Roles within the Royal Naval Reserve

Air Branch

Entry to the RNR Air Branch is restricted to personnel with prior service in the Fleet Air Arm.
Air Branch Reservists are attached to regular squadrons, air stations, units and HQs to support operations on land and at sea. Reservists may be used in front-line roles but are primarily used to backfill key posts such as instructing, training or providing niche skills
As a rating, you could serve as an Aircrewman, Aircraft Controller, Meteorologist, Photographer, Aircraft Handler, Artificer, Mechanic, Safety Equipment Specialist or flight deck crew.
As an officer you may be eligible for a job as a Pilot, Observer, Air Traffic Control Officer or Fighter Controller, Meteorological Forecaster, Aviation Manager, Air Engineer or Mobile Air Operations Officer.

Amphibious Warfare

If you have a Merchant Navy background you are ideally placed to serve as the Senior Naval Officer (SNO) in merchant ships chartered for military purposes. You will liaise with the ship’s Master on naval matters including defence of the vessel and will take charge of any naval party working on board with you. As SNO you provide the vital link between Merchant Navy Masters, the Royal Navy Task Group Commander and the Royal Marines Commandos.

Alternatively, you could work onboard an amphibious assault ship as a “Ship to Objective Manoeuvre” (STOM) Watchkeeper serving the embarked force of Royal Marines. Your key task will be to plan and execute the ship-to-shore movement of troops and all their equipment - it all needs to be in the right place, at the right time. The job requires high levels of military and planning skills which will be put to the test in a very busy operations room on a specialist amphibious ship.

Chaplain

You’ll be a vital part of the Naval Chaplaincy Service, trained to deploy both at sea and on land with Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel.  Your diverse parish will seek spiritual, moral and pastoral support and you’ll be a friend and adviser to all regardless of rank or religion. Families may also require your assistance as they cope with separation from their loved ones. Being a member of the civilian community you’ll be able to support fellow Reservists during their mobilisation and afterwards as they readjust to their civilian life.

Communications Technician

Entry as a Communications Technician is restricted to personnel with ex-Regular service in that Branch.

You’ll be intercepting and analysing signals from around the world. You’ll use the Royal Navy’s range of sophisticated recording, receiving and analysis equipment, and give confident written and verbal briefings to senior officers.

There are more specialist jobs available if you‘ve been trained in computer analysis of radio signals, or foreign languages.

Diving (Under Water Force Protection)

Your main role will be to work at maximum depths of 30 metres as part of a specialist diving team. If you’re not a former service Diver then you’ll have to hold a recognised civilian diving qualification to BSAC Ocean/PADI Open Water standard.

The task will primarily involve underwater searches and minor repair work to ships. You could also find yourself attached to one of the Royal Navy’s regional diving units in the UK working in one of the dockyards. The selection process and diving medical will take place after you have completed your initial training.

Information Operations

You produce plans, information and materials to give military commanders a crucial edge in battlefield operations.

Working on land or at sea, you could be involved in anything from operational security and military deception planning to psychological operations and electronic warfare.

Intelligence

Entry to the RNR Intelligence specialisation is via sideways transfer from other RNR specialisations following successful completion of a selection weekend.

Initially you’ll be trained as an operational intelligence analyst, gathering and assessing information on the movements of ships, people and aircraft.

After about five years, you may be considered for additional training in other intelligence gathering roles. For example, in a Human Intelligence role, you would work with interpreters, build relationships with local communities, or assist with the questioning of prisoners.

Logistics

Based on shore at a Forward Logistics Site (FLS), you’ll be responsible for ensuring the Royal Navy and Royal Marines have everything they need to fulfil their mission.

You’ll make sure spare parts, mail and people are in the right place at the right time; this will involve managing documentation, and driving around dock areas and between military sites.

Maritime Trade Operations

Your role is to act as the interface between commercial merchant shipping companies and the Royal Navy.

The UK regularly works with other NATO and European Union countries so your training will be on sophisticated computer systems that provide essential advice for the Masters of merchant ships, ranging from shipping movements to safe navigational information in hazardous sea areas.

Media Operations

You’ll ensure the media get accurate information when they need it. This may involve accompanying news crews that are attached to Royal Navy units, on land or at sea. You could find yourself working in an MOD Press Office in the UK but you’re much more likely to be in a Press Information Centre, working alongside multinational or NATO land forces.

You may also have the opportunity to serve at sea, advising Task Force Commanders how to compile media plans. You’ll train Royal Navy personnel to deal effectively with the media. This could include helping individuals and families cope with media attention in difficult or distressing circumstances.

Medical Officer

You’ll combine your specific civilian skills with a vital military role, caring for armed forces personnel across the globe, at sea or on land.

Your primary role will be to go to sea in RFA Argus, the Royal Navy’s 100- bed Primary Casualty Receiving Facility. Increasingly, Medical Officers are also deployed on land operations to provide support to servicemen and women, worldwide.

We recognise that Consultant Specialists will not always be able to commit to a full tour of active duty, so you will usually be able to negotiate a shorter tour of, typically, four months.

Mine Warfare

You’ll be part of the Royal Navy team responsible for making the seas safe for our warships and supply ships on exercises and operations.

You’ll work in the Royal Navy’s Mine Counter Measure Tasking Authority (MCMTA), which directs all minehunting and clearance operations. You could find yourself working on shore or at sea, but you’ll require a lot of sea experience first.

MN Amphibious Warfare Officer

Your maritime knowledge and experience on merchant vessels is essential for the role of Senior Naval Officer on Commercially Chartered Shipping.  You already understand Merchant Navy business.  The ships’ masters will rely on you to provide the practical military link between the Royal Navy Task Group Commanders and the Royal Marines Commandos.

If not on a merchant ship, you will be working as a watchkeeper in the operations room of an amphibious ship.  You’ll be planning and executing the movement of troops and their equipment from the various Task Group ships to the shore.

Nurse

In peacetime and conflict, you’re central to keeping everyone in the Royal Navy fit, healthy and effective.

Alongside your civilian nursing job, you’ll be a member of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service (Reserves). When deployed, you could find yourself anywhere in the world, caring for Royal Navy and other armed forces personnel. You may be based at sea in RFA Argus – the Royal Navy’s 100-bed Primary Casualty Receiving Facility.  Or you could be on land working with other armed forces in some demanding situations.

Seaman (Above Water Force Protection)

Working on deck as an armed sentry in all weathers, you’ll be responsible for protecting your ship.

You’ll work closely with the Royal Marines Fleet Protection Group, be trained in close combat, how to use an assault rifle, general purpose machine gun, and minigun. This highly responsible job also entails you being taught to understand and implement rules of engagement.

Submarine Operations

In this demanding specialist officer role, you initially work in a shore HQ. Your tasks will involve managing submarines’ communications, tasking and safety.

Later you will work at sea as part of the Submarine Advisory Team, providing essential advice on how the submarine can best support the military commander’s task force of ships and aircraft.