Job Roles & Requirements

British, Irish and Commonwealth citizens may join the Royal Navy or Royal Marines. However, certain career paths are only available to British Citizens. Only candidates with British Nationality are eligible for the Submarine Service.

The vast majority of trades are open to both men and women, although a small number of areas are currently not available to women, e.g. Royal Marines, the Submarine Service and Mine Clearance Diving

Height requirements vary for each of the Services. To be an Aircraft Handler you must be no shorter than 166cm and for other branches you must be no shorter than 151.5cm.

For academic qualifications please see each the individual job roles below.

To join as an Officer

Officers are the Senior Managers of the Royal Navy. You will need to have excellent leadership skills and the equivalent of at least 140 UCAS points and five GCSEs (A*-C)/ 5 Scottish Standard Grades (1-3) or equivalent, including English and Maths.

Step one: Make an appointment to speak to a Careers Liaison Officer.

There are three ways to do this:

1. Telephone 08456 07 55 55
2. Visit your nearest Armed Forces careers office
3. Or via the website

Step two: Meet your Careers Liason Officer

Step three: Attend the Admiralty Interview Board

If you pass the Admiralty Interview Board, your application will be sent to the Ministry of Defence for approval. When a decision is made you will receive a letter and if you have been successful, your next step will be the Royal Navy basic training at Britannia Royal Naval College.

To join as a Rating

Most of Royal Navy personnel are known as Ratings. As a Rating you will provide the skills and expertise needed to operate the technology, carry out repairs and put our operations into practice. For many of these roles you will not need any specific qualifications because we will give you all the training you need.

Step one: Make an appointment to speak to a Careers Advisor. There are three ways to do this:

1. Telephone 08456 07 55 55
2. Visit your nearest Armed Forces Careers Office
3. Or via the website

Step Two: Visit the nearest Armed Forces Careers Office

Step three: Complete a short questionnaire

Step four: Take some tests

If you pass each stage, your application will be sent to the Ministry of Defence for approval. When a decision is made you will receive a letter and if you have been successful, your next step will be Royal Navy Basic Training at HMS Raleigh.

Salaries and Benefits

• Basic Salaries start at £ 12,000 for ratings. Midshipmen/women and Sub Lieutenants start at between £15,169 and £21,940 a year, depending on age.
• Lieutenants earn from £33,795 and £40,190 a year.
• Lieutenant Commanders earn from £42,570 to £50,983 a year.
• Commanders earn between £59,747 and £66,046 a year. 
• Free medical and dental treatment
• Job security - Officers join for 12 years and ratings for 18 years or to 40 years of age.
• Accommodation at sea or operations is free. Accommodation on shore is heavily subsidised.

Useful Contacts

www.careers.royalnavy.mod.uk/