Royal Signals Trades The Royal Signals Trades are the employment specialisations of the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army . Every soldier in the Corps is trained both as a field soldier and a tradesman . There are currently seven different trades , each of which is open to both men and women : Initial Training Common to All Trades . Every tradesman trains first as a soldier at the Army Foundation College Harrogate or the Army Training Regiment Bassingbourn in Hertfordshire or at ATC ( army training centre ) in Pirbright , Surrey . At the Army Training Regiment recruits complete a 14 - week course which teaches basic military skills such as military drill , how to handle and fire a weapon , how to live and work outdoors and how to tackle an assault course . In addition they develop their stamina and fitness . On completing his or her initial training every soldier then moves to 11th Signal Regiment at Blandford Camp in Dorset to commence their trade training . Trade Skills and Training . Communication Systems Operator . Communication Systems Operators form the largest trade in the Royal Signals and are trained to operate secure digital radio systems , satellite communications and wide - area computer networks . Their course at the Royal School of Signals lasts 28 weeks and covers the following disciplines : At the rank of sergeant selected Communication Systems Operator go on to become Yeomen of Signals . Communication Systems Engineer . Communication Systems Engineers are the technical experts of the Royal Signals . They install , maintain and repair the British Army ' s battlefield communication networks and information systems . Their course at the Royal School of Signals lasts 28 weeks . Their training includes the following elements : At the rank of corporal Communication Systems Engineers can be highlighted for potential supervisory roles . These roles are Foreman of Signals or Foreman of Signals ( Information Systems ) . With the merging of the two trade groups , Systems Engineering Technicians and Information Systems Engineers these supervisory roles are still being scrutinized to match the new trade group . At present the Foreman of Signals deals with the technical aspect of Squadron life , working with the squadron technical workshops , dealing with 1st and 2nd line inspections and holding and maintaining the sqn master works register and technical inventory . The Foreman of Signals ( Information Systems ) deals with the information systems aspect of life within a squadron , arranging for information systems courses relevant to the Squadron assets , network management and the deployment and tracking of squadron Information system equipments . Whilst both supervisory trade groups act independently , there is a need for the two to interact and exchange information on a regular basis . Royal Signals Electrician . Royal Signals Electricians install , maintain and repair field - distribution power supplies and lighting . They are responsible for the mechanical and electrical repair of the Army ' s field generator systems . Their course at the Royal School of Signals lasts 25 weeks . It covers the following disciplines : Driver Lineman . Linemen drive , maintain and service vehicles from cars to Large Goods Vehicles . Their role includes the movement of hazardous materials , constructing field cable routes and laying fibre - optic cabling . Their course at the Royal School of Signals lasts 6 weeks . It covers the following disciplines : The final stage of training for Driver Linemen is 14 weeks at the Defence School of Transport at Leconfield , East Yorkshire , learning how to drive cars and Large Goods Vehicle s both with and without trailers . Installation Technician . Installation Technicians install , maintain and repair the Army ' s telephone systems and fibre - optic networks , including cable infrastructures , local area networks , closed circuit television and video conferencing systems . Their course at the Royal School of Signals lasts 40 weeks and covers the following disciplines : Electronic Warfare Systems Operator . Electronic Warfare Systems Operators are responsible for intercepting and disrupting enemy radio transmissions . They deploy alongside Intelligence Corps linguists , and some work with bomb disposal teams . They train alongside Communication Systems Operators on a 23 week course at the Royal School of Signals , followed by a five - week aptitude course and a 17 - week Communications Exploitation course at the Defence College of Intelligence , Chicksands in Bedfordshire . Their training covers the following disciplines : Technical Supply Specialist . Technical Supply Specialists are responsible for the storage and distribution of technical supplies , both on base and when deployed on operations . Managing technical stores is the core responsibility of this trade , but Supply Specialists must have a thorough understanding of the communications equipment used by Royal Signals units . Their course at the Royal School of Signals lasts 13 weeks and covers the following disciplines : Supervisory trades . Staff sergeants and warrant officers work in one of five supervisory rosters : Candidates for YofS and FofS are selected from the Operator and Technician trades for training to first degree and Honours degree respectively . Both are obtained through the Royal School of Signals Blandford whilst being validated by Bournemouth University . Subsequent employment . After basic and trade training most Royal Signals tradesmen are posted to the Field Army as Class 3 trained soldiers in the rank of signaller . Communication Systems Engineers and Electronic Warfare Operators , however , leave training as lance corporals . After a year ' s experience all tradesmen become eligible for upgrading to Class 2 and a pay rise . Throughout their careers tradesmen attend further training courses ( including upgrading to Class 1 ) . Promotion is based on experience , ability and merit . Depending on their trade , upon reaching the rank of sergeant , soldiers may apply to join one of the supervisory rosters , which brings extra responsibility and qualifications . Alternatively , soldiers from any trade may choose to follow a career path at Regimental Duty , in which they specialise in delivering military training and , if successful , fill roles such as squadron sergeant major , regimental quartermaster sergeant ( RQMS ) and regimental sergeant major ( RSM ) . Soldiers from any trade can volunteer for service with airborne forces or as a Special Forces Communicator , a small number may undertake All Arms Commando Course for service with 3 Commando Brigade . Signallers of all trades may apply to join the Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team , better known as the White Helmets . Commissioning . Signallers may apply for commissioning , either as a Direct Entry officer undertaking the complete training package at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , or as a Late Entry officer , undertaking a short commissioning course at Sandhurst . LE Officers are employed as Traffic Officers , Technical Officer ( Telecommunications ) or General Duties based on experience as a Yeoman of Signals , Foreman of Signals or Regimental Duty . = References = ( 1 ) Intelligence , IT and Comms