Joining the RAF

The Royal Air Force recruits airmen and airwomen (the non-commissioned ranks, whose most junior rank is now called aviator) and officers into roles ranging from aircraft engineering, air traffic control and intelligence to logistics, medical work, cyber and the RAF Regiment. Airmen and airwomen apply online, then pass an aptitude test, interview, medical and fitness test before recruit training at RAF Halton. Officer candidates go through the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF College Cranwell and train there. Reported starting pay after the 3.6% award backdated to 1 April 2026 is £27,282 for new other ranks and £35,926 for new junior officers.

The range of roles

Flying is the job people picture, but most RAF personnel work on the ground. The main groups are:

• aircrew: pilots, weapon systems officers and operators, and rear crew roles
• engineering and technical: aircraft technicians, avionics, weapons and survival equipment, and communications engineers
• operations support: air traffic control, flight operations, intelligence analysis, cyber and space roles
• force protection: the RAF Regiment, RAF Police and firefighting
• support: logistics, catering, personnel administration, physical training and music
• medical and dental: nurses, medical assistants, doctors and allied health professionals

Each role has its own entry requirements. Engineering roles often need maths and science GCSEs or equivalents, medical roles need professional registration, and aircrew roles need high aptitude scores and strict medical standards, especially for eyesight.

Selection for airmen and airwomen

1. Online application and eligibility checks.
2. Aptitude test at a careers office, which determines which roles you qualify for.
3. Interview with a recruiter about your choice of role, your motivation and what you know about RAF life.
4. Medical, which can involve requests for GP records.
5. Pre-Recruit Training Course or fitness assessment, which includes a run and other physical tests, depending on the current process.
6. Security checks and an offer of a training date.

Recruit training at RAF Halton covers fitness, drill, weapon handling, first aid, field skills and service values. Specialist trade training follows, at establishments such as RAF Cosford for engineering. Pay starts on day one.

Selection for officers

Officer applicants meet the academic requirements and pass the aptitude and medical stages before attending the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) at Cranwell. OASC combines further aptitude tests for aircrew, a structured interview, a group discussion, a planning exercise and practical leadership tasks. The RAF version has its own format, but assessment centres explains how group and planning exercises are typically scored.

Successful candidates complete Initial Officer Training at RAF College Cranwell, a demanding course in leadership, fitness, service knowledge and field exercises. Aircrew then start flying training, which is long and selective, with a real chance of being moved to another role if you miss the standard. Other officers go on to specialist training for their branch.

Life after training

Once trained, you are posted to a station: a flying station, a headquarters, a radar site or a support unit, in the UK or overseas. RAF stations are often in rural areas, with accommodation on or near the base. Postings change every few years, and many roles involve deployments or detachments away from home, sometimes at short notice.

Promotion for airmen and airwomen depends on time served, performance reports and passing courses. Some commission as officers later, and the RAF runs routes for serving personnel to apply. Engineering and technical trades lead to apprenticeships and qualifications that are recognised outside the forces.

Eligibility

The RAF sets rules on age, nationality, residence, medical fitness and criminal record. Upper age limits vary by role, and aircrew limits are lower than most. Commonwealth and Irish citizens can apply for many roles, subject to residence rules, but some roles need security clearance that limits who can apply. These rules change, so check the RAF Recruitment website for the current position on each role before applying.

Pay and pension

The Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body recommended a 3.6% increase for 2026/27, backdated to 1 April 2026. The starting figures of £27,282 for other ranks and £35,926 for junior officers come from secondary reporting by the Forces Pension Society, and the MOD’s pay tables are the definitive source. Pay rises with rank and increments, and aircrew and some specialist trades receive additional pay once qualified. Armed forces pay covers the rank scales, and the take-home pay calculator converts a starting salary to monthly pay.

RAF personnel join the Armed Forces Pension Scheme, which is non-contributory.

Reserves and other routes

The RAF Reserves recruit part-time personnel into many of the same roles. They train at weekends and on short courses alongside a civilian job, and are paid for the days they serve. The RAF Air Cadets are a youth organisation and a common way to try RAF life before applying. If another service appeals more, see joining the British Army as a soldier or joining the Royal Navy, which has its own aviation branch, the Fleet Air Arm.