HR Admin & IT/Comms

IT / Comms

Knowledge is power, and it's never more powerful than on the battlefield. The problem is getting it to the people who need it - and nobody else. All the different trades in the IT and Communications sector play a part in this, from the specialists and operators on the front line listening, watching and reporting in, to the staff of the Intelligence Corps back at base who make sense of it all. Most of the Army's telecommunications and information systems deployed in the field are provided by the Royal Corps of Signals. Its team of technicians and operators install and maintain the radios and antenna that make up the network, as well as being responsible for diagnosing and fixing faults.

IT and Communications are two of the fastest growing employment areas in civilian life, but it's impossible to get a job without experience and impossible to get experience without getting a job. The Army breaks this cycle by giving you the best trade training money can buy, and giving you the kind of experience money can't buy. www.armycommunications.co.uk

• Royal Corps of Signals

  Provides the Army with its sophisticated communications networks and battlefield information systems. Its engineers are responsible for fault diagnosis and maintenance as well as conducting electronic warfare operations.

• Royal Artillery

  The Royal Regiment of Artillery, to give it its full name, is the largest single regiment in the Army and, with all the guns at its disposal, the loudest. Artillery Command System personnel make sure the computer-operated weapons systems aim true

• Army Air Corps

  AAC helicopters perform an important reconnaissance role. They are supported by Avionics Technicians, who make sure the helicopter radar and radio systems are in working order.

• Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  Maintenance and repair of all mechanical, electrical and electronic kit is the job of the REME. The basic unit is the Fitter Section of 12 REME soldiers which provides technical support to units in the front line.

• Royal Engineers

  As well as providing the army with engineering solutions so it can move, fight and survive, the Royal Engineers runs its own internal communications network. This uses a range of UHF, HF and digital equipment, which the RE also have to maintain and repair.

• Intelligence Corps

  The Intelligence Corps has about 900 soldiers and 250 officers - a tiny percentage of the Army. But as well as military intelligence, the corps plays a vital role in anticipating and dealing with threats to national security. Nearly a quarter of its soldiers are women.

• Royal Logistic Corps

  The RLC supports the rest of the Army, making sure a wide range of supplies is stores and distributed quickly and safely, and that includes information. The Corps is responsible for maintaining its own communications in the field as well as looking after signals security.

Logistics

The RLC, which handles more than 75,000 different stores, has to know what is stored where and how to transport it to its destination quickly, efficiently and safely. It's up to the RLC to keep the soldiers ticking over as well. The food supplied and cooked by RLC'S chefs and the mail delivered by its Postal and Courier Operators are vital to maintaining Army morale.

The RLC are supported by a range of logistic trades in other units. They are responsible for setting up and running a self-contained transport infrastructure which is expected to work just as well in the field as back at base. This is the reason why the logistic trades include a whole range of jobs you might not expect to find in the Army from Port Operators and Seaman to Postman and chef www.armylogistics.co.uk

• Royal Logistic Corps

  The RLC feeds and clothes the entire Army, and maintains and supplies its vehicles and weaponry. Almost an Army within an Army, the Corps is home to a huge number of highly specialised trades

• Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

  Maintenance and repair of all mechanical, electrical and electronic kit is the job of the REME. The basic unit is the Fitter Section of 12 REME soldiers which provides technical support to units in the front line.

• Royal Corps of Signals

  The Royal Corps of Signals work with all three services and with multinational and within multinational organisations such as NATO and the UN to provide fast, efficient and secure communications between units and their personnel. It offers the best communications and IT training available, recognised by CLAIT, City & Guilds and NVQs. Some trades can achieve BTECs, HNDs, BScs and MScs.

• Army Air Corps

  The helicopters of the AAC perform an important logistical function, resupplying Army units wherever they are in the world. In turn, they're supported by the Soldier Groundcrew, responsible for keeping the helicopters operational by supplying fuel and ammunition wherever units are based. LGV qualifications and NVQs/SVQs come with the job.

• Royal Artillery

  The Gunners use many different types of Artillery for many different roles, but all of them need ammunition. It's the job of the logistic trades in the Royal Artillery to supply and transport it, be it shells for a Light Gun or supersonic missiles for the Rapier air defence system. All training - which includes LGV licences - is recognised by civilian organisations.