At a glance
You'll know our world-class kit inside and out and coordinate across functions to manage safety, navigation, weaponry and aircraft. You'll lead the teams that keep us flying and ensure our frontline capabilities in the sky.
Profession
Warfare (Aviation) Officer
Whether on board a ship or onshore, you’ll help keep the skies safe and lead the team that ensures safe flow of air traffic.
- GCSEs
- Warfare
- Officer level
£33,000
The minimum you'll earn after training
£117,500
As you progress through your career
0%
Loan on buying a house
Free
Medical and dental care
7 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
Travel
All around the world
It’s really important that I’m organised, focused and have 100% concentration. Knowing that the lives of my mates are in my hands is a level of responsibility I’d struggle to find elsewhere.
Profession details
What you could do
Joining as a Warfare (Aviation) Officer in the Royal Navy can take your career to new heights. Working with the most advanced aircraft in the world, you’ll lead the teams who keep us flight ready and protect our mission safety. This is a highly cross-functional profession that will see you working with several teams at once. Warfare (Aviation) Officers can specialise in air traffic control, aircrew observation, and piloting. From communication systems to emergency preparedness, you’ll ensure our missions fly high.
Your role
- Monitor the airwaves and make sure each and every one of the helicopters and jets under your watch lands safely.
- Use your knowledge of our world-class kit, and understanding of your environment, to give clear instructions to pilots and crew.
- Operate sophisticated radar and communication systems, and collaborate with everyone in your team.
- Use your world-class communication skills to ensure the safety of your crew.
Pay & benefits
- A starting salary in excess of £33,000
- Rising beyond £41,000 after two years
- Accelerated training and responsibility from day one
- Seven weeks of paid holiday every year
- Free medical and dental care
- Subsidised travel and accommodation
- Adventurous training
- Excellent pension scheme
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or even a degree, with funding from us
- Gain specialist vocational qualifications
- Gain a Foundation Degree in Airspace Management on completion of professional training and a BSc(Hons) on the Front Line
Skills you'll develop
- How to use state-of-the-art equipment to monitor your airspace and keep it safe
- The art of effective communication and decision-making in high-pressure situations
Eligibility
- You must be aged 18 to 34
- You’ll need a minimum of 72 UCAS points. These can be accrued from either GCE A/AS Levels (or equivalent) or National Diplomas (e.g., BTEC)
- You’ll need at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent), which must include English language and Mathematics
- You must be a United Kingdom citizen or British Dual United States National to apply. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
- Minimum height of 151.5cm
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
- Must pass CBAT. Specialist Aviation Medical at OASC, RAF Cranwell post AIB.
Skills & interests
- Able to thrive on responsibility
- A confident leader
- A passion for working as part of a team
- Calm under pressure
- Able to concentrate for long periods of time
Joining process
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as an officer.
Step 1
Submit an application
Once you’ve registered your interest in a Profession, and have satisfied some basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.
Step 2
Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)
Depending on Profession applied for and professionally qualified status, 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.
Step 3
Interview
A Career Interview to talk through suitability of your chosen Profession and discussion of your preferred roles that are available within that Profession, including Submarine service. It will also cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.
Step 4
Medical and Fitness Assessments
This is conducted at one of our Candidate Preparation Centres and will include a Fitness and Medical Assessment.
Step 5
Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)
The AIB is conducted online and made up of two assessments, . A Pre-Recorded Interview (PRI) online assessment that assesses your awareness and motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage online competency-based assessment which will take place approximately 3 weeks after 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.
Step 6
Start training
Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) to commence your initial training.
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day