What will you do?
You’ll be leading a team of highly motivated, bright individuals. In your role you will:
1. Collect, collate and evaluate vast quantities of information to produce actionable reports
2. Provide intelligence updates and threat assessments to support operational planning
3. Provide intelligence support to aircrew before their missions
4. Lead teams of skilled intelligence analysts to provide imagery or signals intelligence
5. Brief senior officers, planning or operations staff to influence matters of international significance
6. Be deployed frequently overseas, working alongside counterparts in the Royal Navy and the Army, or in a NATO Position
Minimum education requirements
7. As a minimum, you will need GCSEs at Grade C/4 or Scottish National 5 at Grade C in English Language, Mathematics and at least three other subjects.
8. In addition, you need at least 2 A2 Levels/3 Highers at Grade C or above (excluding General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies) which must total a minimum of 64 UCAS points.
9. Alternatively, if you hold a UK degree at Grade 2:2 or higher (or acceptable alternative) you only need Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of GCSE Grade C/4-5 or Scottish National 5 grade C.
Minimum education requirements
10. As a minimum, you will need GCSEs at Grade C/4 or Scottish National 5 at Grade C in English Language, Mathematics and at least three other subjects.
11. In addition, you need at least 2 A2 Levels/3 Highers at Grade C or above (excluding General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies) which must total a minimum of 64 UCAS points.
12. Alternatively, if you hold a UK degree at Grade 2:2 or higher (or acceptable alternative) you only need Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of GCSE Grade C/4-5 or Scottish National 5 grade C.
Requirements
13. Be aged 17.5 – 47 years old (Must enter Initial Officer Training before 48th Birthday Upper age limit of 48 for Internal Commissioning Scheme)
14. Be a citizen of the UK since birth and must not hold (and never have held) any nationality or citizenship (including joint nationality) other than British, British Overseas Territory or dual British Irish citizenship
15. Must have resided in the UK for at least 7 years immediately preceding application
16. Parent/Spouse must currently have UK citizenship
17. Commit to minimum of 12 years service
18. Meet the health and fitness criteria
19. Pass a Fitness test - Details below
Requirements
20. Personnel interested in obtaining a commission in the RAF Intelligence Reserves are required to join the Specialisation first and then to commission from the ranks. Suitability and requirements can be obtained from Squadron specialists.
21. Ex-Regular Intelligence officers and ex-military officers from an equivalent Branch will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
22. Be aged 18-54 Applicants must apply no later than age 54 and 9 months in order to attest before 55th birthday
23. Be qualified ex-military commissioned personnel
24. You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom since birth and must not hold (and must never have held) any nationality or citizenship (including joint nationality) other than British, British Overseas Territory or dual British Irish citizenship
25. Commit 27 days per year
26. Pass a
Reserve role locations Reserve roles exist in specific reserve squadrons, which in turn are located at specific RAF bases. As you will not be resident at those bases (except on multi-day operations or exercises), geographic proximity to where you live is important. These are the bases where this role is active: 502 Sqn, JHFS Aldergrove, Co Antrim 505 Sqn, RAF St Mawgan, Newquay 600 Sqn, RAF Northolt, Middlesex 602 Sqn, Glasgow, Scotland 607 Sqn, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire 611 Sqn, RAF Woodvale, Merseyside 614 Sqn, Cardiff 7006 Sqn, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire 7006 Sqn, RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire 7010 Sqn, RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire 7010 Sqn, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire CAREER, TRAINING & EDUCATION At any level or position your personal success is vital to make us succeed too. We are dedicated to your future, as it is essential to ours. You will receive basic and specialist training in your field and we even provide the option to pay for your education. The experience you gain with the RAF will equip you to work at the top of your field, both in the UK and overseas. 01 Phase one training Initial Training 24 weeks RAF Cranwell You will complete the Initial Officer Training (IOT) Course at the RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire. 24 weeks RAF Cranwell Phase one training
This is a challenging modular course, split into 4 distinct terms designed to develop your robustness, fitness, leadership and academic skills as well as practical outdoor leadership challenges.
02 Phase two training RAF Intelligence Course 18 weeks MOD Chicksands You will then undertake a RAF Intelligence Course - Officer (RAFIC-O) course at MOD Chicksands, Bedfordshire. 18 weeks MOD Chicksands Phase two training
This course will teach you how to provide Operational Intelligence. You will be taught a breadth of subjects including: the components of intelligence work, different intelligence sources, various analytical techniques, the structure of air-defence systems, and the details of complex equipment that pose a threat to aircraft.
By the end of the course you will be able to collect and evaluate relevant information and produce actionable intelligence, through both written reports and formal verbal briefings. You will be able to provide intelligence support to senior commanders and contribute to the planning of air operations and force protection of airbases. Your final exercise will test your ability to work within an Expeditionary Air Wing intelligence environment in a range of mutually supportive and varied intelligence roles, including that of a squadron intelligence officer.
03 First tour Specialist training Ongoing As assigned Your first tour will be at one of a range of military units and will focus on Operational Intelligence. Ongoing As assigned First tour
You could be posted to any of the front-line RAF flying stations, where you would keep the squadrons, the station commander and station personnel aware of the latest threats. You could also be posted to the Joint Force Air Component Headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, or the Air and Space Intelligence Centre at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire. Here you will provide threat assessments and intelligence updates on current operations and worldwide areas of concern to senior commanders and their planning staff. You could then undertake further training in:
27. Operational Intelligence, completing courses in air weapons employment, electronic warfare or air operations
28. Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance management
29. Targeting
30. Imagery Intelligence, completing the United Kingdom Imagery Analysis Course (UKIAC)
31. Signals, Human Intelligence or Cyber
04 Career prospects Ongoing training Ongoing As assigned You will join the RAF on an Initial Commission of 12 years and may be selected to serve on a pension-earning commission of 20 years or age 40; whichever is the latter during this time. Ongoing As assigned Career prospects
Promotion to the rank of Flight Lieutenant will occur on a time served/satisfactory service basis 3½ years after completing IOT. Further promotion to Squadron Leader and above is by competitive selection.
05 Ongoing development Ongoing training Ongoing As assigned Initially you will move jobs every 2 years to develop your experience as an Intelligence Officer, and you should expect to deploy on operations regularly throughout your career. Ongoing As assigned Ongoing development
You could work in a range of employment areas which provide extensive opportunities for further professional and personal development throughout your career. Undergraduate and postgraduate degree schemes in Intelligence and Security or International Relations are affiliated to the Branch. You could also undertake further training and gain qualifications in Operational Intelligence, Targeting, Cyber, Electronic-Warfare, Space and Air Operations.
Further employment could involve a specialist discipline such as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) management, imagery, signals or human intelligence. You will manage a team of RAF and other military and civilian Intelligence Analysts, producing intelligence reports in support of current operations and strategic decision-making.
06 Transferable skills Ongoing training Ongoing As assigned The analytical and leadership skills as well as the experience you gain throughout your career as an Intelligence Officer. Ongoing As assigned Transferable skills
Those will equip you for a number of jobs in the wider world. These include police inspector, criminologist, or various roles within the civil service.
prevnext TRAINING AND CAREER At any level or position your personal success is vital to make us succeed too. We are dedicated to your future, as it is essential to ours. You will receive basic and specialist training in your field and we even provide the option to pay for your education. The experience you gain with the RAF will equip you to work at the top of your field, both in the UK and overseas. 01 Commitment Your commitment to us Ongoing As assigned We ask that you commit to a minimum of 27 days each year with us. Ongoing As assigned Commitment
This will mean you can get the most out of your role as a Reserve and provide value to us.
Each year includes a 15-day block for general RAF training, and 12 separate days for extra training or exercises. You could also be deployed to a UK or overseas base for up to 6 months after your first year with us.
02 Ongoing development Ongoing training Ongoing As assigned You will have valuable personal development opportunities together with the chance to work around the world, gaining unique experiences in the process. Ongoing As assigned Ongoing development
As well as RAF training packages and courses linked to outside professional bodies, we actively support individual study programmes at every level.
03 Transferrable skills Ongoing training Ongoing As assigned Much of our in-house training is accredited or recognised by external awarding bodies. Ongoing As assigned Transferrable skills
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.
prevnext WHY JOIN THE RAF?
Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.
Rent from £75p/m Free gym Subsidised food Health care World travel 6 weeks holiday WHY JOIN THE RAF?
The skills you acquire as a Reserve won’t just prepare you for the RAF, they will enhance your work and civilian life.
You might be called up to assist with our operations worldwide for up to six months, during which you may be able to claim a pay award to cover your and your employer’s costs.
Training Free gym Subsidised food Paid pension Paid holiday Commitment & Location
You will have to commit to 27 days per year for 12 years minimum. Each year includes a 15-day block for general RAF training, and 12 separate days for extra training or exercises.
You might be deployed to a UK or overseas base for up to 6 months after the first year.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER APPLYING Joining the RAF takes several steps. Below is an overview of the process. The purpose of this process is for us to gauge whether you’re the right person for the RAF and for you to show us all of your skills and experiences that have made you who you are. 1 Aptitude test 2 Filter Interview 3 Health Assessment 4 Fitness Test 5 OASC 6 Familiarisation visit 7 Training 1 Aptitude test Stage 1 of 7
The first step in the application process is a series of Computer Based Aptitude Tests (CBAT). These tests ensure we match the right candidate to the right role. They take place over one day at the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre at the RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire, and measure your ability to perform specific tasks such as:
32. How well you respond physically to visual information
33. Your ability to interpret information in two dimensions and devise a three-dimensional solution
34. Your ability to complete several tasks simultaneously
35. Your natural abilities, including deductive reasoning, spatial reasoning, work rate and concentration, and verbal and numerical reasoning
2 Filter Interview Stage 2 of 7
Selection interviews help us get to know you a little better – and vice versa. You’ll get to show your skills and experience, and we’ll answer any questions you have about joining the RAF. The first of these interviews happens on-line and covers the following topics:
36. Family life
37. Education
38. Work experience
39. Special interests or hobbies
40. Interest in the RAF
3 Health Assessment Stage 3 of 7
You’re legally required to meet certain medical standards, and must pass an occupational health assessment to show you’re fit for military duty. As part of this assessment we will check your overall health, focusing on areas like hearing, eyesight and body mass index.
We’ll also investigate any past illnesses and screen for health issues that may prevent you from carrying out your role. View details below for more information about the health standards you’ll need to meet.
4 Fitness Test Stage 4 of 7
A good level of fitness is critical to joining the RAF, it’s also something that must be maintained throughout your career. You’ll need to complete a Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT). This will take place at a local gym, and includes a 2.4km run, push up test and a sit-up test.
The performance level you’ll need to meet differs by age and gender. Please refer to the entry requirements below for more information about the health standards you’ll need to meet. You can also find help, and a training plan, to assist you in your preparation .
5 OASC Stage 5 of 7
This will be your second visit to the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre. OASC lasts one day, but you will arrive the day before. During this time the officers will be assessing your leadership, teamwork, communication, motivation, and problem solving.
The day will end with an interview. The first half of the interview covers your achievements at school and college, in sports, your community, at work, and as a cadet, scout or guide.
The second half explores your motivation for joining the RAF – what you know about current affairs and the RAF’s role in the national and international arena, current operations the RAF is involved in and your knowledge about the RAF and the role you've applied for.
6 Familiarisation visit Stage 6 of 7
This takes place over 2 days and is designed to give you an insight into officer training. You’ll be issued with your initial kit, including your boots, attend lectures, and also take another fitness test. Instructions and requirements will be sent to you in advance.
Once you’ve successfully completed each phase of the application process you’ll be invited to a provisional offer of service interview.
7 Training Stage 7 of 7
(M)IOT and officer staff training
The Modular Initial Officer Training Course (MIOTC) has been designed to set commissioning officers up for their career in the RAF with the right skills and knowledge. This training will provide a solid platform for your continued development.
Visit our for more information about (M)IOT and the rest of officer training.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Must be aged 17.5 – 47 (Must enter Initial Officer Training before 48th Birthday).
Applicants must also readall ofthe sections below and make sure they meet all entry requirements beforesubmittingan application.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Have these minimum grades:
GCSE pre–2017 GCSE 2017 Onwards Scottish National 5 Mathematics CGrade 4C English Language CGrade 4C Three other subjects CGrade 4C
In addition, you need at least 2 A2 Levels/3 Highers at Grade C or above (excluding General Studies, Critical Thinking and Citizenship Studies) which must total a minimum of 64 UCAS points.
Alternatively, if you hold a UK degree at Grade 2:2 or higher (or acceptable alternative) you only need Mathematics and English Language at a minimum of GCSE Grade C/4-5 or Scottish National 5 grade C.
You can see what the RAF accepts in lieu of GCSEs & A Levels .
NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY
NATIONALITY
You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom since birth (not naturalised) and must never have held any other nationality or citizenship (including joint nationality) with the exception of dual British Irish citizenship. Immediate family must be British citizens/nationals.
RESIDENCY
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 10 years immediately preceding your application, but candidates with a minimum of 7 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. Please continue this registration and proceed to your full application.
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.