RAF Regiment Gunner - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship – Find an apprenticeship

Summary

The RAF Regiment is a highly specialised force with responsibility for providing Force Protection to enable and support air operations. Specialists in ground combat operations, the RAF Regiment contributes to the defence of RAF airfields in the UK and overseas, Forward Air Controlling, ceremonial duties, and support to Special Forces operations.

Annual wage

£25,200 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

Pay will increase incrementally each year.

Training course

HM forces serviceperson (protective services) (level 2)

Hours

Shifts to be confirmed on assignment to your first station after training.

40 hours a week

Possible start date

Monday 1 September

Duration

2 years

Positions available

320

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As a RAF Regiment Gunner, you will become a specialist in dismounted close combat tactics, fieldcraft and how air operations are conducted
You will learn to operate a wide variety of weapon systems including individual weapons through to machine guns and anti-tank systems as well as an impressive array of state-of-the-art surveillance systems designed to help you locate the enemy and stop them from interfering with air operations
Additionally, there are opportunities to learn how to operate and employ a range of armoured vehicles required to enable rapid mobility to protect RAF assets
Within your first few years, you will almost certainly be deployed on an overseas operations or exercises to locations including Canada, Cyprus, Middle East, and Africa

Where you’ll work

Gateshead

NE8 2BE

Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Your training course

HM forces serviceperson (protective services) (level 2)

Equal to GCSE

Course contents

Take responsibility for effective performance within their role.
Carry out safe working practices using the individual personal weapon.
Operate safely and effectively in emergency situations.
Operate within hazardous environments using Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear individual protective equipment.
Apply First Aid to minor and major injuries.
Use fieldcraft techniques to camouflage and conceal self, equipment and location.
Use and maintain personal safety and specialist equipment.
Operate tactically in open country and wooded areas without being seen or heard.
Occupy tactical locations by constructing strongholds.
Conduct tactical patrols.
Indicate targets by judging distance and range cards.
Navigate using recognised methods, across varying terrains by day and night.
Conduct sentry duties within a tactical location.
Communicate effectively, through tactical hand signals.
Send and receive messages using in-service portable radios.
Drill movements; Dress for the event, perform foot and arms drill, show respect and courtesy to visitors.
Use physical resources as not to cause injury to self or others
Show how to prepare and maintain operational equipment and resources, ancillaries, ammunition and pyrotechnics.
Show understanding of Individual Weapons, purposes and characteristics.
Show how to operate weapons and remedy malfunctions.
Take responsibility for effective performance within their role.
Carry out safe working practices using the individual personal weapon.
Operate safely and effectively in emergency situations.
Operate within hazardous environments using Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear individual protective equipment.
Apply First Aid to minor and major injuries.
Use fieldcraft techniques to camouflage and conceal self, equipment and location.
Use and maintain personal safety and specialist equipment.
Operate tactically in open country and wooded areas without being seen or heard.
Occupy tactical locations by constructing strongholds.
Conduct tactical patrols.
Indicate targets by judging distance and range cards.
Navigate using recognised methods, across varying terrains by day and night.
Conduct sentry duties within a tactical location.
Communicate effectively, through tactical hand signals.
Send and receive messages using in-service portable radios.
Drill movements; Dress for the event, perform foot and arms drill, show respect and courtesy to visitors.
Use physical resources as not to cause injury to self or others
Show how to prepare and maintain operational equipment and resources, ancillaries, ammunition and pyrotechnics.
Show understanding of Individual Weapons, purposes and characteristics.
Show how to operate weapons and remedy malfunctions.

Your training plan

On successful completion of the application and selection process, your apprenticeship will start with a 10-week Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire
The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you’ll also learn about the RAF lifestyle
Upon successful completion of BRTC you will move to RAF Honington, Suffolk. Here you will complete your specialist Gunner training course (Phase 2) which will last for approximately 20 weeks
You will be taught how to operate and use weapons in a professional manner and learn how to survive and fight in all environmental conditions
The course includes navigation, dismounted close combat tactics, field craft and physical training. RAF Regiment training is a test of character, determination, and your will to succeed. By the end of the course, you will be at peak physical fitness and have learnt to operate effectively regardless of the environment
To give you the confidence to overcome any situation you may encounter whilst on operations, the training is deliberately tough. Where eligible, you will be enrolled onto a Level 2 National Level Apprenticeship, HM Forces Service Person (Protective Services)
Prior to starting your first squadron tour you will spend a further period undertaking specialist employment courses which include driver training and further advanced weapon training

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

Other in:

No requirement (grade No requirement)

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Attention to detail
Organisation skills
Problem solving skills
Number skills
Team working
Patience
Physical fitness

Other requirements

The role is varied and, after training, you could be stationed across the UK and beyond. • Swim Test – The assessment is a 100m swim followed by 2 minutes treading water, in overalls, then exiting the pool unaided. • Multi-Stage Fitness Test (MSFT) – This test is Age and Gender fair. The physical standards are to RAF Green Standard.

About this company

The Royal Air Force work with our UK and international partners to watch the skies, respond to threats, prevent conflict, and provide assistance in an uncertain world. We provide all personnel with a varied range of training and activities to make sure you're ready for anything. A career in the Royal Air Force will provide you with a whole host of possibilities. You will receive world class training, allowing you to learn and develop throughout your career. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore the closing and start dates.

https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/ (opens in new tab)

After this apprenticeship

As your career progresses, we will continue to train you in new skills
There will be opportunities to learn specialist combat medical skills, undertake management and leadership training, NVQs, GCSEs and A levels. In addition, you will have the chance to gain qualifications in adventurous sports such as mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing, sailing, and canoeing and for you to lead training as an Endurance Training Leader
There are a wide range of jobs available to an RAF Regiment Gunner including Forward Air Controller, Support to Special Forces and Instructional and ceremonial duties

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

ROYAL AIR FORCE

0345 6055555

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000273747.

Apply now

Closes on Saturday 30 August

When you apply, you’ll be asked to sign in with a GOV.UK One Login. You can create one at the same time as applying for this apprenticeship.

After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.

Company’s application instructions

You'll be directed through to the RAF Recruitment Website where more detail on the role is available. We have positions available for this role throughout the year and the process can take a few months. Once you have completed an application you will be invited to complete an aptitude assessment, selection interview, health assessment and a fitness test. More details of the requirement can be found at the application link.

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RAF Regiment Gunner - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship

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