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Unmanned Aircraft Operator Royal Artillery

Combat

An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is a spy plane that flies over the battlefield and sends live images back to its operators. As an Unmanned Aircraft Operator, it’s your responsibility to prepare the air vehicle for missions, fly and navigate the machine, and help to interpret and communicate the vital images and information it captures.

Are you right for this role?

You should be:

  • Sex: Male or Female
  • Regular Army Age: 16 - 32.11 years
  • Territorial Army Age: 17.6 - 42.11 years

You should have:

  • No formal qualifications required

You should like:

  • Flying or being in an aircraft
  • Responsibility and decision-making
  • Computing and technology
  • Working outside
  • Being hands on and fixing stuff
  • Driving vehicles

You should be interested or have experience in:

  • Aviation electronics
  • Piloting/Flying Aircraft
  • Combat
  • Computing / IT
  • Communication Engineering
  • Vehicle / Equip Mechanic
  • Investigation & Research
  • Driving large vehicles
  • Driving small vehicles

Unmanned Aircraft Operator Jamie Tait on the financial benefits of life as a Gunner

Each Unmanned Aerial System needs careful maintenance.
Testimonial image

What I really like is the variety of prospects available to me. It’s not just about promotions, though. I get to play lots of different types of sport. And I think the pay is pretty good. I pay hardly anything on rent and bills, so more of the money I earn is my own. Flying UASs is great fun and puts us at the centre of all missions in Afghanistan.

 

Regular Army

Training

After basic training at either Harrogate (one year of for 16 - 17.5 year olds) or Pirbright (14 weeks for 17.1 - 33 year olds) you move on to Phase 2 training at Larkhill on Salisbury Plain. This 15-week course turns you into a Gunner – a fully qualified member of the Royal Artillery. Your first 3 weeks will be spent military training, playing sport and adventure training. The next phase will teach you to drive a car and trailer, before taking to the cross country driving course in a Land Rover. The last phase will teach you to use the Army’s high tech communications system before a final week of fitness tests and briefings. From Larkhill you will join either 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill or 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, Thorney Island, both equipped with unmanned aircraft (drones). You will join a detachment and be trained to operate an unmanned aircraft to help locate and strike the enemy.

Skills you can learn

You learn everything about UASs, including how to deploy and prepare them for missions, assemble them and carry out pre-flight testing, and launch and recovery. The training also shows you how to pilot the UAS and how to collect and feed important digital images and information back to headquarters. There is also an option to specialise in image analysis later on.

Qualifications you can achieve

  • Car driving licence
  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
  • Literacy and numeracy qualifications
  • Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)
  • HGV truck licence
  • Computer Literacy and Information Technology Stage 1 (CLAIT)
  • NVQ in Learning and Development

Territorial Army

Training

Initial training takes place over a series of weekend and residential courses. Phase 2 training works in a similar way. Fitting around your civilian commitments where possible, you get extra fitness and tactical training. Specialist training then teaches you all the skills you need to fly and maintain the UAS, as well as the cameras and digital communications equipment.

Skills you can learn

You learn everything about UASs, including how to deploy and prepare them for missions, assemble them and carry out pre-flight testing, and launch and recovery. The training also shows you how to pilot the UAS and how to collect and feed important digital images and information back to headquarters. There is also an option to specialise in image analysis later on.

Qualifications you can achieve

  • Car driving licence
  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
  • Literacy and numeracy qualifications
  • Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)
  • HGV truck licence
  • Computer Literacy and Information Technology Stage 1 (CLAIT)
  • NVQ in Learning and Development

Move up the ranks

  • Gunner

    All soldiers in the Royal Artillery start out at this rank. You get the benefits of Army life, like a good rate of basic pay, free healthcare, and subsidised food and accommodation. But you’re not in charge of anyone, so you can focus on using your skills. Every promotion gets you extra pay.

  • Lance Bombardier

    Now you’ve got some experience, you take on some responsibility by leading a small team of soldiers. It’s your job to check that they’re getting their work done to the right standard, and that they’ve got the skills and help they need. If they’ve got a problem, they talk to you first.

  • Bombardier

    You’ve got day-to-day leadership experience. The next step is to go on a special course to develop your leadership and management skills, which prepares you to lead an even larger team. You still use your trade skills, but you’ll also set tasks and help develop your soldiers’ skills.

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