OC Development Training Flight

A vacancy has arisen for a Flt Lt (Any Profession) to serve as OC Development Training Flight at RAF Cosford on Full Time Reserve Service (Home Commitment) Terms and Conditions of Service (TCoS), with an initial proposed start date of 01 September 2026.

Job Description:

Development Training Flight provide both Trainer and Phase 2 student development/ qualification courses for Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering (DSAE). The Trainer Development Team (TDT) provide the Defence Train the Trainer Course (DTc), Defence Training Supervisor (DTS) and Advance Car of Trainees (ACoT) Training. The Specialist Training Section provide Advance Practitioner and specialist trainer courses. The Aviator Development Team (ADT) train Phase 2 Students iaw the Generic Performance Statement (GPS) in personal development skills such as teamwork, leadership and communication skills. The Sections are a mixture of Regular, FTRS and Civil Servant Instructors.

The outline requirements of the post are as follows:

-         As OC Development Flight you are the Training Manager for all Development Training Flight Courses and personnel.

-         Manage the Training Quality Management System for all Development Flight Training. 

-         Responsible for the effective delivery of Phase 2 Aviator Development Training, Trainer Development Team and Trainer Development Specialist Courses.  

-         Act as the Trainer Development Team Courses Franchise Manager on behalf of the Defence Central Trg School.

-         Provide Specialist Trainer support to training delivery.

Must either have been or currently be a Flight Lieutenant (Any Profession) or a Lieutenant (RN) or Capt (RM/Army).

The successful applicant will be required to undertake England and Wales Enhanced with Barred Check - Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance. Please note that no formal offer of commitment will be made until the successful candidate has achieved this.

• Qualified Teacher Status.
• Defence Training Manger.
• Defence Training Supervisor.
• Advance Care of Trainees.
• Training Officer Experience.
• A Defence Trainer or a minimum of Level 3 In Education & Training.

A Selection Board will carry out a rigorous selection process for this post, based principally on an applicant’s last 4 appraisal reports as required.  Enquiries concerning this vacancy should be made to:

Name: FS Whitear

E-mail: Whitear, Stephen FS (DSAE-TrgWg-DTF Trg Sup) <Stephen.Whitear595@mod.gov.uk>

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

Pollitt, Jennifer Lt RN (DSAE-TDSO(C)-TRG-OFF-2IC) <Jennifer.Pollitt102@mod.gov.uk>

The closing date for applications is 19 June 2026 and interviews will take place week commencing 06 July 2026.

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 (Home 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 must be attested before their 61st birthday. However, suitably qualified personnel may be considered but a waiver must be sought from SO1 Res Spt prior to interview.

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.

Joint Medical Employment Standards. The post is non deployable, non-safety critical, does not involve operational support activity and is sedentary in nature. IBN 94/24 applies.

Admin Discharge.  Ex-service candidates who have been administratively discharged through the KR1027 process will have their applications rejected as they are not eligible to join the RAF Reserves in accordance with AP 3391.

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/HC)/ADC TCoS are eligible to occupy Single Living Accommodation (SLA) if available, at entitled rates, if serving within the Air Command TLB. However, it is unlikely that accommodation will be available at RAF Cosford.