Monster: What made you want to be a Personnel Administrator?
Dan: I've always enjoyed working with people within a customer focussed environment but did not want to stay in one area for my entire career. As a Personnel Administrator within the RAF I am able to meet and help people everyday and every few years I get to change location which always presents new challenges!

What skills and education are essential to your job? 
You'll need Maths and English Language GCSE grades G or above. As a Personnel Administrator you will spend much of your time dealing with both Service and Civilian Personnel so you should therefore enjoy dealing with people.

Although not essential, any previous experience with general administrative duties, personnel, customer services or computers/IT systems would be helpful.

Administration is key to the overall efficiency and morale of the RAF. Wherever the RAF is operational, there will be a team of administrators looking after the needs of Service personnel.

What advice can you offer someone wanting to become a Personnel Administrator?
It's probably best to start by visiting your nearest RAF careers office and speaking to an advisor there. You can apply to be Personnel Administrator when you reach 15 years and 9 months and the quicker you join, the quicker you can learn the skills to progress your career.

What are the best and worst things about your role?
We are not nine-to-fivers - we take on whatever tasks are required of us to get the job done. The Royal Air Force is not for people who want a quiet life, but if you are looking for challenge, adventure, excitement and the opportunity to broaden your horizons then this could be the career for you.

Most of your tours will be on RAF bases in the UK, but there are also opportunities to work abroad; these can range from short detachments to three-year postings. Within your first few years, you’ll probably be detached overseas to carry out your role in a tented accommodation or office environment in support of the RAF’s expeditionary role.

Are there any perks to the job?
In order to become a Personnel Administrator you will undergo a specialist training course at the RAF Secretarial Training School at Southwick Park in Hampshire, which lasts for four months. You’ll learn how administration works within the RAF and on completion of the course you will be awarded an NVQ Level 2 in Business Administration.

As your career progresses, there will be opportunities to undertake further specialist training as well as management and leadership training, much of which will lead to some form of accreditation with external professional institutes.

You’ll have access to all gym facilities at all military bases, some having swimming pools. I’m a keen horse rider and have enjoyed horse riding for the RAF at various bases around the UK. I am keen on adventure training and have travelled to the USA, Italy, Switzerland and Germany to take part in skiing expeditions as well as staying closer to home enjoying mountain biking, hill walking, rock climbing and abseiling all in Wales under the close eye of RAF Adventurous Training Instructors.

What is the end goal in your career? 
I hope to have a full career in the RAF and hope to use my knowledge and experience from the to gain employment in the Human Resources and Training industry when I leave. The qualifications and skills you can gain are as valuable in the civilian world as they are in the RAF, which means that whenever you decide to leave the RAF, you’ll be well placed to find a job in administration or a related field.

Finish this sentence. "This week I have been mostly..."
"...checking that all of the Squadron Personnel have the relevant documentation to deploy to the Middle East."


Fancy following in Dan's footsteps? Check out our latest Personnel Administrator jobs or see the latest jobs from the Royal Air Force.