But it's not impossible. It just doesn't give you a useful qualification in the RAF. You will need to either buy your own civil licence courses (ca£30k for ADC,APP and APR) or persuade NATS that you are a good bet - the easier option. When NATS had a recrutiment ban (in the mid 80s, the last time the accountants decided there were too many ATCOs) the only way into ATC was via the RAF. Wouldn't recommend it now (too much !!!!ty work, too few people), but it was a blast then .. fast jet trips, occasional detachments to Cyprus, good morale, that kind of thing). On the pay side, RAF controllers get ca £20k-£32k (after about 10 years), civil controllers get less bull!!!! and ca£20k-£45k at airfields, £22k-£55k at Centres.