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INITIAL ANNUAL PAY
£27,200+
+ Benefits
There is also the opportunity to gain a £6000 University Bursary. Details can be found here.
Please note the role may be listed as Intelligence Analyst (Voice) within your application form.
As an RAF Intelligence Analyst (Linguist), you will interpret foreign language transmissions using state-of-the-art surveillance systems, providing vital intelligence to support military forces deployed around the world.
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EXAMS BASED BONUS BETWEEN £4,500 AND £11,700
Intelligence Analyst Linguists are eligible for a one-off payment of between £4,500 and £11,700 after successfully completing Multi Level Assessment (MLA) for languages, depending on their grade and language.
The exams are taken at the end of their Phase 2 training. Intelligence Analyst Linguists can also qualify for additional pay based on their exam results and role. Reward schemes are under constant review so please apply now and then speak to your recruiter about the current position.
What will you do?
You’ll be working within a highly trained team, focused on providing timely intelligence to military forces deployed on operations around the world. In your role you will:
Collect, collate and evaluate intelligence from multiple sources
Monitor and analyse radio and electronic transmissions broadcast throughout the world
Gather valuable information about enemies strengths, weaknesses and movements
Disseminate tailored intelligence to commanders, aircrew or troops on the ground
Have the opportunity to act as an interpreter for troops on the ground
Learn at least one foreign language to a high degree of proficiency
Requirements at a glance
Be aged 17.5 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
You will need to meet specific Nationality and Residency criteria. Please see full details in the Entry Requirements section below
As a minimum, you need to have GCSEs at grade C/4 or Scottish National 5s at grade C in English Language and Mathematics
Commit to minimum 3 years post specialist training
Meet the health and fitness criteria
Pass the Defence Aptitude Assessment
Pass a fitness test
View all entry requirements below
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Must be aged 17.5 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)
Applicants must also read all of the sections below and make sure they meet all entry requirements before submitting an application .
EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS
Have these minimum grades:
GCSE pre-2017
GCSE 2017 Onwards
Scottish national 5
Mathematics
C
Grade 4
C
English Language
C
Grade 4
C
If your qualifications are not listed, or you do not have any qualifications, please Contact Us to learn more about how you can join the Royal Air Force.
NATIONALITY & RESIDENCY
NATIONALITY
You must be a citizen of the United Kingdom since birth (not naturalised) and must never have held any other nationality or citizenship (including joint nationality) with the exception of dual British Irish citizenship. Immediate family must be British citizens/nationals.
RESIDENCY
Whether or not you were born in the United Kingdom, you should have resided there for the 10 years immediately preceding your application, but candidates with a minimum of 7 years may be considered.
If you have resided abroad for a period due to work or study, you may still be eligible on a case by case basis. This will be established during the selection process. Please continue this registration and proceed to your full application.
The Nationality and Residency requirements are the foundation of obtaining the necessary security clearance. The nationalities of your spouse or partner, and parents, are also taken into account among other factors.
There will be further pre-employment checks and you will be expected to achieve the security clearance of Developed Vetting (DV).
Employment restrictions may be imposed in the future if you are unable to achieve an increased security clearance requirement for selected placements.
Security Vetting and Nationality Considerations
RAF security policies are subject to ongoing review, which may impact the eligibility of individuals with dual nationality or direct connections to certain countries to obtain the minimum required level of security vetting. Security vetting is a mandatory requirement for all RAF personnel.
Applicants are welcome to proceed with their application to join the RAF; however, it is important to understand that permanent employment is contingent upon successfully obtaining the appropriate level of security vetting for the chosen role.
If it is determined that an applicant’s nationality or connections may prevent the granting of the required clearance, this could result in the rejection of the application. Additionally, restrictions may apply to the roles available to individuals based on nationality or dual nationality concerns, as outlined by UK government policy.
FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
You must be physically fit to complete both initial and specialist training, and to do your role effectively. Every candidate's fitness levels are tested as part of the application process.
The first of these is the Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) which takes place at a fitness centre local to you. This consists of a 2.4km (1.5m) run on a treadmill (set to zero incline)
How fit you need to be to pass this test varies on age and gender. The PJFT requirements are listed on the charts below (Male and Female).
MEN
AGE
2.4 Km Run
(Mins)
15-16
13.52
17-29
13.20
30-34
13.49
35-39
14.14
40-44
14.46
45-49
15.17
50-54
15.53
WOMEN
AGE
2.4 Km Run
(Mins)
15-16
16.22
17-29
15.48
30-34
16.14
35-39
16.44
40-44
17.22
45-49
17.57
50-54
18.34
See here for more information about a training plan
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Candidates joining the RAF must be medically fully fit, both physically and psychologically, to meet the challenges of military service, during which they will be expected to deploy, potentially at short notice, to locations world-wide that are remote from established medical care.
Certain medical conditions could preclude entry to the RAF. Further details can be found in this document.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Information
Why is BMI important?
One of the most common medical causes of delay to candidate’s applications, is falling outside the selection BMI limits. Candidates with a BMI outside the selection limitations are statistically at increased risk of injury during basic training and long-term ill health.
What is BMI?
BMI is calculated using your height and weight. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) classify a healthy BMI as being between 18.5 and 24.9. Some individuals have an elevated BMI due to a high muscle mass. To accommodate individuals with an elevated BMI (up to a maximum of 32) caused by high muscle mass, waist circumference measurements are used.
How to measure your waist circumference
Breathe normally and the waist measurement is to be taken at the end of a normal breath out. Position the tape measure midway between the bottom of the ribcage and the top of the pelvis. The tape should be snug but not compress the skin. If there is difficulty finding the bony landmarks, place the tape at the level of the tummy button.
Calculating your BMI
Calculate your BMI here
BMI Limitations for RAF Selection
Age
BMI minimum
BMI maximum
Male maximum BMI (with additional assessment)
Female maximum BMI (with additional assessment)
18 or over
18
30
32 (waist circumference less than 94cm)
32 (waist circumference less than 80cm)
16 to 17
17
27
27
27
Eyesight
Eyesight standards vary for different roles. Wearing glasses or contact lenses may be allowed.
Health Criteria
If you are unsure about any health criteria, please continue your application and your eligibility will be assessed at the medical examination stage.
During your application, the Medical Risk Assessment that all candidates undergo is there to make sure that you are healthy enough for the intense training required by the RAF. Your application will be rejected if you fail to meet the minimum acceptable medical standard for entry. Your medical history is confidential and is not disclosed to those not authorised to hold this information.
BACKGROUND CHECKS
YOU MUST:
Declare any previous spent and unspent convictions
Check if you qualify under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 through this summary
Achieve the minimum Security Clearance of Developed Vetting (DV) for this role
DISQUALIFYING FACTORS
YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR THE RAF IF YOU:
Have been or are a member of a group that stirs up racial hatred and violence
Are waiting to appear in court, or have unspent convictions. You may also have to declare spent convictions for certain roles
Misuse drugs, solvents and anabolic steroids. But each case is considered upon its own merits
Have tattoos, brands or bead implants that are obscene or offensive.
Any permanent or temporary tattoos, whether ordinarily visible or not, must not be obscene or offensive (eg, racist, anti-religion or belief, crude, overtly sexist, homophobic, drug related or of an extreme political nature). Tattoos may be worn on the side and back of the neck but tattoos on the back of the neck must not extend above the natural hairline (scalp tattoos are not permitted).
Have body piercing which causes holes that do not close up
Declare yourself to be an 'undischarged' bankrupt
Beard Policy:
Serving personnel can wear a smart, neatly-trimmed, full-set beard. The length of acceptable beards is between Grade 1 (2.5mm) and Grade 8 (25.5mm).
Usually, candidates are to be clean shaven when being fitted for their respirators in Phase One training, however other methods of creating a clean seal can be advised if this is not possible due to religious reasons.
If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information please contact us.
"I studied languages at university and now I work as a linguist in the RAF intercepting enemy communications. I've always had a love of languages and this was a good way to make a career of it."
Hannah (Intelligence Analyst Linguist)
You could have a hidden ability for intelligence analysis.
Check your Sound Skills to find out.
Begin
Plug in your headphones
Listen to five audio files and answer the questions
You can replay a file
but it'll affect your score
Ready?
1/5
Who was no average girl?
Listen to the track
Pause
Replay Continue
10%
3 correct, 1 replay
1
2
3
4
5
Show answers
1 molly
2 761845
3 rossi
4 the red lion
5 bulldog
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It’s a tough test, but you showed some promise. With a little work, you could be trained as an RAF Linguist – analysing foreign language communications and providing intelligence. No experience is necessary.
Find out more about RAF linguists
CAREER, TRAINING & EDUCATION
At any level or position your personal success is vital to make us succeed too. We are dedicated to your future, as it is essential to ours. You will receive basic and specialist training in your field and we even provide the option to pay for your education. The experience you gain with the RAF will equip you to work at the top of your field, both in the UK and overseas.
01
Phase one training
Initial Training
10 weeks
RAF Halton
You’ll complete the Basic Recruit Training Course at the RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire.
Read more
10 weeks
RAF Halton
Phase one training
This will help you to adjust to military life. Along with fitness and military training, you’ll learn about the RAF lifestyle.
02
Phase two training
Language Training
18 months
MOD Chicksands
After recruit training you will undertake language training at the Defence Centre for Languages and Culture (DCLC), Chicksands, which lasts approximately 18 months.
Read more
18 months
MOD Chicksands
Phase two training
Here you will learn a modern language, such as Arabic, Farsi or Russian to a high level. Following this you will complete a three month Specialist Course to prepare you for beginning your new role. Due to the high-quality training, Int An (L)s are eligible to become a member of the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL); the leading UK-based membership body for language professionals. As part of continuous professional development, you will be able to apply for membership of the CIOL at different grades throughout your career.
03
Your first tour
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
You will utilise state-of-the-art equipment and software to carry out your mission in direct operational support to airborne platforms and delivery of military effects.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Your first tour
Dependent on future operational requirements, you may spend your first tour with the Defence Human Intelligence Unit (DHU) where you will get the opportunity to work in both mobile and static roles.
This includes being deployed as part of their unit in support of the UK’s exercises and operations.
As the Int An (L) specialisation can be viewed as being one of those at the forefront of the Joint Services environment, you may find yourself working alongside members of the other Armed Services, civilian analysts or coalition partners. At some of these locations you may be required to work shifts which include unsociable hours and weekends but with subsequent stand down periods.
04
Your career prospects
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
After completing one year’s total service, you will be eligible for promotion to Air Specialist (Class 1) (AS1), providing you pass a Professional Workplace Assessment.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Your career prospects
Most of an Int An (L)’s employment is likely to be spent within the Joint Services environment working with similarly trained Royal Navy and Army specialists in both the static and mobile roles. You should also expect to be deployed on an operational tour of up to six months at various stages in your career, which could be onboard Royal Navy vessels as well as with a deployed Army unit working under field conditions. In preparation for these duties, personnel will be required to carry out the appropriate military training.
Further promotion to the rank of Corporal and beyond is on merit by competitive selection and based upon your performance as reflected by your annual report. For junior specialists, some duties will entail shift working. However, as personnel progress through JNCO and SNCO ranks, there will be an increasing number of opportunities to fill day working posts.
Int An (L) will be employed in language roles as a through career priority. There may be opportunities for employment in Int An Operational Intelligence roles, though these will be on a Service Need basis and are likely to be limited. Personnel may also be deployed to overseas locations to carry out similar roles for a period of up to 6-months. More strategic OPINT roles are based at RAF Wyton, within the Air & Space Intelligence Centre (ASIC).
Commanders cannot make decisions without reliable intelligence, and as an Intelligence professional in the RAF you will play a key role in this process.
05
Ongoing development
Ongoing training
Ongoing
As assigned
As your career progresses, we’ll continue to train you in new skills.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Ongoing development
As well as management and leadership training, there are opportunities to learn additional languages or to reach a higher level of proficiency in your core foreign language.
06
Additional qualifications
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
During specialisation training, and at later stages in your career, you may have the opportunity to sit GCSEs and higher examinations in the relevant language(s).
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Additional qualifications
Some courses are recognised by universities and may be counted towards a degree. During your career, you will have the opportunity to gain technical or managerial NVQs to Level 4.
07
Transferable skills
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
The qualifications and experience you can gain are as valuable in the wider world as they are in the RAF.
Read more
Ongoing
As assigned
Transferable skills
This means that whenever you decide to leave the RAF, you’ll be well placed to find a job in a number of fields. You could take on a role in telecommunications, interpreting, analytics, research, media, information technology or the Civil Service.
INTELLIGENCE ANALYST LINGUIST SPONSORSHIP
The University Air Squadron (UAS) scheme will provide a bursary of between £3000 and £6000 per year, plus £1500 for 30 days of training each academic year. In return, we expect you to join your local University Air Squadron where you will gain unique, hands-on experiences participating in sports, adventurous training, opportunities for flying lessons and summer work placements on RAF stations.
You can study any degree to be eligible for this bursary, however candidates must first complete a Language Aptitude Test in order to qualify for this role. Applications are open 1 September- 31 March.
Find Out More and Apply
WHY JOIN THE RAF?
Thanks to subsidised food, travel, accommodation and free gym you get more money in your pocket.
Rent from £75p/m
Free gym
Subsidised food
Health care
World travel
Training
View all benefits
"The most rewarding part of my role is being an interpreter to provide support to RAF personnel overseas. A career highlight has been learning to parachute as part of adventure training, which I was able to volunteer for."
Jack (Intelligence Analyst Linguist)
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER APPLYING
Joining the RAF takes several steps. Below is an overview of the process. The purpose of this process is for us to gauge whether you’re the right person for the RAF and for you to show us all of your skills and experiences that have made you who you are.
1
Aptitude test
2
Selection Interviews
3
Health Assessment
4
Fitness Test
5
Specialist Interview
6
Acceptance
7
Training
1
Aptitude test
Stage 1 of 7
The aptitude test has been designed to ensure you’re a good fit for the role you’re applying for. You’ll answer six multiple choice sections which each focus on a different skill:
Verbal reasoning - use and interpretation of written information
Numerical reasoning - ability with basic fractions, decimals and formulae
Work rate - speed and accuracy of tasks
Spatial reasoning - how shapes and objects work
Electrical comprehension - working with electrical concepts
Mechanical comprehension - grasp of mechanical concepts
Click here to try the online practice test.
2
Selection Interviews
Stage 2 of 7
Here’s where we get to know you a little better. You’ll get to showcase your skills and experience, and we’ll answer any questions you have about joining us. Your interview will take place at a local AFCO and cover the following topics:
Family life
Education
Work experience
Special interests and hobbies
Interest in the RAF
Training
The role you’ve applied for
The RAF
You’ll be asked a series of standard questions, and you’ll be able to ask your own questions during the debrief afterwards. Some roles require a second interview and/ or test to determine your suitability. These are normally conducted over a 1-3 day period at an RAF base where you’ll be able to see, and experience, the kind of environment you’ll be working in. Details about which interviews are relevant for you will be provided during the application process.
3
Health Assessment
Stage 3 of 7
You’re legally required to meet certain medical standards, and must pass an occupational health assessment to show you’re fit for military duty. As part of this assessment we will check your overall health, focusing on areas like hearing, eyesight and body mass index.
We’ll also investigate any past illnesses and screen for health issues that may prevent you from carrying out your role. Please refer to entry requirements below for more information about the health standards you’ll need to meet.
4
Fitness Test
Stage 4 of 7
A good level of fitness is critical to joining the RAF, it’s also something that must be maintained throughout your career. You’ll need to complete a Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFC). This will take place at a local gym, and is a 2.4km run.
The performance level you’ll need to meet differs by age and gender. You can also find help, and a training plan, to assist you in your preparation here .
5
Specialist Interview
Stage 5 of 7
Attendance at a specialist assessment is mandatory for all candidates. This may be done online.
6
Acceptance
Stage 6 of 7
Once you’ve successfully completed each phase of the application process you’ll be invited to a provisional offer of service interview at your nearest AFCO.
This is to ensure that you understand the terms and conditions of service in the RAF, are fully committed to joining, and prepared to commence training.
7
Training
Stage 7 of 7
Basic Recruit Training
This takes place over 10 weeks at RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire. It will make you fitter and more confident. It will challenge you mentally and physically, and it will prepare you for your career with us. There are 6 phases:
Arrival - You’ll be sworn into the RAF and be given a service number
General Service training - You’ll learn about marching, drills, core values and our code of conduct
Initial Force Protection training - Fighting and survival in a military environment
Exercise Blue Warrior - 4 days in the field with real battle conditions
Force development training - Apply your skills in new environments with adventurous training activities
Graduation - Learn about what’s required in your first post and display your new skills
What next?
Now you’re a fully-fledged member of the RAF you can receive role specific training.
APPLY NOW
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