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Royal Navy/Marines Rating

Do you want to become a Royal Navy/Marines Rating? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Royal Navy/Marines ratings work on ships or submarines, or at Royal Navy bases on shore in a variety of roles. These include:

• Warfare Branch - communications technicians, warfare specialists, hydrographic, meteorological and oceanographic specialists, communications information systems specialists and divers
• Engineering Branch - engineering technicians (weapons or marine)
• Logistics Branch - caterers, stewards, writers and stores accountants
• Medical Branch - dental hygienists, medical assistants and dental surgery assistants
• Fleet Air Arm - naval airmen and air engineering technicians
• Submarine Service Submariners - warfare specialists, marine and weapon engineering technicians, medical assistants and caterers.

Royal Navy ratings are on call 24 hours a day, but generally work eight-hour duty shifts. This can include weekends and public holidays, and while serving at sea, ratings may be separated from their families for several months at a time.

Salaries range from around £11,774 to £28,714 a year.

Royal Navy/Marines ratings need:

• to be able to work well as part of a team
• to be self-disciplined and able to take orders
• to have a high level of physical fitness
• good communication skills and the ability to react quickly under pressure
• to be interested in science, technology and the Armed Forces.

To apply to the Royal Navy you must be at least 15 years, nine months. On entry you must be no younger than 16 years, or 17 for medical assistants and dental surgery assistants, 18 for divers and dental hygienists, 17 years, 10 months for student naval nurses and 21 years for direct entry registered general nurses. For all trades, the upper age limit to join is 36 years (up to and including their 37th birthday). There are also height and weight restrictions, as well as strict eyesight standards.

For many jobs, there are no formal entry qualifications. All candidates must pass a Royal Navy selection test, an interview and a medical examination. Some trades do require specific qualifications - check with Armed Forces careers offices for details.

All new ratings undertake eight weeks' basic training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall. They then take specialist training for their chosen trade, which often includes short periods at sea.

Promotion is to able rating (at around 22 or 23 years of age), leading rating, petty officer (at around 26 to 28 years), chief petty officer (at around 30 years) and eventually, warrant officer.

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