'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'

 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 40 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 40 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).

JOB DESCRIPTION

On the right hand side of this page you will see hyperlinks to PDF Documents. These are the Job Descriptions for the Installation Technician and the associated Territorial Army(TA) Operator Trade. An explanation of each document is as follows:

Installation Technician - Regular Army Adult entry
Installation Technician (V) - TA Technician deployable worldwide