Tell me about it
Royal Navy ratings work on board a ship or submarine at sea, or in a Royal Navy establishment ashore. Duties vary according to which of the six different branches you train for:

• Warfare, operating and maintaining the ship's weapons, electronic systems and sensors. As a rating within the warfare branch, you would also co-ordinate your ship's communications systems and undertake a range of seamanship tasks.
• Engineering, undertaking the operation, maintenance and refit of the Royal Navy's ships, submarines and aircraft.
• Supply, responsible for ensuring the effective operation of a range of office, accounting, stores and catering systems.
• Medical, providing a comprehensive healthcare service for Royal Navy personnel and their families.
• Fleet Air Arm, ensuring that Navy aircraft are prepared for action. It would also include using your meteorology and oceanography skills to provide the ship with relevant data.
• Submarine Service, responsible for the efficient operation and maintenance of a submarine's weapons, electronic systems and sensors. You would also be responsible for the operation of telecommunications systems and additional seamanship tasks on board the submarine.

The Royal Navy is a powerful frontline force that can undertake rapid deployment and sustained operations, operating warships, submarines and ship-borne aircraft, together with a large number of support vessels.

Entry level
For many jobs no educational qualifications are needed. You must pass a Royal Navy selection test, an interview and medical examination. Entry is possible from age 16, except for medical assistants and dental surgery assistants (17), divers (18), dental hygienists (18), student naval nurses (17 years, 10 months) and direct entry nurses (21).

Some trades may require minimum qualifications: naval airmen (meteorology and oceanography) need one GCSE/S grade (A-C/1-3) in maths, meteorology, geography or a science subject. Communications technicians need two GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) in English language and maths. They must also pass aptitude tests. Artificer apprentices must pass aptitude tests and have GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3)
in English language, maths and physics or an acceptable science-based subject, or equivalent. Divers must pass a five-day diving aptitude test. There are also specific requirements for dental surgery assistants and student nurses.

The minimum height for all entrants is 151.5 centimetres, with weight in proportion to height, and you must meet nationality and residence requirements. There are strict eyesight standards and, for some jobs, normal colour vision is essential.

Making the grade
All new entrants do eight weeks basic training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall. This includes practical exercises, parade drill, PE, a personal weapons test, a swimming test and general naval training.

At the end of eight weeks, you will have finished your Phase One training. If you are to become an operator mechanic, you remain at HMS Raleigh for two weeks' seamanship training. Writers, chefs, stewards and stores accountants also remain at HMS Raleigh in the Royal Naval Logistics School, while all submariners remain in the Royal Naval Submarine School. Otherwise you move away to naval establishments around the country to begin professional training. After this, you are posted to a ship or shore base.

Personal qualities
Royal Navy ratings work as part of a team. You need to be self-disciplined, able to accept responsibility, make decisions and react quickly under pressure. You should be able to follow orders, have good communication skills and an interest in science and technology. You must be able to live in a small, enclosed environment, especially if you are based aboard a submarine.

In addition, each specialisation has its own requirements. For example, a stores accountant needs to be methodical and have a good memory; a medical assistant needs to be compassionate and decisive.

Looking ahead
Like most ratings, you would join on an open engagement. This can last for 22 years from age 18, or the date of entry, whichever is later. If you have the talent, the Royal Navy offers an organised career structure. There is nothing to stop you progressing through the ranks: one in five officers started their careers as ratings.

The first step is to progress through the rates. From able rate you should, if you complete your task book successfully and show the right aptitude, make it to leading rate by the time you are 22-23. With hard work and willingness to take on extra responsibilities, you can rise to petty officer by the age of 26-28, and you can continue to chief petty officer by your early to mid-30s. You can apply for officer selection fairly early on if you want to, although you must have the right educational qualifications. If you don't have any, the Navy can help you study for them within the service. You must also convince the selection board that you have the powers of leadership (or the potential to develop them), the keenness and the grasp of detail an officer needs.

Alternative suggestions
You may wish to consider training as an army serviceman/woman or RAF airman/woman. Beyond the armed services, you may be interested in training as an ambulance paramedic, firefighter or police officer, and you could consider opportunities in the Merchant Navy.

Take-home pay
Naval pay compares well with civilian life. As a guide, new entrants earn £11,432; able ratings earn between £13,461 and £24,313; leading ratings earn between £22,185 and £27,879. The top of the scale for a chief petty officer is £36,336 and for a warrant officer £39,278.

In addition to basic pay, the Royal Navy offers extra money for special skills, special service (in submarines for example) and for qualifications. Pay is reviewed annually. Once you have served at sea for at least 18 months, you receive a bonus of £4.18 per day, rising to £10.65 per day, while serving at sea.

Effects
You would be on call 24 hours a day, but would generally work eight-hour duty shifts. These can include weekends and public holidays. You could work at sea onboard a ship or submarine, or in a shore base. Living quarters onboard ships and submarines are cramped. Men and women are accommodated in separate areas. While serving at sea, you may be separated from your family for several months at a time.

Sources of information
Royal Navy careers: www.royal-navy.mod.uk

CRCI: UA