What the route involves
There is a difference between wanting to join, being eligible to apply, completing a recruitment assessment and being ready for initial or specialist training. Each stage matters. The overview below is independent explanatory guidance; the Armed Forces make the decisions and may change the sequence.
Choose your RAF role
Check trade and role-specific qualifications and entry rules.
Assessment and aptitude
See the official selection process, including CBAT where required.
Pre-Joining Fitness Test
Confirm the currently published requirements for your age, route and role.
Initial training
Follow your recruitment team's joining instructions.
What preparation should cover
Good preparation starts with manageable consistency. Different military pathways emphasise different things, but a strong foundation generally involves appropriate aerobic development, progressive strength work, recovery and understanding the demands of your actual route.
- Aerobic preparation
- Training habits
- Role and age specificity
- Recovery
RAF pre-joining standards and exceptions vary; this site is not an official test booking or pass-certification service.
How to use this guide
First, open the official source for your intended role and confirm that its entry requirements apply to you. Then establish a sensible fitness baseline with an appropriate professional if needed. Use our free benchmark checker only for standards that are explicitly sourced and applicable to the same role and stage.
No independent fitness tool can guarantee acceptance, predict medical suitability or replace official recruiting staff. We deliberately avoid publishing speculative confidential selection criteria.
The relevant military recruiting organisation publishes the definitive information for this pathway.
https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/fitness-in-the-rafReviewed source references: 16 October 2026. Verify any new changes directly with the source.