Salary:Dependent upon your qualifications you can expect to start at £23,000+ with excellent additional ben
Location:Manchester
Reference Code:
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Full Description:
Your Career
Overview
Administrative Officers manage essential support services for the RAF, both on permanent RAF bases, known as stations, and on expeditionary operations around the world. As an Administrative Officer you will undertake a variety of roles; most involve administration and management, but there are also opportunities to set RAF policy and take organisational staff roles. Typical duties include:
• human resources management
• community support
• infrastructure, facilities and estate management
• training
• RAF recruitment
• media and communications
• accounting and finance
• business management
• VIP staff assistant
Like most people in the RAF, you’ll probably move jobs every few years, and each job is known as a tour. Most of your tours will be on RAF stations – some of these are operational flying stations and others have a personnel and training role. Within your first few years, you could be detached overseas, for anything from a few days to a few months. You could be posted on an overseas tour, or go on operations in your ordinary work role, such as personnel support, infrastructure management or media liaison.
Your First Tour
Your first tour will probably be as a Station Adjutant on an RAF station. You’ll work alongside the Station Commander, assisting with the day-to-day running of the base, including internal communications, public relations, disciplinary and ceremonial duties, management inspections and contractor liaison. It’s a chance to learn how an RAF base works. And the experience you gain will stand you in good stead for the rest of your career.
Your Training
Initial Officer Training
Like all our officers, you’ll begin your RAF career with Initial Officer Training at the RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire. You’ll follow a challenging 30-week course designed to develop your leadership and management skills. The course includes fitness development, military training and academic study as well as practical outdoor leadership challenges.
Specialist Training
After Initial Officer Training, you’ll follow a 3-month specialist training course at the Defence College of Police & Personnel Administration at Southwick Park near Portsmouth. The course is designed to give you a thorough grounding in administration and is divided into 4 phases:
The training is scenario-based, covering the Adminstrative Officer’s role on a RAF Station and on expeditionary operations, so you’ll be able to develop your skills in a simulated practical environment. . When you’ve completed your specialist training, you’ll receive your first posting.
Ongoing Development
As an Administrative Officer, you’ll have extensive opportunities for further professional development throughout your career. Specialist training will lead to an Introductory Diploma in Management, and you’ll be able to choose a six-stage professional development programme culminating in an MA in Human Resource Management. At each key stage of your career you will be given specialist training to enable you to undertake your next role. Furthermore, the RAF will encourage to you develop your leadership and management skills through a series of residential and distance-learning courses that are common to all officer branches. Much of the training you will receive is accredited or recognised by a wide range of professional bodies.
Your Future
Career Prospects
You’ll join the RAF on either a Short Service Commission of up to 6 years, or on a Permanent Commission that will normally require a minimum of 18 years service. Promotion to the rank of Flight Lieutenant is on a time served/satisfactory service basis. Further promotion to Squadron Leader and above is by competitive selection.
Transferable Skills
Following their RAF careers, Administrative Officers have found jobs in the fields of management consultancy, human resource management, IT, project management, facilities management, marketing and the media.
How to Join
You can join the RAF at any time, as long as you meet the entry qualifications set out below. Visit www.rafcareers.com or dial 0161 832 5822 for more information.
Entry Qualifications:
Age Limits:
17½–36
Academic Qualifications:
Two A-levels/3 Highers plus 5 GCSEs/SCEs at Grade C/3 or equivalent, including English language and maths.
Selection:
You must pass selection tests at the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire. You’ll spend 4 days at the selection centre where we’ll assess your potential to develop officer qualities, including communication skills, self-motivation, maturity, physical fitness and leadership skills.
Nationality:
You must have been a citizen of the United Kingdom, the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland since birth.
Residency:
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should normally have resided there for the 5 years immediately preceding your application. However, providing satisfactory enquiries can be made in your country of residence, we may be able to consider your application even if you have never lived in the UK.
Equal Opportunities:
The RAF values every individual’s unique contribution, irrespective of race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or social background.
This information was correct when published in January 2006, but may have changed since. If you have any queries, please check with RAF staff at any Armed Forces Careers Office.