If you’re struggling with your application, either due to a technical issue or because you’re unsure what information to supply, we have a dedicated recruitment team who can provide all the advice and guidance you need. Just get in touch with us using the details below.
Life as a Submariner couldn't be further removed from the ordinary 9 to 5, but if you're passionate about being part of a close-knit team, there's nothing quite like it. Your crewmates become your best mates, and each typical three-month deployment represents a new adventure. Finding it hard to imagine? There are serving personnel waiting to answer your questions.
Joining the Submarine Service might feel like a real challenge, but it's achievable to anyone who brings the right attitude and will to succeed. You don't have to be the finished article as soon as you apply because we'll give you all the support you need to earn your Dolphins – the mark of a qualified Submariner.
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Your first step on the recruitment journey is to complete your full application form, which you can find in our Recruitment Portal. We have emailed you a link to the Recruitment Portal. If you can't find the link, please check your spam folder or give us a call so we can send it to you again.
Once you've submitted the 'Apply now' form on this website for your preferred role, you'll need to fill out the full application form sent to you via email. You can then expect to receive a call from your local Armed Forces Careers Office (AFCO) to arrange your next steps. Depending on your circumstances, some stages may take longer than others. We’ll make sure that you are kept involved and informed throughout the whole recruitment and training process.
The Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) is a multiple-choice test that all recruits sit. It tests your general intellectual ability, and how well you do shows your capacity to cope with the technical and academic aspects of training for the role you’ve chosen.
We'll invite you to a formal interview to assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy, and specifically the role that you have chosen. This is much like any other job interview, so you should prepare accordingly and ask your AFCO for help if required.
Once you've been given an entry date, you'll need to attend assessments at either the Candidate Preparation Course (CPC) if you're applying as a rating, or the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB) if you're applying as an officer.
This is a four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, which includes assessments of your Fitness and your Medical eligibility, it is a pass or fail course.
The AIB is a competency-based assessment that confirms that you’re physically and mentally ready to become a Royal Navy Officer.
After Basic Training, you'll begin your submariner training, learning about submarine operations and going to sea in a submarine. Once you pass this stage, you'll earn your 'Dolphins' - the coveted badge of a qualified Submariner - as well as a £5,000 bonus.