Royal Navy Ratings | How to Prepare for Joining as a Rating

DEFENCE APTITUDE ASSESSMENT

The Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) enables us to test your general intellectual ability, regardless of your existing academic qualifications. This gives us more information, and is a fair way of assessing all candidates on a level playing field.

If you don’t pass the DAA first time around, don’t worry – you can take it again. Your Careers Adviser will tell you what the timescales are likely to be.

Practise the DAA

Pre-Joining Fitness Test

For the PJFT, you’ll need to complete a 2.4km run on a treadmill, where you will be expected to push yourself to produce your best effort.

If you’re applying to the Diver Branch you’ll have to complete the run in 10 minutes 30 seconds regardless of your age.

If you’re going to excel at the PJFT (and in your initial training), it’s critical that you get in the best possible physical condition. We’ve put together a training schedule to get your fitness levels to where they should be.

Ideally you need to follow the programme for the full eight weeks prior to joining, so you can get the most out of it – and increase your chances of success. See more about getting Fit to Join here.

Select from the options below to see the running times and minimum standards for your age and gender.

Age	Men	Women
15 - 24	12 mins 16 secs	14 mins 29 secs
25 - 29	12 mins 42 secs	14 mins 58 secs
30 - 34	13 mins 09 secs	15 mins 29 secs
35 - 39	13 mins 37 secs	16 mins 0 secs

Please select your age

Please select your gender

Minimum pass time:

Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

The four-day assessment takes place at two locations: HMS Sultan in Hampshire and MOD Caledonia in Rosyth.

The competency-based assessment process assesses whether you have the qualities to successfully become a rating, once you’ve completed your training. You can expect the following:

The course is designed to give you an introduction to life and work in the Royal Navy, including:

Your initial Naval training programme
Our ethos and values
Kit, maintenance, drills, discipline, teamwork and personal responsibilities
The working environment of a surface warship or submarine
Fitness standards and healthy living
The opportunity to speak to Royal Navy personnel

You will also have to successfully complete some fitness tests:

Swim 50 metres in under four minutes, wearing a swimming costume, and without touching the bottom or sides of the pool. You must enter and exit the pool unaided and without using steps
The Initial Naval Training Fitness Assessment based on your age and gender with 25% of the time added on

You must pass these tests to confirm you are ready to enter the Royal Navy.

After this you will get an Introduction to Initial Military Fitness in the gymnasium environment. At the same time it's an opportunity for you to experience life in the Royal Navy and be sure you're prepared for the challenges ahead.