Life as a Rating

Your Place in the Team:

Whether on a Ship, Submarine, Naval Air Station or Shore Unit, all the branches within the Navy work closely together as part of one big team. Everyone respects each others skills, talents and experience, knowing that, we all depend on one another.

Warfare:

The Warfare branch is responsible for combat operations involving our ships, submarines and aircraft, but it also has plenty of vital work to do in peacetime. The jobs vary from Combat Operations to Communications, Environment and Surveying to Seamanship. Dealing with the threat from enemy ships, submarines and aircraft is the bread and butter of Combat Operations. As a Communicator you’ll gather, process and interpret classified communication traffic and signals from ships, submarines and shore. Within Environment and Surveying you’ll measure and predict the weather and sea conditions. Seamanship is the hands-on crew and you’ll be responsible for getting your ship wherever it needs to be.

Engineering:

From Weapon Engineering, where you’ll be keeping our advanced weapon and electronic systems ready for action in extreme, often hostile environments to Marine Engineering keeping your ship in fighting order you will be responsible for some truly incredible kit. In Air Engineering you'll make sure our helicopters keep flying whatever the conditions at sea or on shore.

Logistics:

As a member of the Logistics branch, it’ll be your job to provide food, supplies and administrative support to keep our people operationally effective. In our supporting operations team, you’ll be part of the team managing all the people and supplies that keep our 24-hour worldwide operation functioning. Within catering and hospitality, you’ll be at the heart of your ship or submarine’s crew, providing food and service for everyone on board.

Medical:

In Medical, Nursing and Healthcare, you’ll be an essential part of the team keeping everyone in the Royal Navy fit, healthy and operationally effective, in peacetime and conflict.

Aviation:

In air operations support, whether on the deck of a ship or on the ground, you’re as vital to the success of the mission as the Aircrew by keeping the helicopters safe and serviceable.