It might come as a bit of surprise to learn that there are over one hundred different job roles and skill areas within the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.  Many can now be entered through an Apprenticeship or even performed part time as a ‘reservist’.  From starting salaries typically around £15,000, some of the most responsible jobs can earn £50,000 or more.  Here’s our selection to illustrate the wide range roles that keep the service running.

Work with aircraft

The Royal Navy operates aircraft as well as ships, known as the Fleet Air Arm.  From the engineers who maintain the fighter jets and helicopters, to the air traffic controllers who see them safely landed, here are some of the roles that will see you working with aircraft:

·         Air Engineering Technician or Officer

·         Air Traffic Control Officer or Aircraft Controller

·         Aircrew Officer Observer

·         Aircrew Officer Pilot

·         Aircrewman

·         Naval Airman Aircraft Handler

Work in catering and hospitality

They say ‘an army marches on its stomach’ but certainly a navy does too!  Keeping your people well feed can often be the key to good morale.  Here are a few of the roles that will see you feeding your colleagues:

·         Qualified Chef

·         Steward

Musicians

The band of the Royal Marines is famous throughout the world and regularly perform at some of our most high-profile national events. If the uniform as well as the music appeals to you, why not consider becoming:

·         Royal Marines Bugler

·         Royal Marines Musician

Science, Medical & Welfare roles

As well as feeding them, many roles in the Navy are dedicated to the physical, mental and spiritual welfare of service members.  Roles exist in the surface fleet, land-based and often on submarines too for the following:

·         Biomedical Scientist

·         Chaplain

·         Dental Hygienist or Dental Nurse

·         Dental Officer

·         Medical Assistant

·         Medical Officer

·         Mental Health Nurse (Qualified or Student)

·         Naval Nurse (Qualified or Student)

·         Nursing Officer

·         Nursing Officer Mental Health

·         Operating Department Practitioner (Qualified or Student)

·         Pharmacist (Reserve)

·         Physiotherapist (Reserve)

·         Radiographer (Qualified or Student)

Engineering

With so much high-tech’ equipment of all sizes to look after, you would probably expect there to be many roles specialising in engineering of all kinds.  Land-based, ship-based or submarine based, here are just a few. Many come as Apprentice, Technician and Officer roles within each specialist area:

·         Marine Engineering

·         Weapon Engineering

·         Survival Equipment Technician (SET)

·         Systems Engineer Officer

Communications & Intelligence

Coordinating activity amongst your forces, as well as monitoring the activities of enemy forces, is key to effective deployment.  There are a number of specialist roles that respond to the latest technology in place including:

·         Communications and Information Systems Specialist

·         Cryptologic Technician

·         Cyber Unit Reserve

·         Warfare Intelligence Officer or Specialist

Logistics & Supply Chain

Moving supplies, equipment and people around the globe has become a specialist area and the Navy uses a range of skilled roles to help ensure it operates effectively:

·         Leading Hand Supply Chain Operative Qualified (RFA)

·         Logistics Officer

·         Logistics Supply Officer (Qualified) (RFA)

·         Supply Chain Logistician (surface & submariner)

Underwater roles

If the idea of working on a submarine ‘floats your boat’, many roles that are performed on ships also happen on submarines, too, from catering to engineering, and from the chaplain to the medical offer.  If you actually want to get wet, how about:

·         Mine Clearance Diver

And many other support roles….

Like any large organisation, the Royal Navy also requires many supporting skills to keep it functioning efficiently, including:

·         Environmental Health Officer

·         Hydrography and Meteorology Officer/Specialist

·         Mine Warfare Specialist

·         Royal Navy Police

·         Writer Logistician (Human Resources Administrator)

For more details on all of these roles – and more – please visit the Royal Navy website at https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/role-finder