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Royal Navy Questions

Step 4: Meet the recruiter

Royal Navy Questions

Here are a selection of FAQ’s (Frequently Asked Questions) from people who are interested in joining the Royal Navy.

What can I do in the Royal Navy?
What are the qualifications to join the Royal Navy?
How long will I be at sea?
Does the Royal Navy take people with prior service?
What about if I am not a UK citizen?
Can the Royal navy help me obtain UK citizenship?
What about if I live overseas?
How long is Basic Training?
What is Basic Training like?
Should I prepare for Basic Training?
How do I become an officer?
What about promotions to officer rank?
Are there opportunities for professionals in the Navy?
What Reserve opportunities are there in the Navy
What qualifications are needed to join the RNR?
What if I have a problem getting time off from my employer?
How do I become a Royal Navy pilot?
What should I ask my recruiter?
Can I talk to someone in the Royal Navy?

What can I do in the Royal Navy? There are a wide range of opportunities in the Royal Navy from serving on surface ships or submarines to working in the fields of electronics, engineering, computer technology, nuclear propulsion and aviation, to serving in special operations or intelligence, all with the potential to travel the world.

What are the qualifications to join the Royal Navy? The following are the basic requirements for joining, and you must:

• Be between the ages of 16-36. Anyone under the age of 18 needs parental consent
• Be a British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens or citizens with a dual British nationality. You must have lived in the UK for at least the three years before you apply to join, (some exceptions may apply). Some career paths are only open to British citizens, e.g submarine service.
• Some job roles like the submarine service and mine clearance diving are only open to men.
• While some roles that don’t require any formal qualifications you need to pass the entrance test that covers basic reasoning, literary and mathematical abilities
• Pass the physical fitness test

How long will I be at sea? It depends. Ships will go to sea for relatively short periods of time for training operations, but extended operations away from home port can last up to six months. This will often include time spent visiting foreign ports. Also every few years you will work on a different ship or shore base.

Does the Royal Navy take people with prior service? Yes. The Navy accepts people who have previously served in the Armed Forces.

What if I am not a UK citizen? You must be a British, Irish or Commonwealth citizen, or have dual nationality with Britain and another country and you need to be a UK citizen for some job roles. However, some exceptions are made. Ask your recruiter for more information.

Can the Royal Navy help me obtain UK citizenship? No. The Armed Forces cannot assist foreign nationals in obtaining admittance into the United Kingdom.

What if I live overseas? You will be eligible for some roles if you are a citizen of the Irish Republic or a Commonwealth country. However, some career paths are only available to British citizens.

How long is Basic Training? Navy ratings take their initial eight week training course at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint, Cornwall. This is a shore-based course that also includes exercises on Dartmoor and includes an introduction to teamwork, firefighting, security, weapons handling and marching. After that you will move onto the specialist training for your intended job role and this varies, depending on how technical the job role is.

What is Basic Training like?

Week 1: The course starts off with introduction and paperwork, dental and medical checks, uniform maintenance, team building activities, physical training and swimming and tours of the Devonport Dockyard.
Week 2: This week covers drill, physical fitness training, uniform maintenance and lessons on Health and Safety, Security and Naval Law.
Week 3: This is a busy week including the Naval maths and English exam, drill lessons and exam, visits to a submarine and a live warship to experience life on board, basic navigation skills, an assault course and even putting on an entertaining stage production.
Week 4: This week concentrates on Naval Military Training including weapon handling and firing with the SA80 assault rifle and training in the use of the ‘Casco’ baton, preparing presentations and uniform maintenance.
Week 5: You will experience an Assistant Divisional Training Officer’s kit muster to test you on all aspects of your uniform maintenance. There are further fitness tests and teamwork activities, map and compass skills, a weekend adventurous activity on Dartmoor and you get measured for your Number One uniform.
Week 6: In this week you develop seamanship skills like knots, sea survival equipment and procedures, berthing a ship and replenishment at sea, followed by sailing yachts and small power boats.
Week 7: This is a hard week with a one day first aid course, a physical training test involving a 2.4km run, a Divisional Training Officers kit muster and Weapon Drill and Obstacle Course competitions.
Week 8: There’s more physical activity this week with teamwork exercises and problem solving, a Naval General Training exam, and the assault course competition. There is also a visit to an Air Station, a chance to wear your Number One uniform and a few hours of unsupervised shore leave.
Week 9: The final week includes the Best Mess Competition, Chemical, Biological, Radiation, Nuclear, and Damage Control training, the Final Military Exercise that includes a squad run carrying a stretcher and dummy, the Endurance Course, swimming, first aid, teamwork tasks and delivering 10 minute presentations to the staff, and preparing for your Passing Out Parade.

Should I prepare for Basic Training? Yes! It will really help you to improve your fitness before you go to BMT. See our fitness section (add link) for more information and to find out what fitness tests you will need to pass for each Service.

How do I become an officer? To enter training to become a Royal Navy you need to pass the two-day Admiralty Interview Board at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. This involves a variety of tests including verbal and non-verbal reasoning, numerical, spatial orientation and speed and accuracy tests, an essay and a fitness assessment, as well as a leadership and planning exercises, an interview, and if successful a medical. However, passing the AIB does not guarantee a place, the candidates are ranked in order of merit and final selection is decided by the number of available places. After passing the selection test you will start training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, Devon. This training lasts up to 12 months and teaches you all the qualities that an officer needs, such as good communications skills, leadership and management under pressure, as well as how to handle boats. The second stage is training for your specialist skills in the Royal Navy, which varies according to your role.

Are there promotions to officer rank? Yes. There are several programs. Please check with your recruiter for current details.

Are there opportunities for professionals in the Navy? Yes, there are special programmes for professional people such as doctors and chaplains. For example, professionally qualified doctors have seven weeks of initial training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon before going on to the three month, New Entry Medical Officers’ Course at the Institute of Naval Medicine, Gosport. Ask your recruiter for more details or see the Money for Education Prior to Joining section for more information for Royal Navy schemes to assist with further education after school.

What Reserve opportunities are in the Navy? The Royal Navy Reserves (RNR) allows the Royal Navy to meet its commitments whenever extra manpower is required such as times of war or crisis, eg humanitarian disaster or the recent rescue of British ex-pats from Lebanon during the recent Lebanon – Israel conflict.There are currently numerous RNR personnel in numerous key positions serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia. For more information see the Reserves section.

What are the qualifications to join the RNR? To join the RNR as a rating you need to:
• Be between 16 and 40 (Parental consent needed if under 18 and ex-RN can apply up to 45)
• Pass the Royal Navy fitness and medical test
• There are no formal qualifications needed except for technical roles
• Be either a British citizen; a citizen of Ireland or a citizen of a Commonwealth country. However, some trades are only available to British citizens.
• There are no formal qualifications needed for ratings except for technical roles and you need at least 5 GCSEs (or equivalent) and 140 UCAS points to be eligible to apply to become an officer.

What if I have a problem getting time off from my employer to fulfil my military service obligations? You need to find out about any policies your employer may have about the Volunteer Reserve Forces (VRF), for example you may not be able to take annual leave at set times for VRF training sessions. Some employers give you extra time off for your training. You must inform your employer as soon as possible if you are mobilised and when you return from mobilisation you have a right to be re-employed in the type of job in which you were last employed, on terms and conditions no less favourable than you had before. Or if this is not reasonable and practicable, to be re-employed in the most favourable job and on the most favourable terms and conditions which are reasonable and practicable in your case.

How do I become a Royal Navy pilot? You will need excellent eyesight and be a good all round candidate as there is strong competition for places. As a pilot is an officer role you need to have the correct minimum qualifications which are 5 GCSEs/SCEs and 2 A-levels or 3 Highers or equivalent. GCSEs/SCEs at Grade C/3 minimum to include English language and maths. You can then do an Open University degree while working for the Royal Navy or join with a degree. You spend up to a year at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, Devon training to be an officer followed by 33 months of flying training for fast jet pilots and 23 months for helicopter pilots.

What should I ask my recruiter? Recruiters must present an accurate picture of service. You should be aware of all aspects of the military. Be sure you fully understand the contract. You should ask about:
• Details and qualifications for each specialty.
• Films or videos about training and duties.
• Basic training.
• Length and location of training.
• Joining incentives.
• Overseas assignments, remote and long duty.
• Haircut and grooming standards.
• Educational benefits.
• Guaranteed training programs.

Can I talk to someone in the Service now?

Absolutely. Visit the HMForces forum.

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