**British Armed Forces Discussion Thread**

Just got bounced this way.

Anyone in or waiting to join the Royal Navy?

Thought about doing it years ago but went a different path but thinking about getting back into with the UK job market being as turd as it is :p

Only downfall in my plan is that the bloke in the careers office reckoned that it could be up to a 24 month wait to join (marine engineering path I was thinking) and thats a looong time!
 
No1newts said:
Just got bounced this way.

Anyone in or waiting to join the Royal Navy?

Thought about doing it years ago but went a different path but thinking about getting back into with the UK job market being as turd as it is :p

Only downfall in my plan is that the bloke in the careers office reckoned that it could be up to a 24 month wait to join (marine engineering path I was thinking) and thats a looong time!
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Expect someone to be along any minute and suggest the RAF!

The Navy is a bit of an odd one and undergoing massive restructuring at the minute all pointless short sighted rubish that dodges the real issues like all the armed forces reviews in history. They are still recruiting in limited numbers and if it's something you've always dreamed of it can't hurt to check it out.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Expect someone to be along any minute and suggest the RAF!

The Navy is a bit of an odd one and undergoing massive restructuring at the minute all pointless short sighted rubish that dodges the real issues like all the armed forces reviews in history. They are still recruiting in limited numbers and if it's something you've always dreamed of it can't hurt to check it out.
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I was mainly thinking navy for the fact that longer term I can jump ship (excuse the pun) into the merchant navy if I get the appropriate skill set.

The guy in the navy career office was a bit useless to be honest about what to do but I can pretty much skim through the recruitment process (according to the navy recruitment bloke I rang on the phone instead) and if there is need for the position I want you could be in within 3 month but it could be up to 24 month if there is no need for what I want to do. Don't particularly want to be waiting 24 month either! :p
 
I agree, but its having money to support my family in the meantime which is the issue, I'm in a strange position where I am overqualified for lower paid jobs and don't get interviews and the job that I used to do is a rare(ish) skill set that doesn't come around that often.

She can support us both but not ideal!
 
Your wages won't be much for some years if you aren't applying for commission either.

Edit that: your wages won't be much for some years, period :p
 
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Captain Planet said:
Your wages won't be much for some years if you aren't applying for commission either.

Edit that: your wages won't be much for some years, period :p
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Yeah I know but it would be enough to get by.

It would reach a point when I would either push higher within the navy or jump across to the merchant for better money. It would all depend on how much I was enjoying the RN to be fair :)
 
No1newts said:
Yeah I know but it would be enough to get by.

It would reach a point when I would either push higher within the navy or jump across to the merchant for better money. It would all depend on how much I was enjoying the RN to be fair :)
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There is a point when the salary picks up quite comfortably, I'm just warning you that the cut you take is pretty bad to start with. I cut my salary in half for 6 months and it has only recently surpassed civilian salary. Said that you do save money in other respects by being in, then there are the "bonuses" for deployment. Go Marines all the way though ;)
 
No1newts said:
Just got bounced this way.

Anyone in or waiting to join the Royal Navy?

Thought about doing it years ago but went a different path but thinking about getting back into with the UK job market being as turd as it is :p

Only downfall in my plan is that the bloke in the careers office reckoned that it could be up to a 24 month wait to join (marine engineering path I was thinking) and thats a looong time!
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Are one of the available trades a position that you would be interested in? http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/
Such as marine officer. I would have thought it would be quicker than 24 months as they would be hiring now.

My application for the RAF has been stagnant for the past 6/7 weeks as I had to wait for my educational certificates and then re-apply. Had a missed call on my tea break from the AFCO asking to call them back (no reply when I called back, probably shut by that point) to arrange a date for aptitude tests.
Question for those who have taken them: which part did you find the hardest or least expecting?
 
$loth said:
Question for those who have taken them: which part did you find the hardest or least expecting?
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This is what I remember of the aptitude tests: They weren't designed to test that I am clever, they were designed to test I'm not thick. The fact you have conducted a coherent post on an internet forum leads me to believe you will have no problem :p
 
Going from what a friend has told me, the RAF test is quite different to the RN one. If I was you though I'd focus mainly on basic maths and mechanical comprehension with your revision.

It is worth revising because you could be in for quite a wait if you fail...

Also worth revising basic history and general knowledge of the RAF. It wont be in the test, but you may be asked questions whilst you're waiting for the results, and its a head start in your revision for the interview later on.
 
I am in the Navy mate. I really cant recommend it to anyone anymore, Its not what it used to be. If you're a single man i would say yes maybe go for it. If you plan on starting a family in the next 10 years i wouldn't bother.

What branch are you thinking of entering. I can tell you which ones to avoid.


Edit: Just noticed you want to be a stoker. Its a really hard working branch, Probably the hardest working in the Navy. You might find it hard being a baby stoker if you're a bit older. You really get the **** jobs in the branch as a baby.
 
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EdGey said:
Also worth revising basic history and general knowledge of the RAF. It wont be in the test, but you may be asked questions whilst you're waiting for the results, and its a head start in your revision for the interview later on.
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This x100, you can get a good score on the aptitude test but if you don't seem bothered (i.e don't know a small to reasonable amount of basic knowledge about the force etc.) I think they will look to other people. Apart from that I can't really remember what it was like now!
 
$loth said:
Thanks for the advice guys :) I've been reading a bit about NATO but i'll broaden it out to what you have mentioned as well.
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Find out as much as you can about your preferred trade aswell, and have a backup sorted, shows you've been thinking about what you'd end up doing if/when you get in.
 
Passed my medical and just passed my PJFT. Glad I don't have to touch another treadmill.. I hate the damn things with a passion.

Now for the interview... :eek:
 
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