Royal Navy ratings serve onboard ships, submarines and in naval bases, like the one at Faslane. Their work varies depending on their trade or specialism, from steering ships as a seaman or woman to servicing and repairing aircraft as an air engineering technician.
The Work
You can choose from around 60 rating jobs in the six branches:
warfare – steering the ship, measuring weather and sea conditions or processing communications
engineering – looking after the mechanical and electrical systems of the ships, aircraft and weapons
medical – providing health care as a dental surgery assistant, medical assistant or naval nurse
aviation (Fleet Air Arm) – servicing and repairing aircraft or providing support to the aircrew
logistics and administration – providing support services such as catering, supplies and administration
chaplaincy – Royal Navy chaplain.
All Royal Navy ratings must be ready to serve anywhere in the UK and overseas and must be prepared to go into combat zones at any time.
You could be:
taking part in combat operations at sea
taking part in exercises in home waters or abroad, to practise for battle
taking part in peacekeeping or humanitarian operations
helping in search and rescue missions
operating equipment that finds and destroys mines
ordering, preparing and serving food
carrying out repairs on the weapons systems aboard a ship or submarine.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
what job you do.
The starting salary for Royal Navy ratings is £16,235 during basic training. After completing 26 weeks training, this rises to £20,000.
Salaries according to ranks are:
Able Rating – £20,000
Leading Rating – £32,796
Petty Officer – £37,061
Warrant Officer – £50,838.
You get extra allowances in some jobs and for being overseas. The Royal Navy provides subsidised food and accommodation, uniforms and protective clothing, free healthcare and a pension.
Conditions
Working conditions vary, depending on where you are and what you are doing.
You may be away from home and family for several months at a time.
You can be sent anywhere in the UK or abroad, sometimes at short notice.
Hours might be irregular and you might have to work shifts.
You are entitled to six weeks holiday.
Space for living and working on ships, and particularly on submarines, can be limited.
It is not always adventurous and exciting; there is a lot of routine work.
You should be aware that in the Royal Navy you will at times be operating in difficult and dangerous conditions and there may be the risk of injury or death.
You do not always need formal qualifications, but having subjects at National 4 or 5, including English, Maths and science subjects will give you a wider choice of roles to choose from.
You must meet residency and nationality requirements – they are shown on the Royal Navy website.
To join most branches you need to be between the ages of 16 and 39. For some work you need to be 17 or 18 years old.
If you are under 18 your parents or guardians must agree to your joining.
You must be fit and healthy – there is strict medical examination.
Your height must be at least 154cm, or 157cm for the submarine service, and your weight must be in proportion to your height. You need a BMI of between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18).
You must have good eyesight and for some jobs you need normal colour vision.
Women can join the Royal Navy and serve in all branches.
The selection process includes:
taking the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA), which includes English, maths, problem solving skills and understanding of mechanics
a medical and eye test as well as Royal Navy pre-joining fitness test
a 4-day Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
some jobs require extra aptitude tests.
If you are accepted:
you join on a Full Commitment contract, which is 18 years or to age 40, whichever is later. You may be able to serve longer than this.
if you want to leave earlier, you must give 12 months before completing your return of service. The length of that depends on the branch you join.
able to remain calm under pressure and work in dangerous situations
practical and interested in technical matters.
Training
You first take a Basic Training course at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall which lasts 10 weeks.
You then do up to five years of Professional Training for the job you have chosen.
You keep up to date by attending short training courses during your time in the Royal Navy.
Getting On
Taking training courses will help you move on.
After your training is complete there is a clearly defined promotion route starting from Able Rating, Leading Rating, Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer and Warrant Officer.
You can go on to become a Royal Navy officer.
When you leave the Royal Navy, you will be able to use a lot of your skills in other jobs.
More Information
For detailed information about the Royal Navy, phone 0345 607 5555 or visit the Royal Navy website. The Ministry of Defence website is also helpful.
