At a glance
- Soldier
- combat
Be at the heart of action – even back at the base. Fly remote-controlled drones into enemy territory to gather vital information.
- £18,687The minimum amount you’ll earn during training
- £23,496Your pay after completing basic trade training
- AgeFrom 16 years & 0 months to 35 years & 6 months
- QualificationsNo formal qualifications needed
Drones are uncrewed aircraft that can fly over the battlefield. Join us as a Gunner – Uncrewed Aerial Systems and we’ll teach you how to control them: how to prepare a drone for missions, how to fly it and how to read and interpret the images, videos and data - either live or when it brings them back. In time you could attempt the arduous P Company couse and join the battery which supports the Parachute Regiment. At the same time, you’ll learn skills and get qualifications that you can use in civilian life – in everything from IT to leadership. In your spare time, you’ll have the chance to play sports, enjoy Adventurous Training and hang out with your mates – who may well become friends for life.
The Royal Artillery is the heart of the action - everywhere across the battlefield - providing the British Army with its eyes, ears and firepower. Using high-tech surveillance devices and uncrewed aircraft, the Royal Artillery finds the enemy. We then monitor them before striking decisively. We do this by co-ordinated use of our guns, rockets and missiles, the Army’s attack helicopters and other weapons, including fast jets and even the guns of Royal Navy ships.
Key Responsibilities
Fly remote controlled drones
Find enemy threats
Be vital to mission success
Protect troops in combat
Have any questions? Talk with us
Regular (full time)
Entry requirements
Age:
From 16 years & 0 months to 35 years & 6 months
Qualifications:
No formal qualifications needed
Basic physical fitness assessment:
Mid Thigh Pull 50kg
Medicine Ball Throw 2.7m
MSFT (beep test) level 6.6
Training for the role
Step 1
Your initial military training teaches you how to be a soldier, covering everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle.
If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate.
If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular 14-week adult basic training.
Step 2
Then it’s off to Larkhill for 15 weeks to train as a Gunner. You do military training, sports and Adventurous Training. You also learn to drive a car and trailer and do a cross country driving course in a Land Rover. After this, you join 32 Regiment Royal Artillery, Larkhill or 47 Regiment Royal Artillery, Thorney Island. At this point, you learn to control a drone (uncrewed aircraft) to help find and destroy the enemy.
Qualifications you could get after training
HGV truck licence
European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
Computer Literacy and Information Technology Stage 1 (CLAIT)
NVQ in Learning and Development
Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)
Pay & benefits
Earn £18,687 a year during training. When you have completed 26 weeks' service or finished basic trade training – whichever comes first – your pay will rise to £23,496.
How to Apply
Once your online application has been approved, you'll meet with a local recruiter. This is your chance to tell us about the role that you're interested in. When you go to the Assessment Centre, you'll take tests - the results will show whether you'd be suitable for this role, or should consider a different role.
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