Medical Officer

raf.mod.uk/careers

whats inside?

There are graduate careers and then there are graduate challenges wed like to think were the latter. Our officers 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.

inteRested? then Read on

My first medical evacuation was a real challenge. we flew injured servicemen from iraq to the UK in a C-17 aircraft. i managed an intensive care patient and proved to myself that i was good enough to do the job. p6
Flight Lieutenant Deborah Easby

the financial support ive received has been extremely beneficial. the RaF offers a chance to serve your country, as well as experience many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. p5
Pilot Officer Natalie Lonsdale

cOntents

Healthcare in action 2 How joining the RAF could open the door to some unique career opportunities, both at home and abroad. Realise your potential 5 The RAFs generous sponsorship scheme comes with some unexpected benefits. Friends in high places 6 The skys the limit for Medical Officers youll have the opportunity to practise medicine in the air and on the ground.

stand by for action 9 Its a GP role, but not as you know it. Step inside our medical centres to discover a rewarding job that puts a premium on patient time. Inside the nerve centre 10 Find out how RAF Air Command links the RAF to the other Armed Forces and how you could be a part of it. Appliance of science 10 How aviation medicine helps our Pilots operate at the edge of endurance.

Whats your specialty? 12 Secondary care offers many challenges and the opportunity to take early responsibility. Keep it in reserve 13 Serve in your spare time and youll play a vital support role to full-time personnel. Big challenges, big benefits 14 Make the most of your down time with sports and adventurous training. Whats next? 16 Want to know more? Well point you in the right direction.

For information about a career as a Medical Officer in the RAF, contact the Medical and Dental Liaison Team on 01400 266811 or you can email cRn-DRIt-RAFRec-MDLt-sO3@mod.uk.

the RaF prioritises patient-centred training and effective diagnosis. in the nhs, practice size puts patient time at a premium; in the RaF, youll have fewer patients and more support staff. so theres more clinical time with patients. p9
Squadron Leader Luke Houghton

HealtHcare in action
Its 3.15am and bitterly cold. theres been an enemy contact deep in Helmand Province and the special Forces team reports casualties. You are Officer commanding the Medical emergency Response team the Provinces combat air ambulance service. What you do in the next hour will be critical
Speed is vital if you are to collect, treat and save the casualties. In minutes, the team is assembled and ready to leave; flying in Chinook helicopters, youll be supported by a bomb disposal team, a fire and rescue unit and an infantry protection force. Snipers have been reported in the area. And youll have to attempt hospital emergency procedures in the back of a hot, noisy aircraft. Drawing on your experience, knowledge and training, you spring into action sick and starving, police the skies and defend UK airspace. To give their best, our personnel need the finest medical care. As a medical professional you will be challenged. But your training will ensure that youre ready for whatevers thrown at you. Wherever you find yourself, youll be providing first-class medical care and testing your professional skills to their limit. Well provide a varied career and support your professional development. Depending on specialty, you could be working in a medical centre on an RAF base or honing your surgery skills in an NHS hospital. Eventually, you could even be operating in a field hospital in the middle of a desert, or deployed abroad with the medical services of NATO or the UN. Youll deal with issues that go well beyond the NHS, such as the risks from cosmic radiation and other complex health issues surrounding aviation. This experience will give you a wider perspective on medicine and provide exciting opportunities to share best practice. In a primary care setting you might train in occupational or public health; as a secondary care specialist, you might focus on trauma. These areas are testing grounds for new medical practices and research and great opportunities to progress your career.

A vItAL ROLe
As a Medical Officer you play a vital role. The RAF spans the world. We support troops on the front line, fly in aid for the

the seven stages oF the MediCal CaRe pathway

the RAF prides itself on providing the best medical service to personnel injured on operations.

BAttLeFIeLD Injuries on the battlefield are attended to by a team medic who is specially trained to deliver enhanced first aid. They carry a variety of medical equipment, anything from bandages to morphine. If an evacuation is required, a call for assistance is made to base.

DiD you know?

In a recent report, the Care Quality Commission praised the British militarys exemplary trauma and rehabilitation services for personnel injured in battle.

ABOut tHe 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.

ABOut tHe ROLe

RebUilding lives in a woRld-Class setting

Headley court is an 85-acre defence medical rehabilitation centre near epsom in surrey. For over 60 years its aim has been to return ill or seriously injured service personnel to full fitness, and, where possible, to duty.
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 Officers, 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.

i had an opportunity to visit the wounded at headley Court rehabilitation centre and was humbled to meet some extraordinary people there, both the wounded and their wonderful nursing staff. we understand that, while we cannot prevent servicemen and women being wounded, we can help them 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-fitting and amputee centre, which ensures that prosthetic limbs are fitted 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.
Photo courtesy of LA(Phot) Steve Johncock/ MoD, www.defenceimages.mod.uk

sPOnsORsHIP

Realise yoUR potential

If you think youve got what it takes to be
a Medical Officer, we could sponsor you
through university. competition can be
stiff, so youll need to demonstrate a real
commitment to your studies and potential
to be an officer in the 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 final 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 flying 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) officer training course. From here youll move on to complete a number of military medical courses before returning to specialist training.

My eXpeRienCe...
pilot oFFiCeR natalie lonsdale
Im studying medicine at the university of sheffield. At the moment, Im in the middle of a seven-week gP placement. Im seeing patients on my own and then presenting them to my tutor, who encourages me to give a diagnosis and management plan.
I successfully applied for a bursary and later a cadetship to support me through university. The financial support is extremely beneficial, 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.

the RaF offers an amazing life of adventure and excitement, mixed with discipline and respect. i cant wait to join.
5

FRiendsin highplaCes
the RAF controls aeromedical evacuations for all three military services, as well as nAtO troops, from its nerve centre at RAF Brize norton in Oxfordshire. As part of the team, you could spend a lot of time in the 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. A single mission can last up to 40 hours and cross a number of international borders en route. Youll be assessing risks, monitoring treatment and briefing colleagues. Evacuations need to be managed quickly, but without compromising patient care. You could be treating a soldier suffering from a tropical disease, or a critical casualty from Afghanistan. Conditions can be difficult youll be working at high altitudes with limited space and equipment. The vibrations and heat of the aircraft and the physiological challenges of working in-flight make this the ultimate medical challenge. 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.

My eXpeRienCe...
Flight lieUtenant deboRah easby
I was part way through my sHO training when I decided to join the RAF. I was looking for new challenges, and Ive certainly found them! Having no previous military experience, I found the RAF a little different at first, but I soon settled in and successfully completed the officer and military medical training courses, before returning to anaesthetics within an nHs hospital. Im a member of the Critical Care Air Support Team (CCAST), an operational unit responsible for bringing critically ill patients from overseas back to hospital in the UK, delivering firstrate 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

were a small, tight-knit team, ready to travel immediately to anywhere in the world; we can set up an intensive care bay in whatever aircraft were allocated.

AeROMeDIcAL ROLes

the day i shaRed My eXpeRienCe and gained soMe too

eager to broaden his aviation experience, Flight Lieutenant stuart Maitland-Knibb has undertaken a year-long, full-time secondment with the Warwickshire and northamptonshire Air Ambulance service an RAF first.
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 five call-outs a day. On a really busy day, this often rises to 11 or 12. Only two or three units across the country fly with doctors on board, so this increases our capabilities immensely. Were often called out to road traffic 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 beneficial. 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.

its communication that makes us an effective team. all three of us know whats required and that were working towards the same end. its been an incredibly successful partnership.

DiD you know?

Aeromedical evacuation is a job thats exclusive to the RAF. Teams fly injured military personnel serving overseas back to the UK for medical treatment.

ive not had a single year thats the same as another. i love working around aircraft and the aviation environment in general its easily the best job ive had.

My eXpeRienCe...
wing CoMMandeR MaRtin McgRath
Im the senior Medical Officer (sMO) and a gP trainer at RAF Brize norton in Oxfordshire. I began my training as an anaesthetist in the nHs before switching to general practice.
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 Officer 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 to reach casualties fast. Its very demanding but also very satisfying for me its the highlight of the job.

stAtIOn MeDIcAL OFFIceR

stand by FoR aCtion

As a station Medical Officer youll
discover a wide variety of jobs and a
world of opportunities. Making sure
our aircrew are fit to fly fast jets
and even celebrity medicals are all
in a days work. Its a challenging,
rewarding role.

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 Officer 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 first-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 find yourself studying for a Diploma in Aviation
Medicine enabling you to advise on the medical aspects of
high-performance flying. Or you might perform medicals on the
celebrities and other visitors who sometimes fly in our aircraft.
Who knows you may even fly yourself one day.

My eXpeRienCe...
sqUadRon leadeR lUKe hoUghton
Im the senior Medical Officer (sMO) of a four-doctor practice providing primary and emergency medical care at RAF coningsby in Lincolnshire. As well as providing basic primary care services, we have a particular focus on occupational medicine for example, making sure that the engineers are fit to handle hazardous materials.
Most of the squadrons here fly the Typhoon fast jet, so the aircrew have to deal with the physical challenges of flying a highly agile jet aircraft. As SMO Im responsible for making sure that they are fit to fly; 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 theyre coping with the difference in climate, and be on hand to discuss any other medical issues that arise.

the job teaches you humility. ive got to be able to relate to whoever walks through the door of my consultancy room, regardless of their age or rank.
Squadron Leader Luke Houghton

AIR cOMMAnD

inside the neRve CentRe

RAF Air command is based at High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Its an integrated nerve centre that combines personnel, training, operations and policy.

My eXpeRienCe...
wing CoMMandeR MaRK hUtChison
Working from Air command, I help make the link between medical and flying policy and how these policies affect the work carried out on flying stations on the squadrons and in medical centres.
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 flying 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 flying 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.

applian

Aviation medicine is critical to everything we do. Our aircrew must operate safely at the edge of human endurance, and illness or medication can affect their performance in the 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 the behavioural 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 flying station, you will also check that the aircrews flying clothing and equipment meet health and safety requirements.

My job is really wide-ranging. air Command Medical officers advise on anything from first aid kits for aircrew brought down in hostile territory to how to get the best performance from personnel on operations.
10

AvIAtIOn MeDIcIne

My eXpeRienCe...
wing CoMMandeR niC gReen
Im a consultant in aviation medicine and work at the RAF centre of Aviation Medicine in Bedfordshire. I specialise in the effects of aviation on the human body. this includes looking at the hazards that Pilots encounter, the technical equipment that they use, and their fitness to fly the aircraft.
My main role is to anticipate and counter some of the physical stresses of flying like g-force, high altitude, disorientation and temperature. Im also involved in assessing Pilots fitness to fly 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 in aviation medicine, some of our work requires research. We conduct this in a variety of ways, including highaltitude chambers, a human centrifuge (see pictures below) and through the observation of our personnel on the ground and in flight. Its difficult 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 flying are fundamental to flight safety.

Ce oF sCienCe

its essential to be aware of the latest developments in aviation medicine. its how we get the best from our people and equipment.
Wing Commander Nic Green

11

secOnDARY cARe

whats yoUR speCialty?

the RAF has numerous opportunities for secondary care specialists. Most are based in nHs hospitals around the uK; however, there are various other choices available, from our hospital in cyprus to specialist military facilities around the world.
As a specialist trainee or a fully qualified consultant, you can expect a short posting to a medical centre to gain first-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.

My eXpeRienCe...
Flight lieUtenant sentiRU baladURai
the RAF sponsored me from my third year at university. since joining Ive worked in a variety of nHs hospitals and served in Iraq and the Falkland Islands. Right now, Im based at RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire.
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 first deployment was to Iraq, where I worked in a field 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 extracurricular activities. 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.

Ministry of Defence Hospital units (MDHus)

and the Royal centre for Defence Medicine are
where Defence Medical services personnel work
alongside civilian colleagues in nHs hospitals.

They are located at:

Derriford
Frimley Park
Peterborough
Portsmouth
Northallerton
Royal Centre for Defence Medicine
(RCDM) at Queen Elizabeth Hospital
in Birmingham.

12

ReseRves

Keep it in
ReseRve

If joining the RAF full time isnt for

you but you still want to make a
difference, then consider the RAF
Reserves. By serving in your spare
time youll gain new qualifications
(for free!) and some specialist
skills too.

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 field and other demanding environments.
Youll build up your fitness, learn specialist survival skills
(including how to fire a weapon), and you could even become part
of our Medical Emergency Response Team. The experience and
extra qualifications 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 your day job. Youll probably be sent on operations at least once within your first three years. Youll be paid for your time and could even receive an annual, tax-free bounty.

My eXpeRienCe...
wing CoMMandeR david nott
Im a consultant general and vascular surgeon at the chelsea and Westminster, charing cross and Royal Marsden Hospitals. My role in the RAF Reserves is as a general surgeon available for deployment with the medical division.
Since joining Ive faced both personal and professional challenges I was deployed to Iraq in 2007 at a time which coincided with the heaviest bombardment of the war. The number of hospital casualties mirrored those of the Falklands conflict. I was one of two surgeons treating trauma victims and advising junior medical staff. Casualties often presented with gunshot wounds and injuries caused by rocketpropelled 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 eight times a year, other professional commitments permitting. We undertake both military and medical training and often have visitors, including RAF leaders in many fields. The weekends are great fun; you meet like-minded colleagues and make loads of new friends its very sociable.

there is enormous camaraderie within the RaF Reserves and the military in general. the work really gives you a different slant on the surgical treatment of trauma. the professionalism of the armed Forces medical services is second to none.
13

big Challenges, big beneFits

We look after our people. Youll soon find that, as well as job satisfaction, support and excellent training, there are many other benefits. And with a huge range of sports and adventurous training opportunities available, life outside the practice will be anything but general.
The RAF offers you the chance to enjoy many sports, including football, rugby, sailing, martial arts and netball. Generous financial 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. Expeditions such as snow boarding in the Alps or dog sledding in the Canadian Rockies are 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.

the day i lived a liFe less oRdinaRy

squadron Leader edward nicol certainly has a passion for adventure. As well as taking part in numerous overseas expeditions, he also set up the Haywood club tri-service Medical society to promote training and new ways of thinking.
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 first 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 Officer 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-conflict, expedition and wilderness activities and sports medicine. I have the best of both worlds in my job the variety is huge and the challenges unmatched.

14

LIFestYLe

siX Reasons to sign Up now

1. Youll save money
The 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. get ahead in your career, faster

Join the RAF and youll be paid from the day you set foot on base to start your officer training. And because RAF salaries are reviewed annually, youre usually guaranteed a pay rise every year.

3. get fit and stay fit, for free

Physical 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 fitness classes, and the RAFs Physical Training Instructors are always on hand to offer training advice.

4. experience training courses with a difference

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. Live a lot, pay a little

For those living in the Officers 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. Make friends for life

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 second to 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

whats neXt?
Like what you see? Heres how to find out more.
There are several ways to become a Medical Officer. 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 Office can be contacted on 01400 266811 or you can email cRn-DRIt-RAFRec-MDLt-sO3@mod.uk. For more information, you can also visit your nearest Armed Forces Careers Office (AFCO), or if youre at college or
university you can contact one of our Senior Careers
Liaison Officers via the careers office.
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 RAF

FROM cIvILIAn tO MeDIcAL OFFIceR ROute One unDeRgRADuAte sPOnsORsHIP
The RAF has a generous sponsorship scheme, including bursaries and cadetships. Youll join your local University Air Squadron, where you can participate in adventurous training and even learn to fly in one of our Grob Tutor aircraft. Once youve completed your Foundation programme youll automatically join the Specialist Entrant and Re-Entrant (SERE) officer training course at the RAF College Cranwell.

ROute tWO gRADuAte entRY

If youve just completed a relevant medical degree, the RAF can offer you a career filled with variety and adventure as well as first-class postgraduate training. As part of your training, youll have to complete the SERE officer training course. Our careers specialists will be able to give you more information about the opportunities available.

ROute tHRee DIRect entRY

If youre a professional medical practitioner who is fully registered with the GMC, we can offer you new challenges and experiences. You dont need previous military 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 officer training course.

Find out more

Visit raf.mod.uk/careers where youll find information about how we live, where we serve and the opportunities available for sports, sponsorship, adventurous training and travel.

chat to people in the know

Our specialist careers officers in the Medical Branch Recruitment Office can be contacted on 01400 266811 or you can email cRn-DRIt-RAFRecMDLt-sO3@mod.uk.

get to know us better

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 Officers about your career aspirations.

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next stePs

specialist entrant and Re-entrant (seRe) officer training

RAF officers make essential decisions every day. Once you have successfully completed our recruitment process, youll start 11 weeks of Initial Officer 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 youre tired. If youre not fit enough to do your job, then lives could be at risk. For this reason, officer training is designed to test your ability to lead and motivate others, even under pressure. The transformation from civilian to RAF officer is challenging, but with an enthusiastic attitude theres no limit to what you could achieve.

the RaF is a great career option. as a doctor, it gives you a wider scope in terms of what you can do and greater responsibility too, especially on the personnel management and leadership side.
Wing Commander Nic Green

Attend a specialist interview

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 of our Medical Branch.

Attend OAsc
Youll spend up to three days at the Officers and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) at RAF Cranwell where well assess your potential to develop officer qualities.

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 fit as possible before starting. Visit raf.mod.uk/careers to set up your personalised training plan or sign up for our text trainer.

the RAF vision 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 flexible;
fosters professionalism and team spirit founded
on commitment and self-discipline; and
offers opportunity to all, a rewarding career
and skills for life.
equal opportunities 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. Welfare in the RAF To find out more about the RAFs commitment to the care and welfare of its personnel, visit raf.mod.uk/careers/lifeintheraf/leavinghome.cfm.

PuB 508 Printed in the UK 07/11

Prepared for the Royal Air Force by COI AIRF 406291-508 Crown copyright
The information in this brochure was correct at the time of publication but may have changed since. Please check with our careers information staff for current details.

The material used in this publication is constituted from 100% post consumer waste.

raf.mod.uk/careers