Joining the Royal Navy?
Discussion
Ok, here's the situation:
I'm 26, stuck in a dead end job that pays around £450p/w for 70-80hrs (55-57 paid) worked over 6 days. I have no qualifications other than my driving licence. I do things on the side that bring in my 'fun' money and pay for some luxuries, but again it's not going to result in a career. I am married, and fortunately I do enjoy the full support of my wife in whichever direction I want to take my life.
I enjoy mechanical engineering - either trying to design something or taking something apart, working out why it broke, and either fixing it or finding a way of reducing the chances of it failing again. However, I only get to do this on a small scale with vehicles and other machines in my limited spare time. I also enjoy physics and chemistry - the two subjects I did well at in school.
I would like to go on an OU course, but I can't afford to give up work for the full-time bit of the 2+2 courses I would want to study (either mechanical engineering, chemistry or physics).
I have however recently been considering the Royal Navy. It would appear to offer much of what I want - promotion/advancement in a chosen career on merit and hard work, qualifications, the chance to see and do things around the world, and hopefully set me up for a decent job when I complete service.
I am planning to head to the local RN careers office in Redruth soon, and i know i'll need to get fit - currently there's no way i'd pass any fitness test, but then until now i've had no inclination to work from 7am to 8pm, and then jump on the rowing machine or bike for an hour.
Can any serving or retired RN PH'ers give me an insight into life in the RN? For a long time I felt that I wasn't suited to life in the forces - my main concern is that I have a habit of asking 'why' if I don't understand what I am doing or why I am doing it.
Thanks in advance.
I'm 26, stuck in a dead end job that pays around £450p/w for 70-80hrs (55-57 paid) worked over 6 days. I have no qualifications other than my driving licence. I do things on the side that bring in my 'fun' money and pay for some luxuries, but again it's not going to result in a career. I am married, and fortunately I do enjoy the full support of my wife in whichever direction I want to take my life.
I enjoy mechanical engineering - either trying to design something or taking something apart, working out why it broke, and either fixing it or finding a way of reducing the chances of it failing again. However, I only get to do this on a small scale with vehicles and other machines in my limited spare time. I also enjoy physics and chemistry - the two subjects I did well at in school.
I would like to go on an OU course, but I can't afford to give up work for the full-time bit of the 2+2 courses I would want to study (either mechanical engineering, chemistry or physics).
I have however recently been considering the Royal Navy. It would appear to offer much of what I want - promotion/advancement in a chosen career on merit and hard work, qualifications, the chance to see and do things around the world, and hopefully set me up for a decent job when I complete service.
I am planning to head to the local RN careers office in Redruth soon, and i know i'll need to get fit - currently there's no way i'd pass any fitness test, but then until now i've had no inclination to work from 7am to 8pm, and then jump on the rowing machine or bike for an hour.
Can any serving or retired RN PH'ers give me an insight into life in the RN? For a long time I felt that I wasn't suited to life in the forces - my main concern is that I have a habit of asking 'why' if I don't understand what I am doing or why I am doing it.
Thanks in advance.
Get across to RumRation and post on there. With the cutbacks in the fleet and its personnel, I'd expect that you would have to be pretty lucky to get in these days.
Good luck though, life in the Andrew isn't all Rum, sodomy and the lash - sometimes there's the less pleasant bits as well.
SD.
ps - don't take an iPod on ops unless you promise not to cry.
Good luck though, life in the Andrew isn't all Rum, sodomy and the lash - sometimes there's the less pleasant bits as well.
SD.
ps - don't take an iPod on ops unless you promise not to cry.
Why are you working 10-20 hours unpaid per week?
Be prepared for long waiting lists before getting in.
Either way, you're probably looking at Marine Engineering Mechanic so get yourself down the AFCO and have a chat.
If the shoes on the Army side are a bit dull, it's because either they've been so busy on Ops they've forgotten how to bulls
t, or they've been in so long and they're so crusty they're too senile to remember how!
Be prepared for long waiting lists before getting in.
Either way, you're probably looking at Marine Engineering Mechanic so get yourself down the AFCO and have a chat.
If the shoes on the Army side are a bit dull, it's because either they've been so busy on Ops they've forgotten how to bulls
t, or they've been in so long and they're so crusty they're too senile to remember how!
Thanks for the replies folks, much appreciated.
I'll check out rumration tomorrow - on the iPhone at the moment!
I work the unpaid hours because it gains me a few extra paid hours, and because the job requires it. I act as outstation supervisor as well as driver, cleaner and cash clerk, because the company won't pay for someone to do the essential stuff that keeps the buses on the road. When I started there I took the role on because it makes life easier for my drivers and me because I actually know what is happening and when. But then it's still a dead end job.
I'll check out rumration tomorrow - on the iPhone at the moment!
I work the unpaid hours because it gains me a few extra paid hours, and because the job requires it. I act as outstation supervisor as well as driver, cleaner and cash clerk, because the company won't pay for someone to do the essential stuff that keeps the buses on the road. When I started there I took the role on because it makes life easier for my drivers and me because I actually know what is happening and when. But then it's still a dead end job.
GTO Scott said:
I'll definitely consider the MN, how do I find out about it?
http://www.clydemarinetraining.com/IIRC you would be mostly sponsored through training by a Company such as Maersk or BP etc. The MN is more like a collective name for people who do a similar job for lots of different people rather than a firm organisation like the RN.
As I see it (family at sea) it's lots of time away, lots of time and home and mostly income tax-free. But it's bloody hard graft when they're away and the days of a 'woman in every port' are pretty much over as they're rarely in for more than a couple of days loading/unloading.
I was in the Merchant Navy for 14 years. As the previous poster said, it is very hard work; imagine working 12 hours a day every day for months on end, without seeing your friends and family. In addition the food may be bad, the weather poor so you don't sleep well and you may rarely get off the ship (I did four months on a supertanker once with no shore leave!)
As you can see it does not suit everybody and you must be prepared to work hard. The flip side is a good tax free salary and long leaves; I was working two months on and two months off on my last ship.
You may find you are a little old at 26 to do a cadetship though, and you do require a number if GCSEs of grade C or above to be considered.
As you can see it does not suit everybody and you must be prepared to work hard. The flip side is a good tax free salary and long leaves; I was working two months on and two months off on my last ship.
You may find you are a little old at 26 to do a cadetship though, and you do require a number if GCSEs of grade C or above to be considered.
As said previously, the best info is at your local recruiting office.
I first enquired about the RN in October 09, applied in November 09, passed all my tests in Jan 2010 and have only just got my date for entry. I will have waited almost 2 years by the time I enter.
Can't wait.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
I first enquired about the RN in October 09, applied in November 09, passed all my tests in Jan 2010 and have only just got my date for entry. I will have waited almost 2 years by the time I enter.
Can't wait.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
GTO Scott said:
For a long time I felt that I wasn't suited to life in the forces - my main concern is that I have a habit of asking 'why' if I don't understand what I am doing or why I am doing it.
Thanks in advance.
Don't join the Army then. They get told when to breathe in and out. If you go into an Engineering trade (but you MAY need GCSE's for that) you will be expected to ask "why". As said though, you may be in for a long wait, even if you apply now.Thanks in advance.
All the Armed Forces are being cut, but they still have to recruit - albeit with limited training courses etc, hence the long wait.
Best advice = get fit.
Rowing machine already dusted off - did 45 mins on it last night at a steady pace and it wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. Didn't take note of distances though.
Booked in for the interview/presentation at the local AFCO on Friday, I'm actually really looking forward to it, which is more than I can say for any job I've had since I left school.
Booked in for the interview/presentation at the local AFCO on Friday, I'm actually really looking forward to it, which is more than I can say for any job I've had since I left school.
im ex navy myself, am also 26 but left in 07, which i really regret doing, its a good life, the money does genuinly suck for the first few years which is why i left (i already had a trade prior to joining so could earn good money outside), if you can stick it out a few years til the money gets better then go for it, good travel, training is piss easy to be honest, youl get a great social life, make cracking mates, more time off than civvy street, if it wasnt for ther fact id have to start at the bottom again id be straight back in, if your fitness is up to scratch the marines might be worth a shout, basic training is very tough and promotion is slower than in the rn, the waiting list at the mo for all the services is pretty long, unless your willing to join up in a job there short manned in then its a bit quicker, anyways good luck!
Hello mate.
when you go to the AFCO make sure you stick to your guns. i'm not sure about recruiting at the moment but if they don't need the numbers in engineering, they may offer, or even pursuade you to join up doing something different and you may live to regret it.
Bear in mind that they are about to make some savage cuts at the minute so just be prepared for dissapointment if their is a big waiting list. I'm looking at redundancy at the minute after 19 years as an engineer in the RN however, i'm glad i chose my trade rather than others.
You could do a lot worse in life, have you considered the RM? that's what i would do if i had my time again.
So, see how it goes on Friday. If you need any more info, let me know.
Good luck.
Muffster.
when you go to the AFCO make sure you stick to your guns. i'm not sure about recruiting at the moment but if they don't need the numbers in engineering, they may offer, or even pursuade you to join up doing something different and you may live to regret it.
Bear in mind that they are about to make some savage cuts at the minute so just be prepared for dissapointment if their is a big waiting list. I'm looking at redundancy at the minute after 19 years as an engineer in the RN however, i'm glad i chose my trade rather than others.
You could do a lot worse in life, have you considered the RM? that's what i would do if i had my time again.
So, see how it goes on Friday. If you need any more info, let me know.
Good luck.
Muffster.
I'm open to other options, but engineering is what I enjoy, and it's what i'm fairly good at. Will see what happens at the AFCO on Friday though, but I won't sign up for just anything - I want a reasonably clear idea of what shape and route my career will take, because this is one hell of a big change for me.
Thanks
Thanks
The waiting list is huge, or is it? I passed the initial psychometric (only written test until you are accepted in and start training I belive) test in March this year for selection, hoping to be a Communications and Information Technician for the Surface Fleet. I now have to wait for my medical and fitness tests and final interview.
I have been told it's a 2-3 year wait to get in and of course just because you have passed the initial test does not guarantee a job as I'm told selection is pretty tough, and something like 1 in 12 get in. I'm not sure if that means passing the initial test though, as out of around 25 people who took it when I was there, only 8 or 9 passed including me. However I personally know of two people who last year were told "3 years" who are going in this year, and that's not for submarine training where you get in quicker. Makes me wonder if these claims of 3 years are a bit far fetched, but given the state of the funding for the armed forces it may not be. Whenever I call the careers office, depending who I talk to I'm told anything from 22-30 months.
I have been told it's a 2-3 year wait to get in and of course just because you have passed the initial test does not guarantee a job as I'm told selection is pretty tough, and something like 1 in 12 get in. I'm not sure if that means passing the initial test though, as out of around 25 people who took it when I was there, only 8 or 9 passed including me. However I personally know of two people who last year were told "3 years" who are going in this year, and that's not for submarine training where you get in quicker. Makes me wonder if these claims of 3 years are a bit far fetched, but given the state of the funding for the armed forces it may not be. Whenever I call the careers office, depending who I talk to I'm told anything from 22-30 months.
Edited by sparks_E39 on Saturday 16th July 14:28
Edited by sparks_E39 on Saturday 16th July 16:10
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