Job Description
At a glance
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
£21,000+
The minimum you’ll earn after training
Zero
Qualifications needed
Free
Medical and dental care
£54,500+
Earn over this amount as you progress
Travel
All around the world
What you’ll do
As a member of the team who sails the ship, you’ll be indispensable to the smooth running of some of the most advanced warships on the planet. And from the minute you join you’ll be on your way to becoming a professional sailor. Seaman Specialists experience a true life at sea. From navigation to guarding your ship in port, your seamanship will help protect our nation’s interests – wherever you are in the world.IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, TALK TO US
CALL US 0345 607 55 55
Your role
Steer your ship, act as lookout, and communicate with other vessels.
Moor, secure and guard your ship when in port.
Operate smaller weapons like General Purpose Machine Guns.
Drive fast rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) in all conditions.
What you’ll get
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or a degree
MCA accreditation
Skills you'll develop
Advanced seamanship skills, valued far beyond the Naval Service
Technical skills including signaling, sailing, mooring and operating machine guns
Pay and benefits
A salary that rises to over £21,000+ after initial training
Earn in excess of £54,500 as your career progresses
Civilian-recognised Martine Coastguard Agency (MCA) accreditation
Six weeks of paid holiday every year
Free medical and dental care
Career progression
DAY ONE
Go to sea, work towards Local Boats Crew Endorsement (Bowman)
YEAR ONE
Complete Sections 1 & 2 of the Able Seaman Training Taskbook
FIRST PROMOTION
Pass annual tests, get promoted to Able Seaman Specialist 1
SECOND PROMOTION
Qualify as Coxswain, pass courses, become Leading Hand
What you'll need
Eligibility
You must be aged 16 to 39
No qualifications are required for this role
A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National
A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
Pass the Naval Swimming Test
Skills and interests
Willing to learn new skills with different types of equipment
A love of teamwork
A passion for life at sea
A sense of adventure
Starting your career
Joining process
Initial training
Professional training
Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:
Submit an application
Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form
Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)
You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
To prepare, you can practise the DAA
Interview
A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform
Medical and eye tests
These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors
Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)
This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and a fitness assessment, is a pass or fail course
Start training
Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh
Apply
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