Raf Air Traffic Controller Life

Im interested in becoming a ATC For raf i looked on the website snd it days there a 24 week initial training then a 35 week speicilised training what happens after that will i get stationed at my nearest raf base (RAF Northolt) because as a civi u are in a tower in for example heathrow so will it be in one place or would i be moving allot or stationed somewhere else like soldiers do

Im interested in becoming a ATC For raf i looked on the website snd it days there a 24 week initial training then a 35 week speicilised training what happens after that will i get stationed at my nearest raf base (RAF Northolt) because as a civi u are in a tower in for example heathrow so will it be in one place or would i be moving allot or stationed somewhere else like soldiers do

But you're not a "civvy" are you? An Air traffic Controller's entry level is that of an Officer with a 12 year sign up committment, so you are ultimately still a soldier and could be managing the air traffic of tornadoes in war zones surely?

You will get stationed wherever the RAF require you to go which could be your local unit or as far away as Lossiemouth in Scotland, the Falkland Islands or Cyprus. You are part of the armed forces so you move a lot, every 2-3 years as an officer


Posted from TSR Mobile

Because it's 2-3 years and could be stationed anywhere would I be on tour so for like them 2-3 years of being stationed in only there every year for 6 or so months when I'm on tour when would I see family and that

In the nicest possible way. Could you write that a bit more clearly? My head hurts trying to understand what you're trying to say :P

Sorry basically how long would I have of breaks for family and that. because there's something called a "tour" so how long does that last and how long in a year would I be working and seeing family

A tour is the same as a posting, and for Officers they last 2-3 years. During that time, you live and work wherever the RAF need you to. As an ATC Officer you will probably be on some type of shift system when you are a Controller, but outside that time, you are much like a civilian, you can do what you want. So if you are not on duty at the weekend, you can go and see family, if you take leave you can go and see family etc. The difficulty is when you are on tour/posted to somewhere a long way from family, then simple practicalities like cost and distance may stop you.

If you do an operational tour, ie a tour where there is some form of conflict, they are usually shorter - about 6 months, and overseas, and clearly then you cannot see family, but the RAF will put on phones and computers etc to keep in contact with home.

Unless you have some very strange family contact needs, you should remember that all the other members of the Armed Forces seem to be living fairly normal family lives, so it must be pretty normal!

I live 2 mins away from RAF Northolt what are the chances of getting stationed there ? and is it worth a shot to ask ?

I live 2 mins away from RAF Northolt what are the chances of getting stationed there ? and is it worth a shot to ask ?

I live 2 mins away from RAF Northolt what are the chances of getting stationed there ? and is it worth a shot to ask ?

I live 2 mins away from RAF Northolt what are the chances of getting stationed there ? and is it worth a shot to ask ?

Excellent reply djblu, although I suspect the OP left the building when he got the wrong answer. Innit.

Ok, just out of interest what are the chances your family live near a base but you are post at another ,would the RAF be willing to help you with transport if there are units going that way?
Bit of a long shot I believe but worth the question.

Thanks

djblu

Noticed you’ve said you were serving as a SNCO ATCer last year so I assumed you still are, or if not you still may be able to help. Looking for a bit of advice as to whether the life as an actual controller would be better in the SNCO role or Officer role. Which of the two is more hands on, and for a newbie what are the demands for a senior position like? I have many questions but for now these are most important. (I failed my test for pilot by a very short margin, so I qualified for ATC but it is a bit second best, and information on the internet for the role is limited. Looking to acquire as much info as possible before being rushed into a decision).