Logistics Officer

Service:Surface Fleet
Branch:Logistics
Level:Officer
Adventure
Organisational
Logistics
Management
Logistics
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High demand role

This is a highly competitive role with a potential long lead time to join.

You may wish to consider joining the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer (Submariner)
or Warfare Officer.

Warfare Officer (Submariner) Warfare Officer

The role at a glance

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£27,000

Your minimum salary from day one

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£33,000

Your approximate salary after two years

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6 weeks

Paid holiday

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Extra pay

For every day spent at sea

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Management

Opportunities early on

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Travel

All around the world

What you’ll do

Logistics is the backbone of the Royal Navy; Logistics Officers are its leaders. Sustaining over 35,000 men and women across the world, every day, is no mean feat. It’s your job to make sure they have what they need, when they need it. That means everything from bullets and bed linen, to fuel and food. Without you, global naval operations would literally grind to a halt. It seems like a gargantuan task, but for a Logistics Officer, it’s all in a day’s work.

If you have questions, talk to us

call us 0345 607 55 55

Your role

  • Day to day, you’ll always be one step ahead of global operations and naval functions, as you manage six months’ worth of equipment and supplies.
  • You’ll lead your team of logisticians to ensure your ship has what it needs to always be operationally effective, whether that’s delivering humanitarian aid or deployment on a combat mission.
  • From supply chain management to accounting, your role is demanding and all-encompassing; you’ll co-ordinate the movements of supplies and personnel on a global scale.
  • You’ll gain a broad range of qualifications that are valued by employers around the world, including internationally recognised Charterships.

What you’ll get

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Study for an MSc or MA
  • Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career develops, like membership to the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Institute of Administrative Management and the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn how to lead people in a highly pressurised environment, mentoring more junior personnel and overseeing some extremely complex projects
  • Gain an in-depth knowledge of everything from supply chain and personnel management, to law and accounting, managing multiple tasks at the same time, while maintaining a cool head and never losing sight of the bigger picture

Career progression

Phase one training

Initial Naval Training at Britannia Royal Naval College

Phase two training

Professional training, learning core logistical principles

First year

Junior Officers Leadership Course, spend time at sea

First promotion – Lieutenant

Deploy as a Deputy Logistics Officer, travel the world

Second promotion – Lieutenant Commander

8-week course, choose from dozens of career paths

What you'll need

Eligibility

  • You must be between 18 and 39
  • You’ll need a minimum of 72 UCAS points. These can be accrued from either GCE A/AS levels (or equivalent) or National Diplomas (e.g., BTEC)
  • You'll need at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent) which must include English and Mathematics
  • A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     

Skills and interests

  • The ability to thrive on responsibility and lead from the front
  • Confidence making key decisions in high-pressure situations
  • A problem-solver, with a common-sense approach, who can work well as part of a team
  • A real sense of adventure, with a high level of physical and mental fitness

Check Eligibility

Starting your career

Joining process

Once you’ve confirmed your eligibility, the joining process is as follows:

  • Submit an application

    Once you’ve registered your interest and have satisfied the basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form

  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)

    You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
    To prepare, you can practise the DAA

  • Interview

    A formal interview to talk through your suitability for the role

  • Medical and eye tests

    These are quite comprehensive and must be completed by one of our Ministry of Defence-approved doctors

  • Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT)

    This involves completing a 2.4km run on a treadmill within a certain time, at a fitness centre near you

  • Interview

    You’ll have a short interview to assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy, and to ensure you’re ready for the Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

  • Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)

    This stage is unique to officers and takes place in two parts. A Pre Recorded Interview (PRI) is an online assessment which assesses your motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer and your awareness of the Royal Navy. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage of the AIB and is an online competency based assessment which will take place on a separate day to the PRI. It will be conducted in a virtual group environment and you will be assessed on your contribution to the team based on your individual performance

more about the joining process

Find out more

Initial training

You’ll spend 30 weeks training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth, focusing on: Military Skills, Maritime Skills and Initial Fleet Time. The military skills phase includes learning leadership and teamwork skills, and the principles of command and management. You will put this into practice during several exercises on Dartmoor.

Aim to get yourself as fit as possible before you arrive. You’ll be doing a lot of physical exercise, and you’ll find it much easier if you’re already in shape.

There's also a swimming test, so if you can't swim, make sure you learn by the time you join us.

more about initial training

Find out more

Professional training

Once you have essential military and maritime skills under your belt, it’s time to start your specialist training, which is 32 weeks of role-specific professional training at the Defence Maritime Logistics School near Plymouth. You’ll focus on:

  • Supply chain management
  • Personnel administration
  • Catering
  • Service law
  • Accounting

more about professional training

Find out more

Request your application
Register your interest
Call 0345 607 55 55
Find your local AFCO

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