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Gunner - Armoured AS90

Royal Artillery

This is available as a full time Army role.

A 45-TONNE WEAPON - AND YOU'RE IN CHARGE

"I MAKE SURE MY 155MM CALIBRE GUN IS KEPT IN TIP TOP CONDITION READY FOR THE NEXT FIRE MISSION."
You’re in charge of an awesome machine: the AS90 self-propelled gun. It weighs 45 tonnes, travels at 32 mph and can fire three 155mm shells up to 15 miles in 10 seconds. You and the five-man crew will learn all about this weapon: how to drive it and fire the gun. At the same time, you will get your tracked vehicle driving licence and other qualifications, for example in IT. That way, you can build a career inside or outside the Army. It’s not all hard work though. There’s adventurous training, sports and the chance to make great friends

Key Responsibilities

  • Drive the Army's most powerful weapon
  • Work as part of a very close team
  • Protect troops on the ground

Training For The Role

Step 1
You'll start with your initial military training which will teach you how to be a soldier - this will cover everything from fieldcraft to how to handle a rifle. If you join as a Junior Soldier (under 17 years 5 months), you’ll do a 23-week basic military training course at Harrogate. If you join as a Regular Soldier (over 17 years 1 month), you’ll do the regular 14-week adult basic training. 

 

Step 2
Then it’s off to Larkhill to become a qualified Gunner. Over 15 weeks, you do military training and sport, learn to drive a car and do a cross-country driving course. You also learn to use Army communications systems. Then you join your chosen regiment and learn all about the AS90 artillery gun.

Entry Requirements

Age: 16 years - 35 years 6 months
Qualifications:

No formal qualifications needed

Fitness:
  • Mid Thigh Pull 70kg
  • Medicine Ball Throw 3.1m
  • 2km run 10m 45s
More information about the fitness test

Qualifications You Could Get After Training

  • Tracked-vehicle driving licence
  • European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
  • Computer Literacy and Information Technology Stage 1 (CLAIT)
  • NVQ in Learning and Development
  • Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM)

Rank Progression

Learn about rank progression here.

Pay and Benefits

Earn £15,985 during training.

When your Initial training is finished, and you join your unit as a Gunner, your pay will rise to £20,400

From the Field

“I wanted to join the Royal Artillery ever since I was a boy. I was keen to work with the AS90 because, in my opinion, guns are at the heart of the Regiment. I enjoy the challenges we face on the gun position, be they humping ammo, responding quickly to calls for fire, or even just bonding with the lads. I love the camaraderie in the field, and I've met friends who I know will be mates for life.”

HOW TO APPLY

Once your online application has been approved, you'll meet with a local recruiter. This is your chance to tell us about the role that you're interested in. When you go to the Assessment Centre,you'll take tests - the results will show whether you'd be suitable for this role, or should consider a different role.

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