel to wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard whilst maintaining high standards of appearance. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm). The wearing of beards during Phase 1 and Phase 2 training is currently under consideration and details will be advised when available

If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information contact your local AFCO.

GOT WHAT IT TAKES?

Start your application here.

Apply as a Regular