The Datum Report

Occupation 3311 · Associate professional occupations

Non-commissioned officers and other ranks

Those holding jobs in this unit group are full-time members of the armed forces of the UK, the Commonwealth and other foreign countries and perform military duties for which there is no civilian equivalent.

How people enter it

For most positions entry does not depend upon academic qualifications. Entrants generally have to pass a selection interview and physical and medical examinations. Entry to certain trades requires GCSEs/S grades or equivalent qualifications.

What the work involves

• receives and responds to commands from senior officers
• monitors, operates, services and repairs military equipment
• takes part in military operations in situations of conflict and provides aid if required in emergency situations such as civil disorder, natural disasters and major accidents
• engages in peacekeeping operations and enforces ceasefire agreements
• stands watch and guards military establishments and other buildings
• trains and exercises using various military equipment and tactics
• undertakes specialist activities such as operating communications equipment, driving military vehicles
• patrols areas of possible military activity
• leads and trains new recruits and lower ranks, looks after their discipline and welfare

Also called

Aircraftman · Aircraft technician (armed forces) · Lance-corporal · Sergeant (armed forces) · Soldier · Weapons engineer (armed forces)

What it pays

Every regional figure

ONS does not publish occupational pay below region. Cells the survey could not support are shown as withheld, with its reason — adding a region split to a specific occupation leaves roughly a tenth of cells publishable.

Common questions

Classified alongside this

Fire service officers (watch manager and below) · Police officers (sergeant and below) · Prison service officers (below principal officer) · Protective service associate professionals n.e.c.