Apologies to PAS, I only meant that the force that employ us train their own observers. PAARMOs last post says he asks if the job CAN be done by a direct entrant civilian...... Yes it can, any job can be done with the correct amount of training. I was a civilian until the RAF spent a fortune training me. Until that person gains experience of what the man on the ground needs, effectiveness is reduced. It makes more sense to recruit someone who has a bunch of experience in the first place. We are arguing just that point.
There are numerous civvies who have many hours operating aerial camera kit, who direct aircraft and ground units who would have no problem with the kit/flying/navigation side of the role.
No doubt that 2 years on the street would teach a young bloke a few things about criminal behavior, but I submit that the life experience of an older applicant wouldn't be too far behind a 20 something with a few years on the beat.
I believe the steepest learning curve for such applicants to be coming to grips with esoteric acronyms and arcane nomenclature..
mickjoebill