RAF ICT Specialist - All Questions Answered!

I'll have a look on the website. I'm not happy because I'm currently on phase 2 training to be an ICT tech. I want free money!

You've just missed the boat I'm afraid...! Stick with it, the rewards can be great. Message me if you have any qs about 'life after cosford'.

I will be sticking with it, I'm quite enjoying it at the moment too. Thanks.

Would anybody be able to tell me when/how frequently the ICT tech training courses run? I've just passed my selection, waiting on the next steps. Fingers crossed.

Just wondering what i'm likely to be doing between finishing my 10 weeks at halton and starting the phase 2 training. I think I read that the course starts in january? Anybody know if it only starts then or??

Any info would be really appreciated.

Does anyone know id your entitlled to family accomadation in phase 2 training?

I'm currently seriously considering joining the Raf as a ICT tech. Would mean a massive wage drop but it's more for the career and life it gives. I have a wife and 2 young kids (I'm 28) so would be a bit of an upheaval anyone in a similar position would be nice to hear your thoughts? Is it correct that we would get MQ for the 10/11 months of my training after basic? When people say attest at what point does this usually happen?(Just wondering as I would have to do this before I'm 30 and due to current circumstances I probably wouldn't apply until Jan next year). Cheers

Im currently nearing the end of my application, I have my potential start date for the 9th of sept. I turned 30 in January but started my application last Oct. You attest when you start basic training so you need to do that whilst or before you're 30. I also have a wife and child, I believe you can get MQ once you're trained but I'm unsure on the full ins and outs of that. Hope that helps a little, the application process does take quite a while also. By the time I'll have started it will have been nearly 12 months.

Great thanks,

When you say 12 months is that the aptetude test, fitness test and basic training or the whole thing at phase 2? How did you find the tests and interview (and basic)? I'm just trying to work out when to start the whole process really as I thought it would be fairly quick before basic and then after basic your off to phase 2?
Thanks for the reply.

For me the date i applied up until the date I should basic training will be 11 months. I found the AST's pretty easy and the fitness test was a walk in the park for me also. The interview is service knowledge, I got caught out a little here as I didn't do enough research and got through by the skin of my teeth which was my own fault. I learnt lots on the things I didn't need to know and not enough on the things I did need to know. I just want to start basic training now though and I still have a while to wait and I have to get through PRTC and my final interview.

I also do this job, any qs give me a shout.

With the ICT role, is it mainly based on a Helpdesk? Just asking as currently one one so just judging if it would be similar (apart from it being in the military).

Is it a really diverse job? How long have you been doing the job (do you still enjoy it?)?

On this question I would say that it is definitely NOT mainly based on a helpdesk. Not to say that there are no helpdesk jobs within the trade, but generally speaking you will find that you can avoid being on a helpdesk if you don't want to do that - of course it depends upon where you are posted and what the RAF needs.

This leads onto...



It is one of the most diverse, if not the most diverse ground trade going IMO. You could work on anything from the aforementioned helpdesk through to deployable IT networks or communication systems, to secure communications links, radars, radios, cyber warfare, ground support systems for aircraft such as the Typhoon... The list goes on. You can be posted to many locations in the UK and overseas, such as Cyprus, the USA, Belgium, Italy, etc.

I've been doing it for nearly 10 years and although I like to moan about it from time to time (who doesn't? ), I do enjoy it and will probably do the 22 years.

It's not just the job, I enjoy the time you get for sport, training courses, adventurous training, leave.

And the pay is good too - £25k after 2 and a half years.

Any more questions?

That's great thank you. I'm looking to apply later in the year and am definitely looking to go ICT Tech, really like the sound of cyber security, cyber warefare or secure comms. Next is revision to blow off the cob webs, fitness and research.

Why wait? Apply now and get the ball rolling - it can be a long process..!

I know but still lacking slightly in the fitness and aptitude test as been a while since done any real math, physics or electrics studies etc. I'm focused though and plan a month or two (at most) of getting ready and being back to where I know I can be before applying and giving myself the best chance getting through it all.(Plus lack of annual leave isn't helping the matter).