Missile System

Royal Artillery

At a glance

  • Soldier
  • combat

Learn how to fire the high-powered armoured rocket launcher that has a crucial impact in battles. Travel, make friends and take qualifications, too.

  • £25,200The minimum amount you’ll earn during training
  • £25,200Your pay after completing basic trade training
  • AgeFrom 16 years & 0 months to 35 years & 6 months
  • QualificationsNo formal qualifications needed
Artillery Missile systems

I RECEIVE AND PROCESS FIRE ORDERS TO ENABLE THE GUIDED MULTIPLE LAUNCH ROCKET SYSTEM TO FIRE AT ITS TARGET ACCURATELY.

You’re on the battlefield with your team of three. Together, you use an armoured rocket launcher to fire high-powered missiles at targets up to 50 miles away. The rockets travel at 1,200 mph and are very accurate. . First-class training teaches you to use the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, but you’ll learn much more than that. You’ll also get to take qualifications and gain new skills, building a great CV. With sports, worldwide travel and Adventurous Training, too, there’s action plus an exciting future.

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.

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Key Responsibilities

  • Fire a high-powered rocket launcher

  • Hit targets up to 50 miles away

  • Work in a small team with big responsibility

  • Work from hidden locations

Have any questions? Talk with us

Master of your craft - Gunner Crew video still

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 70kg

    • Medicine Ball Throw 3m

    • MSFT (beep test) level 7.3

    More information about the fitness test

Training for the role

Step1
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 the basic military training (long) course at Harrogate.

  • If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years and 6 months), you’ll do the regular adult basic training.

Step 2
Then it’s off to Larkhill in Wiltshire to become a qualified Gunner. Over 15 weeks, you do military training, sport and Adventurous Training. You also learn to drive a car and trailer, and do a cross-country driving course in a Land Rover. Then you join 39 Regiment, Royal Artillery, Newcastle where you're trained to look after, move and fire the Multiple Launch Rocket System.

Qualifications you could get after training

  • Tracked-vehicle driving licence

  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)

  • Computer Literacy and Information Technology Stage 1 (CLAIT)

  • HGV truck licence

  • Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

Pay & benefits

You'll earn £25,200 a year from the start of your training, which will go up as you progress throughout your career.

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.

More about the joining process

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