FDS STO

A vacancy has arisen for a Flight Lieutenant (Any) to serve as Station Training Officer (STO) at RAF Honington on Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of 1 Feb 23.

Working directly to OC Force Development Squadron (FDS), the STO is responsible for provision and coordination of Station Training and Force Development (FD) activities and the management of the Training Development Flight (TDF) and Force Protection Training Flight (FPTF).  

Specific responsibilities include:   

• Act in the capacity of 2nd In Command (2IC) of Force Development Squadron (FDS). 
• Carry out the duties as stated in the AP3379, Leaflet 2120, Annex A.
• Conducting Training Liaison Visits to scope Station training requirements. 
• Develop and co-ordinate delivery of the Annual Force Development and Training Development strategy.   
• Design, delivery and evaluation of Force Development activities. 
• Providing advice and guidance on training matters (including Defence Systems Approach to Training). 
• Providing DAST screening tests, support, advice and guidance to personnel affected by Specific Learning Differences and their Line Managers. 
• Management of training and development course programmes, to include the sourcing of external training providers, as required. 
• Supervision and line management of Training Development Flight and Force Protection Training Flight staff. 
• Provide guidance and advice to Stn on the Defence System Approach to Training (DSAT).
• In the absence of OC PEd Flt take on responsibility for the running of the flight.
• Organisation and delivery of Stn trg including Human Factors, Thriving at Work, DTc franchise, DWT and any other courses as detailed by OC FDS.

(Officers) Must either have been, or currently be, a Flight Lieutenant or a Flying Officer eligible for time promotion in accordance with AP 3393 Vol 1 and AP 7000. If an applicant has been out of full-time military service and is applying for a post on promotion, they will also need to send their civilian appraisals or equivalent to evidence recent skills, knowledge and experience to be considered by the Promotion Board.   

• Must possess effective communication skills, be IT-literate and produce high-quality written work. 
• DSAT awareness e-learning on DLE.
• Civilian driving licence.
• The successful applicant will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

• Command experience 
• Defence Trainer Qualification 
• Defence Trainer Supervisor 
• Human Factors Facilitator
• Human Factors Supervisor
• Thriving at Work Trainer
• DSAT Manager 
• SpLD Advisor (DAST Qualified) 
• IOD 1, 2 & 3
• Previous command/staff experience
• Experience of facilitation methodologies and techniques, eg SDI, MTC, Belbin, MBTI, NLP 

A Selection Board will carry out a rigorous selection process for this post, based principally on an applicant’s last 3 (for airmen)/4 (for officers) appraisal reports as required. 

Enquiries concerning this vacancy should be made to:

Name:             Squadron Leader A N Sandeman, OC FDS

Tel:                  +44 300 166 0408

Name:             Flight Sergeant J H Baldwin, Dep STO

Tel:                  +44 300 152 1991

Applications.  Candidate applications, with a maximum 2-page CV (to include copies of last 3/4 appraisal reports as required) should be sent to:

Name:             Squadron Leader Ali Sandeman, OC FDS ) OC Force Development Squadron, RAF Honington, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 1EE.

The closing date for applications is 1 Dec 22. Interviews will take place week commencing 05 Dec 22.

Unless already commissioned in the Reserve Air Forces the successful applicant will be required to be commissioned in the Royal Air Force Reserves with a liability for call-out for permanent service.

The appointment is on Full Time Reserve Service (Limited Commitment) TCoS in accordance with AP 3392 Vol 7 Part 1 and AP3392 Vol 7 Part 3 Chapter 2 for an initial period of 4 years.

Confirmation of appointment will depend on successful completion of a RAF Medical Board.  Personnel who do not meet the Age/Permanent Joint Medical Employment Standard (PJMES) may apply for the appointment but will only be considered subject to an executive waiver process on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates who have been out of regular or reserve service for more than 5 years may be considered for this appointment.  Prior approval must be sought from the relevant Professions Advisor to confirm current and past experience prior to being invited to interview.

Applicants of an equivalent rank from sister Services may apply but will only be accepted into the Royal Air Force Reserves if an appropriate Professions advisor can be identified to sponsor the applicant.  The relevant Profession’s advisor approval must be agreed before the interview.

Regular Service Applicants.  Personnel currently serving in the Regular Royal Air Force should be mindful of the current Early Termination Minimum Waiting Time (MWT) for their respective Rank, Profession and ensure this MWT is compatible with the post sponsor’s proposed start date, prior to applying.

Ex-service candidates who have been administratively discharged through the QR1027 process will have their applications rejected as they are not eligible to join the RAF Reserves in accordance with AP 3391 (Vol 3, Lft 207, Annex L, Para 1a).

Pension Issues.  Personnel who qualify for a service pension should take financial advice from Defence Business Services (DBS) Pensions Department on the effect that undertaking reserve service has on their pension (details can be found on the JPA splash screen). Additional guidance can also be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pensions-and-compensation-for-veterans and MMP116 - Re-employment. Of particular note is reference to the ‘Effect of Re-employment’ on Commutation and, for those leaving on a ‘preserved’ pension, the Resettlement Grant.

Transition between TCoS.  Personnel taking this appointment from other TCoS should consider the impact on any accrued entitlements, such as leave, resettlement etc and should seek specialist guidance where required as certain entitlements are TCoS specific and may not be retained or transferred on transition between TCoS. 

Flexible Working Arrangements. In accordance with the Flexible Working (FW) Policy, Reserve personnel can request FW arrangements with their line manager.  Any immediate FW requirements should be agreed with the line management at the interview stage.

Individual Reinforcement Training (IRT) (Module 1) and RAF Fitness Test (RAFFT).  Reserve personnel are required to maintain currency in IRT and the RAFFT iaw the relevant TCoS.  The successful applicant will be expected to undertake IRT and the RAFFT within 6 months of commencing employment (if required).

Annual Salary and Leave.  Pay will be in accordance with the pay scales published for the reserve air forces.  Leave entitlement is detailed in JSP 760.

Accommodation. Personnel serving on FTRS(LC)TCoS are eligible to occupy Single Living Accommodation (SLA) if available, at entitled rates, if serving within the Air Command TLB.