IAF Airmen Recruitment 2023

Last Updated on August 7, 2023 by Vishnu Nambiar

Do you want to become an Airman in IAF? If yes, this article will be of help to you. Here, I’ve provided everything that you need to know about IAF Airmen recruitment for the year 2022!

This guide covers topics such as – important recruitment rally dates, eligibility, job posts (groups and trades), vacancies, selection process, exam pattern and career prospects.   Who is an Airman? What’s this job post all about? What’s the nature of work like? You will find answers to these questions in the next section.  

Airman: Basic Details

IAF (Indian Air Force) is a big organization. What’s the first thing that comes to your mind while talking about IAF? Fighter pilots? Air Traffic Controllers?   Well, Flying and Ground Duty Officers form an integral part of the IAF. But for the organization to function smoothly, it needs skilled Airmen!   Airmen form an integral part of the IAF! According to their groups and trades, they take care of activities such as – technical activities, policing, security, education, account management, healthcare etc. Airmen work under the guidance of Commissioned Officers.   The post of ‘Airmen’ is divided into trades/groups. Let us check out these trades. Here they are –  

Airmen Trades/Groups

Here’s the list of trades –

• Group X (Technical) Trades
• Group X (Non-Technical) Trades
• Group Y (Technical) Trades
• Group Y (Non-Technical) Trades

  If you are interested in knowing more about the nature of work associated with each group, the tables provided below will help you out! Here they are –  

Nature of work

Group X (Technical) Trades

Automobile Fitter: In this trade you are responsible for maintenance and repair of all types of light and heavy duty mechanical vehicles, cranes and loading equipment etc.   Electronics Fitter: As an Electronics Fitter you operate and maintain Radar, Voice and Data transmission and reception equipment mounted on latest airborne weapon delivery systems and ground based air defence systems. You will get trained in Digital Electronics, measuring instruments, radar technology, latest electronic devices and related trade fundamentals.   Electrical Fitter: You will maintain power supply system of latest types of aircraft, airborne missiles and associated ground systems. You will also maintain photo equipment mounted on air borne weapon systems and operate ground based photo systems. You will get trained in electrical trade, operation and maintenance of digital devices, electronics devices etc.   Mechanical System Fitter: You will repair and maintain mechanical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems of airborne missiles, engines, automobiles and aircraft fueling equipment. Complete aircraft ground support equipment will also be repaired and maintained by you. You will be trained in handling and preparation of bombs and explosives and in electrical system, workshop and mechanical trades as well as automobile mechanics.   Structures Fitter: As Structure Fitter, you are responsible for the maintenance and servicing of air frames and their accessories, components and controls of aircraft. Regular checks for the entire hydraulic and pneumatic system to ensure proper functioning against leaks are also part of your duties. You will also be assigned the responsibility of marshaling, parking, picketing and ground handling of aircraft.   Propulsion Fitter: In this trade you will repair, maintain and prepare for use the propulsion system of aircraft and other airborne weapon delivery system.   Workshop Fitter (Smith): You will undertake major structural repairs of all aircraft at central repair facilities. You will also be trained in workshop trade for material treatment, welding, heat treatment, smithy and basic machine tools etc.   Workshop Fitter (Mechanical): You will undertake repair and maintenance work of mechanical nature. You will be trained in workshop trade and practices.   Weapon Fitter: In this trade, you will prepare, maintain and service armaments, ammunition and safety equipment of aircraft, missiles and other weapon delivery systems. You will also operate and maintain small arms and bomb destruction equipment. You will be trained to handle bombs, explosives, arms and their installation on weapon delivery platforms.  

Group X (Non-Technical) Trades

Education Instructor: As an Education Instructor you will run training program at instructional schools and improve education level of Air Force Personnel.  

Group Y (Technical) Trades

Communication Technician: As a Communication Technician you will operate, service and maintain all types of state of the art communication devices, telephone exchange and radio equipment.   Automobile Technician: As an Automobile Technician you will drive all types of light, medium and heavy automobiles, load carriers and specialist vehicles like cranes, towing tractors, fork lifters etc. subject to service exigencies. As a technician you will also carry out minor repairs, day to day maintenance and basic level servicing of the common user vehicles and specialist vehicles in the Indian Air Force inventory.  

Group Y (Non-Technical) Trades

Admin Assistant: As an Admin Assistant you will maintain and analyze records, files and information of personnel. You will also manage ration supplies, cook houses and messes.   Accounts Assistant: As an Accounts Assistant you will record and manage accounting of pay and allowances, equipment, logistics transactions, public fund and cash flow etc.   Medical Assistant: You are made familiar with nursing and first-aid. You are also involved in management of medical stores, dispensaries and ward supervision.   Logistics Assistant: As a Logistics Assistant, you are involved in the procurement, storage and handling inventory control as well as accounting of military stores.   Environment Support Services Assistant (ESSA): This job involves maintenance of the firefighting section. It also requires that you ensure the upkeep of hygiene of Air Force Campus.   Ops Assistant: As an Ops Assistant you will operate various systems of Air Traffic Control Centre, Air Field and Air Defence System. You will be trained in operation of Radars, Display Units, reporting and tracking procedures of airborne weapon systems etc.   Meteorological Assistant: If you are a Meteorological Assistant, you are trained to undertake weather observation and to maintain meteorological instruments. You are also responsible for plotting of charts, taking balloon observations and compilation of weather summaries.   Ground Training Instructor (GTI): As a Ground Training Instructor, you will train personnel on drill, parade, handling of arms and physical exercise. You are also responsible for organizing and conducting all games and sports activities.   Indian Air Force (Police) [IAF (P)]: In the position of Indian Air Force (Police) your responsibilities involve assuming police duties and investigation of offenses. You are also in-charge of maintenance of security.   Indian Air Force (Security) [IAF (S)]: As an Indian Air Force (Security) tradesman, you are to undertake special operations and carry out high level security operations.   Musician: As a Musician you will become a part of the Air Force Band. You will be trained to play different musical instruments.  

Eligibility Criteria

If you want to become an Airman, you must satisfy some basic requirements. Some such requirements are – basic educational qualification, age limit, physical standards and medical standards.   Eligibility criteria may vary from one trade to another! Let us take a closer look at eligibility criteria –  

Educational Qualifications and Age Limit

The table provided below consists of trade-wise educational qualifications and age limit information –

Physical and Medical Standards

Here are the basic medical and physical standards required –

• Weight should be in proportion to height and age
• Minimum chest expansion should be 5cm
• Candidate should have normal hearing i.e. able to hear forced whisper from a distance of 6 meters by each ear separately
• Candidate should have healthy gums, good set of teeth and minimum 14 dental points
• Candidate should have no medical or surgical deformity and should be free from all communicable diseases & skin ailments

Vision Standards

Here are trade-wise eyesight requirements –

Height and Leg Length Required

Here are trade-wise height and leg length requirement –

Airmen Recruitment 2022

Let us check out the recruitment process now. Details about selection process and exam pattern are provided below –  

Selection process

IAF carries out airmen recruitment through these processes in 2022 –

1. Schedules Tests (ST)
2. Recruitment Rallies

  So, if you want to take part in airmen recruitment, you must choose any one of the above mentioned recruitment process! Let us take a closer look at each method –   Schedules tests – Advertisements are published in Employment News/ Rozgar Samachar inviting the application for Scheduled Testing. Eligible unmarried male Indian Citizens (including the citizens of Nepal) are to register their names in the Indian Air Force website airmenselection.gov.in and log in with their registered email id for filling up of online applications. Further, the printout of the online applications along with other testimonials are for be forwarded to the President. Central Airmen Selection Board, Post Box No. 11807, New Delhi – 110010. The Board sends admit cards to eligible and short listed candidates to appear in the Scheduled Tests.   Recruitment rallies – Advertisements for Rallies are published with the details of eligibility conditions, selection program and rally venue in popular local/regional newspapers circulated in the region/area of the rally. For rally recruitment, eligible candidates are to report to the rally venue with the requisite documents. These documents will be scrutinized and verified by the Testing team.  

Exam Pattern

The basic tests/exams involved in the selection process are as follows –

• Written test
• Adaptability Test 1 (AT-1)
• PFT (Physical Fitness Test)
• Adaptability Test 2 (AT-2)
• Medical Examination

  Let us take a closer look at each test/exam –   Written Test: Written Test will be objective type and question paper will be bilingual (English & Hindi) except for English paper. Answers are to be annotated on OMR sheet. Detailed procedure shall be explained before conduct of the examination. Duration of the written test will be 45 minutes and will comprise of English as per 10+2 CBSE syllabus and Reasoning & General Awareness (RAGA). Candidates must qualify in each paper separately. Results of the written test will be declared on the same day.   Adaptability Test 1: All candidates who pass the Written Test will have to undertake Adaptability Test 1 which is to assess suitability of a candidate for employment in the IAF which involves deployment in varied geographic terrain, weather and operational conditions.   PFT: All candidates who pass Adaptability Test 1 are to undergo Physical Fitness Test (PFT) on the same or the next day. PFT consists of a 1.6 Km run to be completed within 7 minutes. Candidates will also have to complete 10 push-ups, 10 sit-ups and 20 squats within the stipulated time to qualify in the Physical Fitness Test.   Adaptability Test 2: All candidates who pass PFT will have to undertake Adaptability Test 2 as per policy in vogue. Adaptability Test 2 is to select candidates who can adapt to the environment of Indian Air Force and are able to adjust to the military way of life.   Medical Examination: Candidates who qualify Adaptability Test 2 will be medically examined.  

AISL

AISL stands for All India Select List. In simple terms, it is a final merit list. After conducting ST/rally and evaluating the candidates, IAF will display the AISL at relevant Air Force Stations and Airmen Selection Boards.  

Also read: Career in IAF

Join IAF after 12th

Join IAF after 10th

Join IAF after Engineering

List of government jobs for 12th passed students

Ranks and Promotions

Like Commissioned Officers, Airmen are also allotted ranks. With time, they may get promotions. Here are the ranks –

• Air Craftsman (AC)
• Leading Air Craftsman (LAC)
• Corporal (CPL)
• Sergeant (SGT)
• Junior Warrant Officer (JWO)
• Warrant Officer (WO)
• Master Warrant Officer (MWO)

Vishnu Nambiar

I am Vishnu Nambiar a career and educational blogger from India. I am also a full time educational consultant having more than 12 years of experience in the educational sector.

I share articles related to courses, colleges, careers, exam tips and more here.