Technician Group Careers

There are three jobs within the Technician group:

• Royal Signals Systems Engineer Technician
• Royal Signals Installation Technician
• Royal Signals Information Systems Engineer

ROYAL SIGNALS SYSTEMS ENGINEER TECHNICIAN

'Joining the Army is the best move I ever made - the stability, the variety and job satisfaction have been
excellent. I am currently preparing for my Foreman of Signals course that will lead to a degree and more
responsibility '

ROYAL SIGNALS SYSTEMS ENGINEER TECHNICIAN

THE JOB

The Army needs communications systems so its units can work together and as a Royal Signals Systems Engineer Technician you will be responsible for the operation, installation, repair and continued maintenance of a wide range of military and civilian communication systems and networks. You will specialise in radio or digital systems equipment during training, but the massive growth in different forms of digital communications means that you will be constantly updated. You will also have to look after video conferencing, satellite and IT systems and, in the future, new sophisticated battlefield communications systems that are being developed. Accepting responsibility at an early stage of your career your technical expertise will be called upon both in barracks but more importantly on exercise and operations to ensure the continual serviceability of all communications equipment used by the Army.

REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRESSION

To become a Royal Signals Systems Engineer Technician, you'll need a minimum of four GCSE grades C or better in Mathematics, English Language and a Science based subject plus another subject. Your trade training lasts for 37 weeks. Due to the length and high level of training, a Systems Engineer Technician can expect to be promoted to Lance Corporal on completion of trade training. After a year's experience you will become eligible for upgrading to Class 2 and a pay rise. Promotion is earned and based upon experience, ability and merit. Each upgrading and promotion is accompanied by a pay rise.

BASIC TRAINING

In line with the rest of the Army, you will receive a minimum of 14 weeks basic military training which will include drill, how to handle and fire a weapon, field craft, map reading, first aid and physical fitness training.

TRADE TRAINING

On completion of basic training you will move to 11 Signal Regiment Blandford Forum, Dorset to commence trade training at the Royal School of Signals for a 37 week course. You will be given a sound foundation in electronic theory before you specialise in a particular area of Radio or Area network systems working on High to Ultra (HF to UHF) frequency and Bowman radio equipment, satellite and theatre-wide area network hardware and software equipment. Your training also involves computer skills therefore you will complete elements of the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). The final stage of training is driver training that can last from two to four weeks dependent on your ability or previous experience. You will be taught to drive a car with and without a trailer.

CIVILIAN RECOGNITION

You can achieve your category B+E (car/trailer) licence. During Trade Training you can complete elements of the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Level 1, Units 1,2,3 and 7 and Key Skills in Application of Numbers and Communications at Level 2. You may also attain the Technical Certificate in Telecommunications (AES) and BTEC 1st Certificate in Engineering at Level 2. Later in your career you may be eligible for a NVQ Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship Communication Technologies Professional (ICTP) and Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Telecommunications Engineering. If you are selected to be Foreman of Signals you will undertake a BSc (Hons) degree in Telecommunications Systems Engineering. (All qualifications subject to successful passes in exams and the level of practical experience required).

For more information on life as a Systems Engineer Technician in the Royal Corps of Signals see what Sergeant Paul Askew has to say.

ROYAL SIGNALS INSTALLATION TECHNICIAN

'I'm delighted I joined the Royal Signals -I've got an excellent trade. And I've spent time in Cyprus, the Falklands and the Ascension Islands. Outside the Army I'd never have had that experience'

ROYAL SIGNALS INSTALLATION TECHNICIAN

THE JOB

As a Royal Signals Installation Technician you will become an expert in the installation, maintenance and repair of telephone systems and fibre optic networks. Installation Technicians work at the forefront of military communications technology. You will be trained to install and maintain everything from cable infrastructures and local area networks (LANs) to close circuit television (CCTV) and video conferencing systems. Training also includes IT and computing skills so you will have an all-round technical education. Later on in your career you will take on installation project management responsibilities.

REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRESSION

To become a Royal Signals Installation Technician, you'll need a minimum of two GCSE grades C or better in Mathematics and English Language. Your trade training lasts for 42 weeks. On completion of trade training you will be posted to the Field Army as a Class 3 trained soldier and after a year's experience you will become eligible for upgrading to Class 2 and a pay rise. Promotion is earned and based upon experience, ability and merit. Each upgrading and promotion is accompanied by a pay rise.

BASIC TRAINING

In line with the rest of the Army, you will receive a minimum of 14 weeks basic military training which will include drill, how to handle and fire a weapon, field craft, map reading, first aid and physical fitness training.

TRADE TRAINING

On completion of basic training you will move to 11 Signal Regiment Blandford Forum, Dorset to commence trade training at the Royal School of Signals for a 24 week course. You will be taught how to repair, install and maintain telephone networks and gain the skills required to work with copper and fibre cabling. There will also be instruction to give you the confidence to work at heights. Your training also involves computer skills therefore you will complete elements of the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL). The final stage of training is driver training that can last from two to four weeks dependent on your ability or previous experience. You will be taught to drive a car with and without a trailer.

CIVILIAN RECOGNITION

You can achieve your category B+E (car/trailer) licence. During Trade Training you can complete elements of the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Level 1, Units 1, 2, 3 and 7 plus Key Skills in Application of Numbers and Communications at Level 2. You may also attain Technical Certificate in Telecommunications (AES), City and Guilds 3666-02 Communications Cabling and 2019-01 Basic Engineering Competencies (Electrical Engineering). Later in your service you may gain the Advanced Apprenticeship Communication Technologies Professional (ICTP), City and Guilds 3666-02 Communications Cabling and 3663-03 Designing and Planning Networks. (All qualifications subject to successful passes in exams and the level of practical experience required).

ROYAL SIGNALS INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEER

'There are plenty of challenges in the job and you learn to use state-of-the-art communications equipment' 

ROYAL SIGNALS INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEER

THE JOB

Information Systems Engineers are working within a unique, highly competitive communications environment at the forefront of military technology. You will become an expert in the management of Information Systems and all associated hardware and software both in barracks and out on operations. This will include systems network control and configuration, fault diagnosis and basic programming. Your skills will be in great demand - maintaining and working with static and mobile Information Systems networks, internet based facilities, providing help desk functions and being responsible for computer access and security procedures.

REQUIREMENTS AND PROGRESSION

To become a Royal Signals Information Systems Engineer, you'll need a minimum of three GCSE grades C or better in Mathematics, English Language and a Science based subject. Your trade training lasts for 23 weeks. On completion of trade training you will be posted to the Field Army as a Class 3 trained soldier and after a year's experience you will become eligible for upgrading to Class 2 and a pay rise. Promotion is earned and based upon experience, ability and merit. Each upgrading and promotion is accompanied by a pay rise.

BASIC TRAINING

In line with the rest of the Army, you will receive a minimum of 14 weeks basic military training which will include drill, how to handle and fire a weapon, field craft, map reading, first aid and physical fitness training.

TRADE TRAINING

On completion of basic training you will move to 11 Signal Regiment Blandford Forum, Dorset to commence trade training at the Royal School of Signals for a 23 week course. You will be taught basic computer software systems, how to install computer workstations into a systems network and then maintain, configure and control these systems. You will learn skills required to provide help desk support to information systems users, computer access and security, database administration and basic programming and use of Internet based facilities. As part of this extensive computer based training you complete the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) to Level 2 standard. The final stage of training is driver training that can last from two to four weeks dependent on your ability or previous experience. You will be taught to drive a car with and without a trailer.

CIVILIAN RECOGNITION

You can achieve your category B+E (car/trailer) driving licence. During Trade Training you can complete the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) Level 2, Units 1 to 7 and Key Skills in Application of Numbers and Communications at Level 2. You may attain City and Guilds 7262-24 Diploma for IT Practical Systems Support Level 2. Later in your training you may gain the Advanced Apprenticeship Communication Technologies Professional (ICTP) and as a Class 1 tradesman City and Guilds 7262 - 25 Advanced Diploma IT Practical Systems Support Level 3. Your training will be sufficient to enable you to sit various Microsoft Certified Professional examinations at local Microsoft testing centres. If selected to be a Supervisor Information Systems you may complete a Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Management of Military Information Systems. (All qualifications subject to successful passes in exams and the level of practical experience required).