Chaplain

at  Royal Air Force

& EDUCATION

At any level or position your personal success is vital to make us succeed too. We are dedicated to your future, as it is essential to ours. You will receive basic and specialist training in your field and we even provide the option to pay for your education. The experience you gain with the RAF will equip you to work at the top of your field, both in the UK and overseas.
01
Phase one training
Initial Officer Training
12 weeks
RAF Cranwell
Like all our specialist branch officers, you will begin your RAF career on Specialist Officers Initial Training Course (SOITC) at RAF College Cranwell in Lincolnshire.
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02
Phase two training
Specialist training
6 months
As assigned
After the SOITC, you will complete a chaplain-specific induction course at an appropriate time within your first 6 months of service.
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03
First tour
Specialist training
Ongoing
As assigned
For your first tour, you will probably be posted to a large base where you will work with a diverse team of Chaplains/Non-Religious Pastoral Officers.
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04
Career prospects
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
You will join the RAF on an Initial Commission (IC) of 6 years as a Reverend (Flight Lieutenant), with an option to leave after 4 years (with 12 months’ notice).
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05
Ongoing development
Ongoing training
Ongoing
As assigned
The Armed Forces Chaplaincy Centre (AFCC) at Beckett House, Wiltshire, is the chaplaincy training centre for all 3 Services.
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06
Transferable skills
Ongoing development
Ongoing
As assigned
As a chaplain in the RAF, you will have all the development opportunities and career prospects available to your civilian counterparts.
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REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must be aged between 26 and 53 years old (Must attest before 54th birthday).
Applicants must also read all of the sections below and make sure they meet all entry requirements before submitting an application.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS

The academic qualifications required are those set by the Sending Churches / Endorsing Authority / Panel of Reference for ministerial training.

DISQUALIFYING FACTORS

If you don’t have any of the above, you might still be able to apply. For more information please contact us.

• Assume the pastoral role of a leader from an endorsed faith or belief community, performing the duties of a Chaplain/Non-Religious Pastoral Officer
• Counsel personnel and their dependants on spiritual or emotional matters
• Help personnel work through difficult moral issues as they carry out their duties
• Provide welfare support to dependants and familie