Supply Chain Logistician

Service:Surface Fleet
Branch:Logistics
Level:Rating,Apprenticeship
Adventure
Hands on
Organisational
Logistics
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The role at a glance

What you’ll do

Logistics is the backbone of the Royal Navy. Sustaining over 35,000 men and women across the world, every day, is no mean feat. Being a Supply Chain Logistician is as the name suggests: you’re right at the heart of this huge operation, part of the essential team who makes sure their crewmates across the Naval Service have everything they need, when they need it. That means everything from bullets to bed linen, to fuel and food. Without you, global naval operations would literally grind to a halt.

If you have questions, talk to us

Your role

  • You’ll be part of an indispensable close-knit team of logisticians who ensure your colleagues and crewmates all over the world have what they need to be operationally effective, whether they’re delivering humanitarian aid or deployed on a combat mission.
  • Learn about managing a complex global supply chain, and how to source the items you need, all over the world
  • Learn additional skills as an Incident Board operator, helping damage-control teams fight fires and floods
  • Gain internationally recognised qualifications, including an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Warehousing and Storage

What you’ll get

Skills for life

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or a degree
  • Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses, such as an Intermediate Apprenticeship in Warehousing and Storage and Level 1 Functional Skills in Maths, English and ICT

Skills you'll develop

  • The ability to lead and manage multiple, high-pressure projects at the same time, being at once proactive and reactive, but never losing your cool head – or sight of the bigger picture
  • You’ll develop teamwork of the highest level and a pin-sharp eye for detail under the most testing conditions, learning the intricacies of global supply chain management

Career progression

What you'll need

Eligibility

  • You’ll need to aged between 16 to 39
  • No qualifications are required for this role
  • 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 
  • Confidence making 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. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform

  • 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

  • Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)

    This four-day induction to life in the Royal Navy, including a Swimming Test and a fitness assessment, is a pass or fail course

  • Start training

    Once you’ve passed a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh


Initial training

Your Royal Navy career begins with 10 weeks’ basic training at HMS Raleigh, a shore base Torpoint, Cornwall. The discipline, teamwork, organisational, firefighting and weapon handling skills you learn here will stay with you right through your career.

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.


Professional training

Once you have essential military and maritime skills under your belt, it’s time to start your specialist training. You’ll embark on the well-respected and internationally recognised Intermediate Apprenticeship. Your training includes:

  • Intermediate Apprenticeship in Warehousing and Storage
  • Level 2 Certificate in Warehousing and Storage 
  • Level 2 Award in Employee Rights and Responsibilities in the Logistics Industry
  • Level 1 Functional Skills in Maths, English and ICT