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Mdial Ofr

raf.mod.uk/careers

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h ? There are graduate careers and then there

are graduate challenges wed like to think

were the latter. Our ofcers dont just

get fast-track promotion, competitive pay

and world-class training, they also get six

weeks paid holiday a year, subsidised food

and accommodation, free healthcare,

and free access to our sports facilities.

As well as specialist training, youll learn

valuable leadership and management skills;

youll also have the opportunity to take

part in adventurous training such as rock

climbing, skiing and sailing. As you develop

your career, youll move on to face new

challenges and opportunities for promotion

both in the UK and overseas.

R? h R

My frst medical evacuation was a real

callenge. e ew injured servicemen rom

ra to te UK in a C-17 aircrat. managed an

intensive care patient and proved to mysel

tat was good enoug to do te job. p6

Flight Lieutenant Deborah Easby

e fnancial support ve received

as been extremely benefcial.

e RF oers a cance to serve yourcountry, as well as experience many

once-in-a-lietime opportunities. p5

Pilot Ofcer Natalie Lonsdale

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cOntents

Halhar i aio 2

How joining the RAF couldopen the door to some uniquecareer opportunities, both athome and abroad.Rali yor poial 5

The RAFs generoussponsorship scheme comeswith some unexpected benets.

Frid i hih pla 6

The skys the limit for MedicalOfcers youll have theopportunity to practise

medicine in the air and onthe ground.

sad by for aio 9Its a GP role, but not as youknow it. Step inside our medicalcentres to discover a rewarding

job that puts a premium onpatient time.

Iid h r r 10

FindouthowRAFAirCommandlinkstheRAFtotheotherArmedForces and how you could be apart of it.Applia of i 10

How aviation medicine helps

our Pilots operate at the edgeof endurance.

Wha yor pialy? 12Secondary care offers manychallenges and the opportunityto take early responsibility.Kp i i rr 13

Serve in your spare time andyoull play a vital support roleto full-time personnel.Bi hall, bi b 14Make the most of your downtime with sports and adventuroustraining.Wha ? 16Want to know more? Well pointyou in the right direction.

For information about a career as a Medical Ofcer in the RAF, contact

the Medical and Dental Liaison Team on 01400 266811 or you can email

cRn-DRIt-RAFRec-MDLt-sO3@mod.k.

e RF prioritises patient-centred training and

eective diagnosis. n te h, practice size puts

patient time at a premium; in te RF, youll aveewer patients and more support sta. o teres

more clinical time wit patients. p9

Squadron Leader Luke Houghton

mailto:CRN-DRIT-RAFREC-MDLT-SO3@mod.ukmailto:CRN-DRIT-RAFREC-MDLT-SO3@mod.ukmailto:CRN-DRIT-RAFREC-MDLT-SO3@mod.uk

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ABOuttHe ROLe

evAcuAtIOn

A Chinook helicopter races to the

scene; on board is the Medical

Emergency Response Team,

including an anaesthetist, A&E

specialist, medics and force

protection soldiers. An armed

response unit provides extra

protection during the evacuation.

FIeLD HOsPItAL

Field hospitals often offer an

intensive care facility, surgery,

A&E, physiotherapy, dental

and mental health care. They

are equipped with CT and

X-ray equipment and can even

provide blood transfusions.

AeROMeD FLIgHt tO tHe uK

Patients who are unable to return to

duty or need further medical care are

evacuated to the UK aboard specially

equipped RAF aircraft. The aeromed

teams are trained to deal with medical

conditions that may be affected by

high altitude.

3

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RU R-CHadly cor i a 85-ar

df mdial rhabiliaio

r ar epom i srry.

For or 60 yar i aim ha

b o rr ill or rioly

ijrd sri prol o

fll , ad, whr

poibl, o dy.Headley Court cares for around 180 military

patients from all three military Services.

Over the last three years the number of

beds available for complex trauma patients

has increased from 18 to 66.Working in this premier facility, you could

be part of a team that rebuilds lives. There

are around 200 staff from the Medical and

Nursing Branches of the Armed Forces,

including Medical Ofcers, nurses, remedial

instructors, physiotherapists and cognitive

therapists.The main focus is on rehabilitation for

those with complex injuries. You might

be treating amputees or helping patients

with neurological injuries. There is even

a dedicated amputee unit that provides

advanced, world-class prosthetics and

adaptations made on site.

In recognition of its vital role, Headley

Court is being upgraded by the Ministry

of Defence (MoD). Improvements will

include an expanded prosthetics facility

and up-to-date treatment areas.

In addition, a new swimming pool

and gymnasium are being built thanks

to a large donation from the Forces

charity Help for Heroes. The MoD is

also contributing, as well as providing

ongoing running costs.

ABOuttHe ROLe

ad an opportunity to visit te wounded at headley Court

reabilitation centre and was umbled to meet some

extraordinary people tere, bot te wounded and teir

wonderul nursing sta. e understand tat, wile we

cannot prevent servicemen and women being wounded,

we can elp tem get better.

Bryn Parry, Chief Executive of Help for Heroes and former Army serviceman

uK HOsPItAL

Patients are usually taken to Queen

Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham,

where NHS staff are supported by

an additional 120 military personnel.

When clinically appropriate, Armed

Forces patients are cared for in a

military-managed ward.

ReHABILItAtIOn

Patients recovering from orthopaedic

or neurological problems may be moved

to Headley Court. This world-class

facility hosts a unique limb-tting and

amputee centre, which ensures that

prosthetic limbs are tted correctly.

Patients may then be transferred to

regional rehabilitation units.

RetuRn tO DutY

Our goal is always to return injured

personnel to duty. When that isnt

possible, we provide continued

support to ease their return to

civilian life. The majority of military

patients, even some amputees,

are able to return to duty with the

right treatment.

PhotocourtesyofLA(Phot)

SteveJohncock/

MoD,www.defenceimages.mod.u

k

4

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RURIf yo hik yo o wha i ak o b a Mdial Ofr, w old poor yo hroh iriy. compiio a b iff, o yoll d o dmora a ral ommim o yor di ad poial o b a ofr i h RAF.University sponsorship comes in two parts. During years two and three of

your degree you can apply for a bursary. A cadetship covers the cost of your

nal two years and includes your tuition fees, as well as book allowances

and a salary to support you during your studies. As a sponsored student youll join your local University Air Squadron (UAS).

Its a perfect way to get a taste of life in the RAF; there are loads of sports

and adventurous training activities on offer and every member has the

opportunity to undertake ying training in our Grob Tutor aircraft.Following your foundation years at university, youll start a short service

commission of six or seven years. Youll spend 11 weeks at the RAF College

Cranwell in Lincolnshire, completing the Specialist Entrant and Re-Entrant

(SERE) ofcer training course. From here youll move on to complete a

number of military medical courses before returning to specialist training.

sPOnsORsHIP

M XRC... FFCR

Im dyi mdii a h

uiriy of shfld. A h

mom, Im i h middl of a

-wk gP plam. Im

i pai o my ow ad

h pri hm o my or,

who ora m o i a

diaoi ad maam pla.

I successfully applied for a

bursary and later a cadetship

to support me through

university. The nancial

support is extremely benecial,

as I can concentrate on my

degree knowing that I have a secure job waiting

for me.

As part of the sponsorship package you join

your local University Air Squadron (UAS)

mine is based in Yorkshire. Once you join, you

really become part of a close-knit family.

My UAS offers lots of sports to choose from

and most have annual competitions you can

enter. Flying is also a huge activity and we have

adventurous training trips every year. Theyre

great fun and can range from a weekend of

mountain leader training in the Lake District

to kayaking in Canada.

e RF oers an amazing lie

o adventure and excitement,mixed wit discipline and

respect. cant wait to join.

5

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FRhhCth RAF orol aromdial aaio for all

hr miliary sri, a wll a nAtO roop,

from i r r a RAF Briz noro i

Ofordhir. A par of h am, yo old pda lo of im i h air.

Its a 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year

operation, covering thousands of miles

in a single mission. Youll be part of

a complex patient pathway, involving

specially chartered aircraft and dedicated

teams of specialist nurses, surgeons

and anaesthetists.

Asinglemissioncanlastupto40hoursandcrossanumberofinternationalbordersenroute.Youllbeassessingrisks,monitoringtreatmentandbriengcolleagues.Evacuationsneedtobemanagedquickly,butwithoutcompromisingpatientcare.Youcouldbetreatingasoldiersufferingfromatropicaldisease,oracriticalcasualtyfromAfghanistan.Conditions can be difcult youll be

working at high altitudes with limitedspace and equipment. The vibrations and

heat of the aircraft and the physiological

challenges of working in-ight make

this the ultimate medical challenge.

M XRC...Fh U Rh

6

I wa par way hroh my sHO raii

wh I didd o joi h RAF. I wa

looki for w hall, ad I

raily fod hm! Hai o prio

miliary pri, I fod h RAF a

lil diffr a r, b I oo ld

i ad flly ompld h ofr ad miliary

mdial raii or, bfor rri o aahi

wihi a nHs hopial.

Im a member of the Critical Care Air Support Team (CCAST),

an operational unit responsible for bringing critically ill patientsfrom overseas back to hospital in the UK, delivering rst-

rate intensive care en route. Before joining the team I had to

undertake specialist training, including safety drills, weapons

handling and classroom theory; I also had to acquaint myself

with the specialist equipment used

during missions. On average I spend

about one week in eight on call with

the CCAST.

Sometimes we can be called out

before an injured persons damage

control surgery is even completed,enabling us to transfer them as soon

as theyre stable enough for the journey. Currently, the

majority of our work is in support of operations in Afghanistan,

and we usually have patients back in an intensive care unit in

the UK within 36 hours of them being injured.

My job is incredibly rewarding. Not only am I developing

my anaesthetic skills, Im also able to make an important

contribution to our troops when they are in need of the

best possible care.

ere a small, tigt-knit team, ready to

travel immediately to anywere in te

world; we can set up an intensive care bay

in watever aircrat were allocated.

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AeROMeDIcAL

ROLes

h hR M XRC M

ear o broad hi aiaio pri,

Flih Lia sar Mailad-Kibb

ha drak a yar-lo, fll-im

odm wih h Warwikhir ad

norhampohir Air Ambla ri

a RAF r.

I work in a team of three: a paramedic,

a pilot and me. Warwickshire and

Northamptonshire is the busiest air

ambulance in the country, averaging four

or ve call-outs a day. On a really busy

day, this often rises to 11 or 12.

Only two or three units across the country y with doctors

on board, so this increases our capabilities immensely.Were often called out to road trafc accidents, and the

experience Ive gained from attending these scenes will be

indispensable when I return to the RAF. Its a little-known

fact that many personnel injured on operations are in

vehicles, so these new skills could be essential.

Of course, the secondment has been mutually benecial.

The emergency techniques Ive learned on operations

such as using combat tourniquets to stop catastrophic

haemorrhaging are being brought into the NHS and

saving lives here in the UK.

ts communication tat makes us an

eective team. ll tree o us know wats

reuired and tat were working towards

te same end. ts been an incredibly

successul partnersip.

DiD you know?

Aeromedical evacuation

is a job thats exclusive

to the RAF. Teamsy injured military

personnel serving

overseas back to

the UK for medical

treatment.

7

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ve not ad a single year tats te same

as anoter. love working around aircrat

and te aviation environment in general

its easily te best job ve ad.

M XRC... CMMR MR McRh

Im h sior Mdial Ofr (sMO)

ad a gP rair a RAF Briz noro i

Ofordhir. I ba my raii a a

aahi i h nHs bfor wihi

o ral prai.

We re a seven-doctor practice, the largest in the RAF. We have about 4,300 patients and this is set to rise to over 7,000. We provide clinical care and occupational and aviation health advice to station staff and their families. I divide my time between seeing patients, practice

management and training new GPs. A lot of my job

involves workplace health assessments and discussing

clinical issues with the squadrons. For example, our

engineers use a soldering process to assemble electrical

components. Their work could release hazardous

substances, so we re putting protective measures in place.

We deploy every 18 to 24 months. As a Medical Ofcer

you see a lot of the world. I served as an SMO at the

Basra airbase a few years ago, providing medical care

for our deployed forces. I was also one of the doctors

on the Incident Response Team using a helicopter toreach casualties fast. Its very demanding but also very

satisfying for me its the highlight of the job.

8

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stAtIOnMeDIcALOFFIceR

FR CA a saio Mdial Ofr yoll dior a wid ariy of job ad a world of opporii. Maki r or airrw ar o y fa j ad lbriy mdial ar all i a day work. I a halli, rwardi rol.As a GP, youll provide primary care for our personnel and sometimes their families too. On larger bases, youll be a team player working alongside other healthcare professionals. With experience, you might become a Unit Medical Ofcer the focal point for all medical needs on a smaller RAF base.Patient time is precious and well encourage you to get to know your patients while honing your diagnostic skills. Youll be treating a wide variety of people from Pilots, who have to deal with the pressures of fast-jet missions, to RAF Regiment Gunners, who must keep going when the heat is on. Our rst-class training programme and the wide variety of roles available will help you develop your career in ways youd never experience within the NHS alone. We value postgraduate medical education and have excellent resources available both inside and outside the RAF. You may nd yourself studying for a Diploma in Aviation

Medicine enabling you to advise on the medical aspects of high-performance ying. Or you might perform medicals on the celebrities and other visitors who sometimes y in our aircraft. Who knows you may even y yourself one day.

e job teaces you umility. ve got to be

able to relate to woever walks troug te

door o my consultancy room, regardless o

teir age or rank.Squadron Leader Luke Houghton

M XRC...qUR R UK hUh

Im h sior Mdial Ofr (sMO) of a

for-door prai proidi primary ad

mry mdial ar a RAF coiby

i Liolhir. A wll a proidi bai

primary ar ri, w ha a parilar

fo o opaioal mdii for

ampl, maki r ha h ir

ar o hadl hazardo marial.

9

Most of the squadrons here y the

Typhoon fast jet, so the aircrew have to

deal with the physical challenges of ying

a highly agile jet aircraft. As SMO Im

responsible for making sure that they are

t to y; my medical focus is therefore

on the effects of g-force and altitude, and multiple other

fast-jet issues.

Aircrew always have a fear that we might ground them,

so I must show a friendly face an important part of our

ethos here. Im hoping to deploy with one of the squadrons

later this year to provide medical support, see how theyrecoping with the difference in climate, and be on hand to

discuss any other medical issues that arise.

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AIRcOMMAnD

hR CRRAF Air commad i

bad a Hih Wyomb i

Bkihamhir. I a

irad r r ha

ombi prol, raii,

opraio ad poliy.

M XRC... CMMR MRK hUCh

Worki from Air commad, I hlp mak

h lik bw mdial ad yi

poliy ad how h polii aff h

work arrid o o yi aio

o h qadro ad i mdial r.

Essentially, Im helping to set the

direction in which we want to go and

how we get there. The job involves a

lot of co-ordination and facilitating

deciding on priorities and where the

research should go, and making sure

that the right people are involved and the right decisions made.In addition, if there are special medical issues with a member of our aircrew, Ill make the risk assessment to keep him or her ying safely. But its not just individual Pilots I focus on its how the whole system works safely. Im bringing together all my previous experience of looking after squadrons and personnel. Its also a trouble-shooting role. Im on call 24/7, covering air crashes and providing high-level aviation medicine advice for ying stations. If there are aviation medicine implications, then it will probably come to me. Ive never had a job I didnt enjoy and I really like the constant challenges.

My job is really wide-ranging. ir

Command Medical fcers advise on

anyting rom frst aid kits or aircrew

brougt down in ostile territory to

ow to get te best perormance rom

personnel on operations.

Aiaio mdii i riial oryhi w do. Or airrw m

opra afly a h d of hma

dra, ad ill or mdiaio

a aff hir prforma i

h air.

Flying fast jets or long-haul operations makes different demands

on our personnel. Youll have the chance to put your skills to

use in a unique environment one you wouldnt experience in

a civilian job and play a vital role in assessing our aircrew. As

part of your training youll have the opportunity to take a Diploma

in Aviation Medicine, which is taught by Kings College London

and the RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine at RAF Henlow in

Bedfordshire.

Youll apply your knowledge of medicine, physiology and thebehavioural sciences to the stresses faced by our personnel.

And youll focus on those areas that keep people safe or improve

their performance. If youre based on a ying station, you will

also check that the aircrews ying clothing and equipment meet

health and safety requirements.

10

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AvIAtIOnMeDIcIne

M XRC... CMMR C R

Im a ola i

aiaio mdii ad

work a h RAF cr

of Aiaio Mdii i

Bdfordhir. I piali

i h ff of aiaio

o h hma body.

thi ild looki a

h hazard ha Pilo

or, h hial

qipm ha hy ,

ad hir o y

h airraf.

My main role is to

anticipate and countersome of the physical

stresses of ying like

g-force, high altitude,

disorientation and

temperature. Im also involved in

assessing Pilots tness to y and

how certain medical conditions might

affect their ability to do this. The job

is a mixture of providing protection

for Pilots and the clinical management

of patients.

In addition to training our Pilots inaviation medicine, some of our work

requires research. We conduct this

in a variety of ways, including high-

altitude chambers, a human centrifuge

(see pictures below) and through the

observation of our personnel on the

ground and in ight.

Its difcult to run a research project

and carry out its requirements in a

busy military environment. There are

approvals to be gained, committees

to negotiate with and budgets to

meet. So it is a challenging but very

rewarding job.

I play a vital role in the operational

effectiveness of the RAF. Its about

optimising the human element. This

is particularly important in the current

climate, where we need to get the

best out of our people. Reducing the

risk of aircraft accidents is also vital,

as the medical aspects of ying are

fundamental to ight safety.

C F CCts essential to be

aware o te latest

developments in aviation

medicine. ts ow weget te best rom our

people and euipment.

Wing Commander Nic Green11

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secOnDARYcARe

h URC?th RAF ha mro opporii

for odary ar piali.

Mo ar bad i nHs hopialarod h uK; howr, hr ar

ario ohr hoi aailabl, from

or hopial i cypr o piali

miliary failii arod h world.

As a specialist trainee or a fully qualied consultant, you can

expect a short posting to a medical centre to gain rst-hand

experience of day-to-day healthcare in the RAF. Then you

will progress to a Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU)or an NHS hospital to complete your specialist training or to

work as a consultant.

Youll practise alongside civilian colleagues and have the same

opportunities and more to learn new skills and progress your

career. Whatever your chosen specialisation, well do our best

to send you to an appropriate centre of excellence, whether its

in the UK or abroad.

As your career progresses, youll have more opportunities to

use your skills in unique environments, including on overseas

postings, military operations and even humanitarian aid missions.

Miiry of Df Hopial ui (MDHu) ad h Royal cr for Df Mdii ar whr Df Mdial sri prol work aloid iilia olla i nHs hopial. They are located at:

DerrifordFrimley ParkPeterboroughPortsmouthNorthallertonRoyal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

M XRC...Fh U RU UR

th RAF poord m from my hird yar

a iriy. si joii I workd

i a ariy of nHs hopial ad rd

i Iraq ad h Falklad Ilad. Rih

ow, Im bad a RAF Hih Wyomb

i Bkihamhir.

The great thing is that Ive been able to choose which areas I want to work in. The RAF gives me more challenging responsibilities at an earlier age than in the NHS, including experience in dealing with accident and emergency cases. My rst deployment was to Iraq, where I worked in a eld

hospital. It was quite disturbing but very rewarding too.

I felt as if I was making an important contribution and I

also gained experience in trauma cases.

Eventually Id like to join the Aeromedical Evacuation Team, supervising patients on their way back to the UK, and then become a consultant, working abroad. The RAF is a good choice if you enjoy extracurricularactivities. But you need to think carefully about your ability

to function in an operational environment. Would you stick

it out in the tough times as well as the good? If you think

you could, then the RAF could be the career for you.

12

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ReseRves

K RRIf joii h RAF fll im i for yo b yo ill wa o mak a diffr, h oidr h RAF Rr. By ri i yor par im yoll ai w qaliaio (for fr!) ad om piali kill oo. If youre an experienced medical professional or currently studying to become one, serving in the RAF Reserves could be the extra challenge youre looking for. Well teach you how to adapt your skills to a military environment and train you to deliver healthcare in the eld and other demanding environments. Youll build up your tness, learn specialist survival skills (including how to re a weapon), and you could even become part of our Medical Emergency Response Team. The experience and extra qualications you gain could even increase your chances of promotion in your regular job.

RAF ReseRves At A gLAnce

Its part time about 27 days a year or

one weekend a month (plus a two-week

continuous training period each year).

You wont be expected to give up yourday job.

Youll probably be sent on operations at

least once within your rst three years.

Youll be paid for your time and could

even receive an annual, tax-free bounty.

13

Im a ola ral ad alar

ro a h chla ad Wmir,

chari cro ad Royal Mard

Hopial. My rol i h RAF Rr

i a a ral ro aailabl for

dploym wih h mdial diiio.

Since joining Ive faced both personal

and professional challenges I was

deployed to Iraq in 2007 at a time

which coincided with the heaviestbombardment of the war. The

number of hospital casualties

mirrored those of the Falklands

conict.

I was one of two surgeons treating trauma victims and

advising junior medical staff. Casualties often presented

with gunshot wounds and injuries caused by rocket-

propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices.

I saw the same amount of trauma in that short time as

I would in ten years in the NHS.

There is a training weekend with 612 Squadron once a

month, at RAF Leuchars in Scotland. I attend six to eighttimes a year, other professional commitments permitting.

We undertake both military and medical training and often

have visitors, including RAF leaders in many elds. The

weekends are great fun; you meet like-minded colleagues

and make loads of new friends its very sociable.

M XRC... CMMR

ere is enormous camaraderie witin

te RF Reserves and te military in

general. e work really gives you a

dierent slant on te surgical treatment

o trauma. e proessionalism o te

rmed Forces medical services is

second to none.

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Ch, FW look afr or

popl. Yoll oo

d ha, a wll a job

aifaio, pporad ll raii,

hr ar may ohr

b. Ad wih a

h ra of por

ad adro

raii opporii

aailabl, lif oid

h prai will bayhi b ral.

The RAF offers you the chance to enjoy many sports, including football, rugby, sailing,

martial arts and netball. Generous nancial investment means youll have all the facilities,

training and equipment on tap.

Adventurous training will take you to remote places around the world where you can

test yourself to the limit. We also have several training centres here in the UK, such as

the RAF Force Development Training Centre at Fairbourne in Wales, which offers caving,

abseiling, kayaking and hillwalking.ExpeditionssuchassnowboardingintheAlpsordogsleddingintheCanadianRockiesare often organised by the RAF at a fraction of the usual cost, sometimes even for free.

While enjoying a wild, beautiful landscape you can gain self-knowledge, sharpen your

leadership skills and learn to recognise the personal attributes of others.

14

h F RR

sqadro Ladr edward niol raily ha a paio for

adr. A wll a aki par i mro ora

pdiio, h alo p h Haywood clb tri-sri

Mdial soiy o promo raii ad w way of hiki.

I always knew that,

in addition to my

day job as a doctor, I

wanted the excitement

of world travel, a

varied lifestyle and

a challenge every day. As part of my

military training, Ive been on two

major expeditions. The rst was to the

Himalayas, where several colleagues

and I raised 20,000 for medical

supplies and a new clinic high in the

Everest valley.

Later, I was the Medical Ofcer on a

tri-Service expedition sailing across the

Atlantic from Barbados to the Azores.

Ive also been on expeditions to South

America, the Middle East and East

Africa, which usually involve trekking,

rafting or mountaineering.

I set up the Haywood Club Tri-Service

Medical Society to provide an opportunity

for medical staff to share their passion

for medical topics that are relevant in the

military, but also to cross specialty or

professional boundaries. Our conferences

have covered topics such as post-conict,

expedition and wilderness activities andsports medicine. I have the best of both

worlds in my job the variety is huge and

the challenges unmatched.

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LIFestYLe

X R U

1. Yoll a moyThe RAF pays for your healthcare, your duty travel

and your pension. While on operations, you wont pay

anything for your overseas accommodation or food

and you could receive an extra allowance for living away

from home.

2. g ahad i yor arr, far

Join the RAF and youll be paid from the day you set foot

on base to start your ofcer training. And because RAF

salaries are reviewed annually, youre usually guaranteed

a pay rise every year.

3. g ad ay , for frPhysical training is a massive part of RAF life, and a great

way to meet new people. Every base has free sports

facilities, normally including a gym and regular tness

classes, and the RAFs Physical Training Instructors are

always on hand to offer training advice.

4. epri raii or wih a diffr

Adventurous training develops vital military skills such

as leadership, risk assessment, team spirit and working

under pressure. So while your civilian mates are saving

up for two weeks on the beach, you could be mountain

climbing in France or honing your survival skills in

Norway and be getting paid to do it!5. Li a lo, pay a lil

For those living in the Ofcers Mess, youll have a

private room, often with an en-suite bathroom, and your

rent includes all utility bills. Theres even an in-house

restaurant and bar. The RAF also has a wide selection

of houses exclusively for married personnel or those in

a civil partnership, all at subsidised rental costs.6. Mak frid for lif

Once youve spent a couple of weeks with your unit,

youll start to understand the close bond that RAF

personnel develop. Camaraderie in the Forces is secondto none youll live, work and socialise with your friends,

youll learn to trust them with your life, and youll know

that they trust you with theirs.

15

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18/20

h X?Lik wha yo ?

Hr how o d o mor.

There are several ways to become a Medical Ofcer. The route you take will depend on your age and experience. As medicine is a specialised career, the RAF has a dedicated

team that can answer your questions and give you advice on

any concerns you may have. The Medical Branch Recruitment

Ofce can be contacted on 01400 266811 or you can email

cRn-DRIt-RAFRec-MDLt-sO3@mod.k.

For more information, you can also visit your nearest Armed

Forces Careers Ofce (AFCO), or if youre at college or university you can contact one of our Senior Careers Liaison Ofcers via the careers ofce.The application process can take a few months to complete. This is to ensure that youre making the right choice, and for us to be sure that youre the right person for the RAF. Youll have several opportunities during the application process to assess your needs and decide whether to continue, complete the application at a later date, or pull out.

tAKe OFF WItH tHe RAFFROM cIvILIAn tO MeDIcAL OFFIceR

ROute OneunDeRgRADuAte sPOnsORsHIPThe RAF has a generous sponsorship

scheme, including bursaries and

cadetships. Youll join your local University

Air Squadron, where you can participatein adventurous training and even learn

to y in one of our Grob Tutor aircraft.

Once youve completed your Foundation

programme youll automatically join the

Specialist Entrant and Re-Entrant (SERE)

ofcer training course at the RAF College

Cranwell.

ROute tWOgRADuAte entRYIf youve just completed a relevant medical

degree, the RAF can offer you a career

lled with variety and adventure as well

as rst-class postgraduate training.As part of your training, youll have

to complete the SERE ofcer training

course. Our careers specialists will be

able to give you more information about

the opportunities available.

16

ROute tHReeDIRect entRYIf youre a professional medical practitioner

who is fully registered with the GMC,

we can offer you new challenges and

experiences. You dont need previousmilitary experience, just the determination

and ability to succeed when the heat is on.

Well challenge you to discover what kind of

leader you are then train you to be an even

better one. As part of your training youll

complete our SERE ofcer training course.

Fid o mor

Visit raf.mod.k/arrwhere

youll nd information about how

we live, where we serve and the

opportunities available for sports,

sponsorship, adventurous trainingand travel.

cha o popli h kow

Our specialist careers ofcers in

the Medical Branch Recruitment

Ofce can be contacted on

01400 266811 or you can

email cRn-DRIt-RAFRec-MDLt-sO3@mod.k.

g o kow br

After having submitted your CV,

youll be invited to RAF Cranwell

for a day, where youll be able to

see how and where we work, as

well as talk to RAF Medical Ofcersabout your career aspirations.

mailto:CRN-DRIT-RAFRRC-MDLT-SO3@mod.ukmailto:CRN-DRIT-RAFRRC-MDLT-SO3@mod.ukhttp://www.raf.mod.uk/careershttp://www.raf.mod.uk/careershttp://www.raf.mod.uk/careersmailto:MDLT-SO3@mod.ukmailto:MDLT-SO3@mod.ukhttp://www.raf.mod.uk/careersmailto:CRN-DRIT-RAFRRC-MDLT-SO3@mod.ukmailto:MDLT-SO3@mod.uk

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next stePs

spiali era ad R-era(seRe) ofr raii

RAF ofcers make essential

decisions every day. Once youhave successfully completed our

recruitment process, youll start

11 weeks of Initial Ofcer Training

at the RAF College Cranwell in

Lincolnshire. Well prepare you

for leadership with some of the

best developmental training in

the world.

When youre on operations youll

need to perform, even when youretired. If youre not t enough to do

your job, then lives could be at risk.

For this reason, ofcer training is

designed to test your ability to

lead and motivate others, even

under pressure.

The transformation from civilian to

RAF ofcer is challenging, but with

an enthusiastic attitude theres

no limit to what you could achieve.

e RF is a great career option. s a doctor,

it gives you a wider scope in terms o wat

you can do and greater responsibility too,

especially on te personnel management

and leadersip side.

Wing Commander Nic Green

Ad a pialiiriw

As a medical professional

your job requires you to have

specialist skills, so well invite

you for a second, more formal

interview with a member ofour Medical Branch.

Ad OAsc

Youll spend up to three days

at the Ofcers and Aircrew

Selection Centre (OASC) at RAF

Cranwell where well assess

your potential to develop ofcerqualities.

JOIn uP!

If youve been successful at each

stage, well make you an offer

of service. Once a place becomes

available youll start your training.

Its advisable to get as t aspossible before starting. Visit

raf.mod.k/arr to set up

your personalised training plan

or sign up for our text trainer.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/careershttp://www.raf.mod.uk/careershttp://www.raf.mod.uk/careers

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th RAF iio

An Air Force that:is trained and equipped to generate air power as

a vital contribution to the security of the UK and as a force for good in the world;is proud of its heritage but modern and exible;fosters professionalism and team spirit founded on commitment and self-discipline; andoffers opportunity to all, a rewarding career and skills for life.

eqal opporii

The RAF is an equal opportunities employer that

recognises the value of an individuals ability

regardless of their gender, colour, race, nationality,

ethnic or national origins, background, religion or

belief, sexual orientation or marital status or civil

partnership. The RAF believes that harnessing the

talents and skills of individuals from different groups

enhances operational effectiveness.Wlfar i h RAF

To nd out more about the RAFs commitmentto the care and welfare of its personnel, visit

raf.mod.uk/careers/lifeintheraf/leavinghome.cfm.

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