RAF Driver - Full Time Career with Apprenticeship

Royal Air Force

Apprenticeship Level 2
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About the Role

An opportunity to complete an intermediate apprenticeship as an RAF Driver. You'll will be working with some of the most interesting vehicles in the world and play a key part in the UK's defence. With places available throughout the year, apply today!

RAF Drivers are required to drive and operate a wide range of general and specialist vehicles, from Passenger Carrying Vehicles (PCV, which include cars, minibuses and coaches), to both rigid and articulated Large Goods Vehicles (LGV) and mobile cranes; you will also refuel aircraft using tankers, clear runways using specialist de-icing vehicles and move specialist freight with complex trailers. It will be your responsibility to make sure that RAF personnel, equipment and vehicles get to the right place, at the right time to meet Defence's operational output. You will be driving or operating on exercises, operational deployments, on and off airfields throughout the world, both on roads or rough terrain.

You will drive an array of different passengers (including VIPs), LGVs containing equipment, which will include hazardous materials using the Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR) qualification you gained during your Initial Trade Training. Within your first few years, you will probably be detached overseas from a few days, up to several months.

As a specialist and professional vocational driver, you will be expected to maintain the highest standards of dress, deportment and driving technique. You must work as part of a team, whilst having the capability and confidence to work and make decisions independently. Full training and support is available to RAF Drivers throughout their career.

The role is varied and, after training, you could be stationed across the UK and beyond.

The apprenticeship is a gateway to a full-time career in the Royal Air Force. Promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is dependent on successful completion of the apprenticeship and then on merit by competitive selection. As you advance through the ranks, you will have the increased opportunity to lead and direct people, managing resources and workforce within your area of work to deliver the required outputs whilst maintaining and instilling the highest standards expected within the RAF.

About the Training

On successful completion of the application and selection process, your apprenticeship will start with a 10-week Basic Recruit Training Course (BRTC) at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. The course is designed to help you adjust to a military environment. As well as fitness and military training, you’ll also learn about the RAF lifestyle.

Your next step will be the specialist driving course at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield in East Yorkshire, which takes up to four months. During this course you will be trained to pass driving tests in Categories B, C, C+E and D; you will also learn additional military
driving skills such as Vehicle Loading and Restraint, Off Road Driving, Skid Avoidance and Recovery Techniques as well as the procedures and regulations for carrying dangerous goods by road (ADR).

At the end of the course, you will have passed your driving tests (if you haven’t already done so before you join) and earned the SQA ADR Driver Training Certificate for Carrying Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR).  You will also be well on the way to achieving an Intermediate Apprenticeship (L2) in Driving Goods Vehicles.

About the Employer

The Royal Air Force work with our UK and international partners to watch the skies, respond to threats, prevent conflict, and provide assistance in an uncertain world. We provide all personnel with a varied range of training and activities to make sure you're ready for anything. A career in the Royal Air Force will provide you with a whole host of possibilities. You will receive world class training, allowing you to learn and develop throughout your career. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore the closing and start dates.

Skills Required

  • Organisation skills
  • Number skills
  • Logical
  • Team working
  • Initiative
  • Patience
  • Physical fitness

Training Provider

BRITISH ARMY

Course/Training

Large goods vehicle (LGV) driver C + E (level 2)

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