Your development

Your Career Prospects  

What support can you get in the RAF?
"Our people are the key component of the RAF that makes everything work."

Engineer Officer (Aerosystems): All Officers incur an initial Training Return of Service of at least three years following completion of basic professional training. However, you will join the RAF on an Initial Commission of 12 years and may be selected to serve on a pension earning commission of 20 years’ service or age 40 (whichever is the later), during this time.  

Promotion to the rank of Flight Lieutenant is on a time served/satisfactory service basis 2½ years from completing IOT, or 1½ years if you have a technical Master’s degree. Further promotion to Squadron Leader and above is by competitive selection.

Engineer Officer (Communications & Electronics): You will join the RAF on an Initial Commission of 12 years and may be selected to serve on a pension earning commission of 20 years’ service or age 40 (whichever is the latter), during this time.

Promotion to the rank of flight lieutenant is on a time served/satisfactory service basis 2½ years from completing (M)IOT, or 1½ years if you have a technical Master’s degree. Further promotion to Squadron Leader and above is by competitive selection.  

Ongoing Development

You will have all the personal development opportunities and career prospects of your civilian counterparts - and possibly more - together with the chance to work around the world, gaining unique engineering experiences in the process.  

As well as RAF training packages and courses linked to outside professional bodies, we actively support individual study programmes at every level.  

You could have opportunities to apply for Advanced Project Management Courses and also take on Master's degree and civilian short university courses, either full-time or part-time while you remain on full salary. We have special agreements with a number Professional Engineering Institutions (PEIs) to attain professional status and the RAF currently has the funding, subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria, to support PEI membership and reward Professional Registration.  

Transferable Skills 

Engineer Officer (Aerosystems): Ex-Serving RAF Engineering Officers (AeroSystems) are highly employable with a broad and useful range of leadership and technical skills which can be applied to engineering and non-technical industries both in the defence sector and beyond. Qualification-awarding bodies and professional institutions recognise our in-house training and work experience.

Engineers typically leave as professionally registered engineers with a wealth of further civilian qualifications. With a focus on personal and professional development, engineers are often rounded and capable individuals. 

Engineer Officer (Communications & Electronics): Ex-Serving RAF Cyberspace Professionals are highly employable with a broad and useful range of leadership and technical skills which can be applied to technology and non-technical industries both in the defence sector and beyond. Qualification-awarding bodies and professional institutions recognise our in-house training and work experience.  
 
Cyberspace Professionals typically leave having gained professional registration and a wealth of further civilian qualifications. With a focus on personal and professional development, Cyberspace Professionals are extremely well-rounded and capable individuals. 

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