- leadership skills to manage and motivate teams
- excellent verbal communication skills
- thinking and reasoning skills for making quick decisions
- persistence and determination
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- concentration skills
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- the ability to work well with others
- knowledge of public safety and security
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
Your day-to-day duties will depend on your job. Roles you might work in include:
- pilot and weapons systems officer - taking part in flying sorties, reconnaissance, and search and rescue duties
- air traffic and aerospace flight operations officer - providing target information, coordinating refuelling, digitally mapping terrain and planning missions
- aircraft and communications engineer - commissioning new aircraft, servicing fleets and managing resources
- catering, security or training officer - providing day-to-day services for staff at base and in the field
- medical, dental or nursing officer - managing specialist teams supporting the service
You could work in a warzone or at a military base.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically and emotionally demanding.
With experience, you could move up the ranks, for example from pilot officer to flying officer, then flight lieutenant or higher.
You could go into a wide range of careers once you leave the RAF. Your career choices will depend on your skills, training and qualifications you've developed during your service.
The Career Transition Partnership, Quest and Troops to Teachers have more information on careers outside the armed forces.
You'll find more details about how to become an officer through RAF Careers.
