Profession details
What you could do
Joining as a Warfare (Aviation) Rating in the Royal Navy is a challenging and exhilarating career. You'll be at the heart of aviation operations, ensuring success and safety across three vital roles. As an Aircraft Controller, you'll play a pivotal role in frontline aviation, keeping operations on track as the on-board expert advising Command with tactical insight. As Aircrewman, you'll detect enemy submarines or support Royal Marine missions. As a Naval Airman Aircraft Handler, you'll manage sea-capable aircraft, including the cutting-edge F-35B Lightning on Queen Elizabeth class carriers.
Your role
Qualifications you'll gain
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
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)
You'll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension. You will need to attempt all sections of the DAA.
To help you prepare, you can practise the DAA.
Step 3
Interview
A formal Selection Interview to confirm suitability of your chosen Profession followed by 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
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, which includes assessments of your Fitness and your Medical eligibility, it is a pass or fail course.
Step 5
Start training
Once you've passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you'll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh to commence your initial training. Allocation to a specific role within your chosen profession will occur during the latter part of initial training.
Career progression
From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Phase one training
10 weeks at HMS Raleigh, learning basic military skills. After phase one training you will spend the next few months developing your professional skills and knowledge across a range of courses intertwined within your Leading Aircraft Controller's Qualifying Course (LACPQC)
Phase two training
In the first 10 weeks at HMS Collingwood you will learn all about the on-board Command System and how to operate and transmit on radios and receive basic Leadership training during ARLC and learn how to survive life at sea.
Your next phase of training will be carried out at the Royal Navy School of Aircraft Control (RNSAC) located within RNAS Yeovilton (Somerset). For the next 15 weeks, you will learn the basics of controlling an Air System.
Once you have mastered these basics the tempo of training will increase and you will return to HMS Collingwood for a further 14 weeks to complete your final phase of the course within the Aviation Training Element (AvTE) at the Maritime Warfare School (MWS) (in Portsmouth),
First promotion - Leading Hand
Once qualified as a controller, attention will be focused on the Leadership aspect of your role on board. This is where attendance at the Royal Navy Leadership Academy (RNLA - located within HMS Collingwood) is essential. This four-week intense Leadership course will help you build upon what leadership skills you have gained thus far and apply them into different and more challenging/dynamic situations to adequately prepare you to be an effective Leading Hand employed onboard His Majesty's Frigate or Destroyer at sea on completion.
First three years
Consolidate your skills in the maritime environment
Second promotion - Petty officer
Become a JATCC qualified Air Traffic Controller
What you could do
Joining as a Warfare (Aviation) Rating in the Royal Navy is a challenging and exhilarating career. You'll be at the heart of aviation operations, ensuring success and safety across three vital roles. As an Aircraft Controller, you'll play a pivotal role in frontline aviation, keeping operations on track as the on-board expert advising Command with tactical insight. As Aircrewman, you'll detect enemy submarines or support Royal Marine missions. As a Naval Airman Aircraft Handler, you'll manage sea-capable aircraft, including the cutting-edge F-35B Lightning on Queen Elizabeth class carriers.
Your role
- Work with some of the most sophisticated aircraft in the world in all environments, including the Wildcat and Merlin helicopters as well as the P8 Poseidon. As your career progresses, you'll gain additional qualifications which will enable you to work with the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter
- You will be the on-board Aviation expert, advising Command and using your knowledge and tactical insight to ensure mission success
- Utilise your skills, expertise and knowledge to work with NATO and international partners around the world
- Compile and deliver flying briefs to the ship's Command/Aviation team
- A starting salary of at least £25,200
- Earn over £62,073 as your career progresses
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- Subsidised food, travel and accommodation
- Excellent pension scheme
Qualifications you'll gain
- Apprenticeship Level 3 in Data Information Management
- Foundation degree in Aerospace Management on successful completion of JATCC
- Chartered Management Institute Level 3 qualification in Coaching & Mentoring with the opportunity for Level 5 as your career progresses
- Opportunity to gain human factors qualifications
- Funding towards study or a qualification of your choice
- Regardless of age, background or educational achievement the AC branch will support you every step of the way, allowing you to grow in confidence your multi-tasking ability, master communication and leadership skills, and realise your full potential. It's never too early or late to live life to the full and experience challenges.
- You'll need to be aged 16 to 39
- No qualifications are required for this role
- You must be a United Kingdom national, or Commonwealth citizen, or Dual National. 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
- To be independent and adaptable
- To be out going, committed and driven
- A high level of spatial awareness
- A passion for aviation
- An adventurous spirit
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
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)
You'll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension. You will need to attempt all sections of the DAA.
To help you prepare, you can practise the DAA.
Step 3
Interview
A formal Selection Interview to confirm suitability of your chosen Profession followed by 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
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, which includes assessments of your Fitness and your Medical eligibility, it is a pass or fail course.
Step 5
Start training
Once you've passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you'll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh to commence your initial training. Allocation to a specific role within your chosen profession will occur during the latter part of initial training.
Career progression
From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Phase one training
10 weeks at HMS Raleigh, learning basic military skills. After phase one training you will spend the next few months developing your professional skills and knowledge across a range of courses intertwined within your Leading Aircraft Controller's Qualifying Course (LACPQC)
Phase two training
In the first 10 weeks at HMS Collingwood you will learn all about the on-board Command System and how to operate and transmit on radios and receive basic Leadership training during ARLC and learn how to survive life at sea.
Your next phase of training will be carried out at the Royal Navy School of Aircraft Control (RNSAC) located within RNAS Yeovilton (Somerset). For the next 15 weeks, you will learn the basics of controlling an Air System.
Once you have mastered these basics the tempo of training will increase and you will return to HMS Collingwood for a further 14 weeks to complete your final phase of the course within the Aviation Training Element (AvTE) at the Maritime Warfare School (MWS) (in Portsmouth),
First promotion - Leading Hand
Once qualified as a controller, attention will be focused on the Leadership aspect of your role on board. This is where attendance at the Royal Navy Leadership Academy (RNLA - located within HMS Collingwood) is essential. This four-week intense Leadership course will help you build upon what leadership skills you have gained thus far and apply them into different and more challenging/dynamic situations to adequately prepare you to be an effective Leading Hand employed onboard His Majesty's Frigate or Destroyer at sea on completion.
First three years
Consolidate your skills in the maritime environment
Second promotion - Petty officer
Become a JATCC qualified Air Traffic Controller