Hi all,
After a lot of research and talking to various people, I am considering applying to the RN as an AET. Originally my ambition was to apply to the RAF as an aircraft tech (still deciding on avionics or mechanics) but due to the advertised 18month wait list to start training (I am 23 and looking for a career change so really want to get started asap), and being advised by a current RAf engineer that promotion in the RAF for aircraft techs is very slow compared to counter parts in the RN, my thoughts are now to apply to join the RN as an AET instead.
With this being said, I've got a few questions that answers to would really help me make a more informed decision, so It'd be really great to hear your thoughts on them from your personal experiences!
- First, could anyone shed any light on the promotion aspects I mentioned above, and whether promotion opportunities are more available to AET's in the RN as oppossed to RAF techs?
- In the RAF, it's advertised that aircraft techs work towards a level 3 apprenticeship, whereas RN AET's work towards a level 2 apprenticeship. From others experience, how much would this affect my career in the long term and what further qualifications are available for AET's to work towards and in what sort of time frame? Also is their any industry opinions on whether there is any noticeable difference in the depth/quality of training between RAF and RN techs, or whether one of the two are considered to be the better techs?
- The RAF distinguish between avionics techs and mechanical techs but there doesn't appear to be any separation between these on the RN recruitment site. Do RN AET's get trained in both avionics and mechanics? This would be a massive bonus if so.
- I have read on other posts on here that a lot of RN AET's don't actually spend much time at sea at all and spend a lot of time at RAF bases. Is this very common for AET's, and is there any other key differences between RAF techs and RN AET's that you would place importance on for someone deciding between the two?
- Finally, when I was researching into the RAF, I was really interested in the junior rank flying scholarships they have available. Is there anything like this in the RN?
Thanks very much!
After a lot of research and talking to various people, I am considering applying to the RN as an AET. Originally my ambition was to apply to the RAF as an aircraft tech (still deciding on avionics or mechanics) but due to the advertised 18month wait list to start training (I am 23 and looking for a career change so really want to get started asap), and being advised by a current RAf engineer that promotion in the RAF for aircraft techs is very slow compared to counter parts in the RN, my thoughts are now to apply to join the RN as an AET instead.
With this being said, I've got a few questions that answers to would really help me make a more informed decision, so It'd be really great to hear your thoughts on them from your personal experiences!
- First, could anyone shed any light on the promotion aspects I mentioned above, and whether promotion opportunities are more available to AET's in the RN as oppossed to RAF techs?
- In the RAF, it's advertised that aircraft techs work towards a level 3 apprenticeship, whereas RN AET's work towards a level 2 apprenticeship. From others experience, how much would this affect my career in the long term and what further qualifications are available for AET's to work towards and in what sort of time frame? Also is their any industry opinions on whether there is any noticeable difference in the depth/quality of training between RAF and RN techs, or whether one of the two are considered to be the better techs?
- The RAF distinguish between avionics techs and mechanical techs but there doesn't appear to be any separation between these on the RN recruitment site. Do RN AET's get trained in both avionics and mechanics? This would be a massive bonus if so.
- I have read on other posts on here that a lot of RN AET's don't actually spend much time at sea at all and spend a lot of time at RAF bases. Is this very common for AET's, and is there any other key differences between RAF techs and RN AET's that you would place importance on for someone deciding between the two?
- Finally, when I was researching into the RAF, I was really interested in the junior rank flying scholarships they have available. Is there anything like this in the RN?
Thanks very much!