Women - Careers In The Forces - RAF
10 March 2010
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With equality a major factor in the worplace FemaleFirst have been looking at the careers that have only relatively recently become accessible to women.
Here we look at a career flying in the R.A.F. with two high flyers telling us in their own words how they became interested in the RAF, their passion for flying and the ups and downs of the job.
Flight Lieutenant Jules Fleming, Pilot
On her 17th birthday, Flight Lieutenant Jules Fleming took to the skies and discovered a natural ability for flying. Spurred on by this experience, Jules applied for a flying scholarship and the rest, as they say, is history. Now a true high flyer in the RAF, Jules is a fast jet pilot on the Tornado GR4, based at RAF Marham in Norfolk. Outside of work she is an accomplished show jumper, badminton player and occasional motorcar racer.
Aged just 14, Jules Fleming decided that she wanted a job with a difference and was sure that a military career could offer just that. However it wasn’t until her 17th birthday, when her father, an instructor at Retford Airfield, gave Jules a lesson in flying. From that moment it became evident in which direction her career should take her.
Encouraged to pursue this newly found talent, Jules applied for a flying scholarship. A year later, she had earned her private pilot’s license and become even further convinced about a career in flying. Based on this achievement, Jules applied to the RAF to become a pilot and recalls:
"I had always thought I would join the Army but when my father suggested I should think about a career in flying it seemed the RAF offered the most opportunities.
"I was 20 when I started initial officer training and this was followed by joint elementary training at RAF Church Fenton. From there I was streamed into fast jet and continued my training on the Tocano aircraft at RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire. This was followed by advanced fast jet training on the Hawk aircraft at RAF Valley in Wales. At the end of this we were assessed again and I was one of the few retained on the Squadron to become an instructor."
Despite recognising the honour of being selected to continue as an instructor at RAF Valley, Jules was keen to get out on the front line and do the job she was trained for, she explains:
"It was a bizarre mix of emotions. I knew it was a huge complement to be retained as an instructor before my career had really got going but equally I was eager to get out there and be on the frontline. But like everything in life I believe in making the best of what you’ve got and I enjoyed the rest of my time at RAF Valley."
After two and half years of instructing, Jules went back to training on the Tornado GR4 to15 Squadron at RAF Lossiemouth. After an arduous 8 months learning all the skills required to be an Operational Pilot she was posted to a front line Squadron at RAF Marham. Describing her working day she says:
"There is no typical day for me but I can be expected to fly at anytime between 06.00 and 20.00 in all weather conditions.. We also do regular emergency handling training in the flight simulator.
From planning the flight, to the de-brief when we land, takes roughly eight hours. There is also time built in for physical exercise and team sport, such as indoor football because it is essential that our fitness levels are maintained for flying. "
And Jules is no stranger to physical fitness outside of work either. An accomplished show jumper, Jules represents the RAF in this sport and recently competed in front of an audience which included Her Majesty the Queen at Royal Windsor.
Also demonstrating her keen sense of competition, Jules achieved an admirable 4th place at the televised Formula Women’s motor racing competition held in 2004. Selected from an initial 10,000 applicants, Jules was considered talented enough on the race course to join the final 16 women to compete in this prestigious competition. She concedes:
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