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The Royal Navy - Survival Equipment Technician Apprenticeship
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Survival Equipment Technician (SET)
As a Survival Equipment Technician (SET), you will maintain vital lifesaving equipment to enable aircrew to operate safely. This equipment will help them to survive on land, sea or in the air in peacetime or on military operations. You will also learn how to assist in the training of aircrew on land and sea in survival techniques.
Wage
£20,400 a year
Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)
Training course
Survival equipment fitter (level 3)
Hours
Shifts to be confirmed, Total hours per week: 40.00
40 hours a week
Start date
Friday 2 August 2030
Duration
3 years
Positions available
20
Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.
What you'll do at work
As a Survival Equipment Technician, you’ll make sure your crewmates and passengers are fully equipped and know what to do in an emergency on board a Royal Navy aircraft.
You’ll look after the crew’s protective gear, such as:
- Immersion suits
- Flying helmets
- Oxygen masks
- Parachutes
- Emergency breathing equipment
Duties will involve but not limited to:
- You will maintain the aircraft’s survival packs, radio beacons, distress flares, life jackets and life rafts. And most importantly, you’ll train people to use them in an emergency.
- You’ll also instruct on how to escape underwater from a ditched helicopter and other conduct survival drills.
- You will have the opportunity to serve on the world's most advanced aircraft carriers and with new and exciting aircraft forces, including the F35B Lightning Stealth fighter at RAF Marham, the Merlin Mk2 Submarine Hunter at RNAS Culdrose, the Merlin Mk4 Helicopter and the Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter at RNAS Yeoviliton.
Where you'll work
Navy Command HQ
The Admiral Sir Henry Leach Building
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO2 8BY
Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.
Training provider
ROYAL NAVY
Training course
Survival equipment fitter (level 3)
Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)
What you'll learn
Course contents
- Safe selection and use of hand and mechanical tools and equipment while carrying out maintenance of survival equipment
- Use of ground support equipment, including gaseous cylinders and charging equipment
- Survival equipment functional checks and fault diagnosis
- Demonstrate their ability to identify and resolve problems using the appropriate processes and understand the limits of their authority/approval
- Reading, interpreting and understanding engineering data, drawings, specifications, maintenance manuals, computer generated information and aircraft documentation
- Carry out maintenance of survival equipment pyrotechnics
- Carry out maintenance of quick release fittings, inertia reels and restraining harnesses
- Carry out maintenance and repair of life rafts
- Carry out maintenance of covert emergency locator beacons
- Carry out maintenance of night vision goggles
- Carry out maintenance of parachutes
- Undertake deployed operations training
- Carry out maintenance of aircrew equipment assemblies and repairs
- Carry out maintenance of life preservers
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Training schedule
Once you have completed your training you will be a qualified - Survival Equipment Technician - Survival Equipment Fitter.
Functional Skills in English and maths if required.
Training and development continues throughout your career with the Royal Navy. It takes place in two distinct environments: at onshore training facilities and on-board operational ships.
When you join, you complete 10-weeks of basic naval training, followed by seven months at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering in Gosport. There you’ll learn survival drills and how to maintain, repair and pack parachutes, life rafts and survival packs, with regular tests to check your progress. You will also carry out a basic survival course and learn how to help with survival training, so you will need a good level of fitness and be a competent swimmer. You’ll then spend time at a Royal Naval Air Station, working closely with experienced aircrew to develop real-world knowledge and skills, before you qualify to sign off servicing work as complete.
You will also gain the following qualifications during your training.
- Level 2 Aerospace and Aviation
- Level 3 Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering Survival Equipment Maintenance
After a further period of skills and technical knowledge development all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualification (working title - currently in development)
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- Level 3 Aerospace and Aviation
Desirable qualifications
GCSE in:
- Math and English (grade GCSE Level C/4)
Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.
Skills
- Communication skills
- IT skills
- Attention to detail
- Organisation skills
- Customer care skills
- Problem solving skills
- Administrative skills
- Analytical skills
- Logical
- Team working
- Creative
- Initiative
- Non judgemental
- Patience
Other requirements
Training and development continues throughout your career with the Royal Navy. It takes place in two distinct environments: at onshore training facilities and on-board operational ships. When you join, you complete 10 weeks of basic naval training, followed by seven months at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering in Gosport.
About this employer
The Royal Navy (RN) is responsible for the protection of British interests at home and around the World. 95% of all world trade passes through the high seas and every year Britain imports £524 billion worth of goods. The RN takes an active part in the protection of British Shipping. Around the United Kingdom the RN protects vital fishing stocks by monitoring fishing activities in our waters. We recruit throughout the year, so please ignore Key Dates
https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers
After this apprenticeship
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay (opens in new tab).
If you show the right commitment, skills and academic ability, you could become a Commissioned Officer.
Members of the Royal Navy are promoted on merit. Work hard and you can rise through the ranks.
Ask a question
The contact for this apprenticeship is:
ROYAL NAVY
The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC2000041684.
Apply now
Closes on Thursday 1 August 2030
After signing in, you’ll apply for this apprenticeship on the company's website.
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