Military assistant to director combat air — Paul

Paul studied a foundation degree in engineering management while serving in the Royal Air Force (RAF) and is currently a military assistant to the air vice-marshal

What course did you study and where? 

I completed a foundation degree at RAF Cosford in Shropshire. It provided me with the required qualifications for commission. I was also able to complete additional units to enhance my foundation degree into a full BSc in Engineering Management on completion of my officer training.

How did you get your job? 

I was commissioned from the ranks, which is very similar to applying from outside the RAF. It required the completion of the Officer and Aircrew Selection Centre (OASC) application process.

As a service person, I completed a nine-month, full-time course to gain the required foundation degree prior to starting my officer training. This was an excellent opportunity to gain the required qualifications and still be able to support a family while being in full-time employment.

What was the recruitment and interview process like?

The OASC process was one of the hardest parts of the selection, and the one I was the most nervous for. It was a couple of days of assessed tasks, such as group exercises, carrying out desk-level scenario planning and being interviewed about why you wanted a commission.

You were being watched all the time, while the group of hopeful individuals were all trying their best to shine. This is when I started some of my greatest friendships, meeting people for the first time in the training and selection environment, including those I will remain friends with for the rest of my life. 

Why did this area of work appeal to you? 

Growing up in the Lake District, I was always fascinated by the aircraft flying low and fast through the Lakes. This planted the seed and from then, I always wanted to join the RAF and have to opportunity to work on state-of-the-art aircraft.

What does a typical day involve? 

The key part of my role is making sure that the air vice-marshal is fully prepared for the meetings and decisions that need to be made. This also includes getting him there on time, wherever that could be across the globe.

Describe your job in five words. 

• challenging
• rewarding
• global
• fun
• important.

What part of your job gives you the most satisfaction? 

Feeling that I am part of an organisation that makes a difference in the world, helping those in need or helping to keep our families and friends safe in the troubled climate we find ourselves in today.

What are your work challenges?

The biggest challenge of my work is understanding how the air vice-marshal thinks. As a military assistant, a big part of my role is to progress work on his behalf, so I need to appreciate where he wants to take his organisation and how. This is also a great learning opportunity for me, to understand how someone who is four ranks above me thinks.

What have been your career highlights? 

Supporting the evacuation of people out of Afghanistan. As the senior engineer on 99 Squadron, we evacuated 11,121 personnel. Many of the evacuees were families with young children and to make this happen, it required everyone to work tirelessly on the squadron, going above and beyond what would normally be expected. It was the proudest moment of my career so far.

How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions?

The role has given me an understanding of senior leadership responsibilities and how industries engage with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide equipment for operational requirements.

This has helped me understand what skills are required to progress to the senior ranks, ensuring that I can set out on a career path to gain these skills and hopefully fulfil the role one day.

What sort of training have you received in your current role?

The role provides opportunities to sit in higher training courses that you need in order to understand the business and how it operates. This has opened doors to undertaking higher level cyber awareness training and gaining a deeper understanding of senior financial responsibilities, providing me with a great skill set for later in life.

What advice do you have for anyone considering a similar role?

Do it. It is the most rewarding role you can do. The insight into how defence does business is fascinating and a great opportunity.

Find out more

• Read all about the Royal Air Force.
• Discover what it's like to be a communications engineer.
• Take a look at armed forces careers.