Ground Officer - Reserve

Army Air Corps

At a glance

  • Officer
  • combat

Lead a team that gets high-tech aircraft ready for action. Get training, qualifications and an exciting career in aviation as a Ground Officer.

Aviation Support Officer

I MAKE SURE OUR BATTLE-WINNING AIRCRAFT KEEP FLYING SO WE CAN SUPPORT THE TROOPS ON THE GROUND, WHEREVER AND WHENEVER THEY NEED US.

As a Ground Officer you'll be in charge of groundcrew and communication specialists, providing the vital aviation services that make our helicopter missions possible. You'll command up to 50 soldiers, making sure they're motivated, trained and competent to carry out their jobs. On exercises and operations you could be responsible for running the airfield at a Main Operating Base, or deploying forward to link up with Infantry units to provide re-arming and refuelling capabilities closer to the action.

Army Air Corps

Wherever the Army is in the world the Army Air Corps is there ready to provide tactical aviation action and support. modern operations require big-picture thinking and large-scale cooperation, which is why the Army Air Corps is proud of it's forward-thinking personnel and cutting-edge technology.

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Key Responsibilities

  • Command and lead a Ground Support Flight of up to 50 soldiers as a Second Lieutenant

  • Be responsible for getting the Army’s fleet of battlefield helicopters in the air

  • Deploy all over the world, wherever your squadron goes

  • Manage the careers, wellbeing and development of your large team of soldiers

Have any questions? Talk with us

Reserve (part time)

Entry requirements

  • Age:

    From 17 years & 9 months to 48 years & 11 months

  • Qualifications:

    • 35 ALIS points at GCSE (34 for SNQs) from 7 GCSE/SNQ subjects, with a minimum grade C/4 in English Language, Maths, and a science or foreign language.

    • 72 UCAS Tariff points from a maximum of 3 subjects (4 for Scottish Highers) with a minimum of 2 at National Level 3 (excluding AS Levels) or National or International equivalent.

  • Basic physical fitness assessment:

    • Mid Thigh Pull 76kg

    • Medicine Ball Throw 3.1m

    • MSFT (beep test) level 8.07

    More information about the fitness test

Training for the role

Step 1
Like all Army Reserve Officers you do an in-depth programme of officer training, which ends with a short course at the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst.

Step 2
After that you take a course to learn how to apply your leadership skills in your new role. Most training takes place during evenings and weekends and on short residential courses, so it fits easily around your day job.

Qualifications you could get after training

  • Level 5 Certificate and Diploma in Management and Leadership

  • Postgraduate Level 7 Certificate and Diploma in Management and Leadership

Pay & benefits

You'll get paid a day rate according to your rank, starting from £83.31 per day once you have passed Army Officer Selection and rising to £99.60 per day once you've commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. This includes being paid for weekly drill nights. Plus, if you complete all of your annual training, you're entitled to a tax-free lump sum called a bounty.

More about Reserve benefits

How to Apply

When you decide to apply, your local unit will help you through the process - you don't need to wait until you've finished Army Assessment to get involved.

To join, you have to apply online. The application process will take some time, but you can also ring the unit you're interested in joining - the team there will help often invite you to join them for drill nights, and you'll get support for your application.

More about the joining process