Air Traffic Control Officer

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

• Submit an application

  Once you’ve registered your interest, we’ll be in touch to discuss your options

• Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

  You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
  To prepare, you can practise the DAA

• Interview

  A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role

• Medical and eye tests

  These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

• Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

  This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

• Interview

  You’ll have a short interview to assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy, and to ensure you’re ready for the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

• Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

  This stage is unique to officers and takes place in two parts. A Pre Recorded Interview (PRI) is an online assessment which assesses your motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer and your awareness of the Royal Navy. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage of the AIB and is an online competency based assessment which will take place on a separate day to the PRI. It will be conducted in a virtual group environment and you will be assessed on your contribution to the team based on your individual performance.

Before you begin your initial training, you’ll need to take Flying Aptitude Tests (FATs) at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. These assess your ability to cope with the rigours of flying training. You’ll then progress to Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, where you’ll spend 30 weeks, focusing on: military skills, maritime skills and initial fleet time. The military skills phase includes learning about leadership and teamwork, and the principles of command and management. You will put this into practice during several exercises on Dartmoor.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.

After you’ve passed out of BRNC, you will spend a further 15 weeks learning about how our equipment works. At the end of this stage, you’ll go through grading. This is a set of tests that determines your suitability for your specialisation.

Once you’ve completed grading, you’ll begin your professional training at RAF Shawbury in Shropshire. Throughout this 24-week course, you’ll use state-of-the-art simulators under the guidance of our experienced instructors. From there, you’ll go to either RNAS Yeovilton, RNAS Culrose, or RAF Marham, where you’ll spend 34 weeks gaining hands-on experience working with real aircraft. At the end of this, you’ll gain your Certificate of Competency and be a fully qualified Air Traffic Control Officer.