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RAF administrator

Want to improve your chances of joining the RAF? Take a look at How To Join The RAF.

Corporal Peter Smith is a personnel administrator in the RAF. He's currently based at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Belgium.

What does an RAF personnel administrator do?

Here in Belgium, we organise pay, leave and allowances for RAF personnel and we also look after their personal documents. It's very people-related, and involves a lot of contact with customers, both on the phone and face to face.

What else have you done?

I've also been a personal assistant to a senior officer. And for a couple of years, my role was in IT support – I went round the RAF installing new hardware and software, and did some general trouble-shooting on computer systems.

What is a normal day of a RAF Personnel administrator?

Our normal working hours are 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., with an hour off for lunch. When I get to work in the morning, the first thing I do is put the kettle on. Then I start updating the personnel database with the day's inputs. There's a lot of customer contact throughout the day – people coming in with queries about allowances and pay, for example. I also process travel claims and check annual leave entitlements.

What do you do in the evenings?

I live on base and really enjoy the multicultural side of being here. I'm a member of the bowling team and my team-mates come from Holland, the US, France and Germany as well as the UK. We also go out on the town – and sample Belgian beers, along with other aspects of the culture.

Have you done anyother travelling?

When I was in IT support, I went round all the RAF bases, installing new computer systems. The guys were very good about looking after me and taking me out to see the sights – I think my favourite place was probably Gibraltar.

What's the best thing about the job?

The variety. How many other administrative jobs would let you move between personnel, financial management and IT!

Peter's tip

• If you work in a customer-facing role, it's good to learn to bite your tongue. And it's a skill you can take outside the RAF as well.

Getting to be a RAF Personnel administrator

• After basic training, you'll do a fourmonth course in administration and personnel management skills.
• You'll then get an NVQ Level 2 in Administration, before you start your first posting on an RAF base.