At a glance
You'll super-charge your training and development within one of our most elite teams. With real responsibility from day one, you’ll maintain, service, and inspect the most advanced kit on the planet.
Profession
Engineering Accelerated Apprentice Rating
Fast-track your career and work with the team that keeps our advanced aircraft, warships, and equipment ready for action.
- £37,700 - £58,000
- GCSEs
- Engineering
- Rating level
£37,700
Starting salary after training
Merit
The minimum diploma grade you need
£54,500
Earn over this amount as you progress
Register
Route your way to EngTech and IEng
Free
Medical and dental care
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
I’ve always loved to tinker with things and have had an interest in mechanical engineering for years, it’s great to be part of a professional team that keep the squadron flying
Profession details
What you could do
Joining the Royal Navy as the Engineering Accelerated Apprentice Rating means getting stuck in from day one. Every day, you’ll be solving complex challenges and taking part in highly classified operations. Unlike engineering in the civilian world, it won’t take long for you to jump on some of the most sophisticated kit in existence. Engineering Accelerated Apprentice Ratings can go on to specialise in marine engineering, weapons engineering, air engineering, communications systems engineering, or the Submarine Service.
Your role
- Find a solution to whatever problem comes your way, working with your team in challenging environments and high-pressure situations.
- Be a key part of the immense engineering effort that goes into powering our ships, keeping every operation on track, and making some essential missions possible.
- Find innovative and resourceful solutions to complex problems, applying the engineering skills and knowledge you gain, in a world where there is no such thing as standard.
- Get your hands on of some of the most sophisticated equipment on the planet, working with your team, and under the guidance of the Engineer Officer.
- Complete daily rounds, checking equipment to ensure the ship remains operational. You’ll need to be precise and pay attention to detail, because even the smallest oversight can have a big impact on the rest of the ship.
Pay & benefits
- A starting salary of over £37,000, rising to in excess of £58,000 as your career progresses
- An excellent non-contributory pension scheme – we pay into it for you, so you don’t have to sacrifice any salary
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year – plus public holidays
- Free medical and dental care
- Forces Help to Buy scheme – a 0% loan to get you on, or further up, the housing ladder
- Amazing opportunities, including world travel and adventurous training for two weeks every year
- Free gym and sports, from football to kayaking to kite-surfing
- Subsidised travel, accommodation and food
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- Professional qualifications
Opportunities open to you
- The potential to gain a Foundation Degree in Engineering through the University of Portsmouth as you qualify for professional promotion
- Streamlined route to registration as EngTech and IEng with a professional body
Skills you'll develop
- Use your natural aptitude for fixing things, on a massive scale.
- Gain a firm grounding in electrical and mechanical engineering principles, and an opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of nuclear reactor theory.
- You’ll learn to maintain and operate some of the most cutting-edge kit on the planet.
- Learn to maintain and operate some of the most cutting-edge kit on the planet.
- Develop your natural aptitude for fixing things by working on advanced electronic and mechanical systems.
Eligibility
- You need to be aged 17 to 39
- A minimum of three GCSEs (or equivalent) at grade 4 or above including English Language, Mathematics and at least one science
- In eligibility; minimum of 72 UCAS points these can be accrued from either GCE A/AS levels (or equivalent) or National Diplomas (e.g., BTEC)
- You must be a United Kingdom citizen or British Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
- Minimum height of 145cm for General Service, 157cm for Submarine Service
- A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
Skills & interests
- A quick thinker, with a passion for working with the latest equipment and technology
- A problem-solver who can work well as part of a team
- An affinity for aircraft and avionics
- Enthusiasm for fixing and maintaining electronic and mechanical systems
Joining process
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
Step 1
Submit an application
Once you’ve registered your interest in a Profession, and have satisfied some basic eligibility criteria, you will be sent an online application form.
Step 2
Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA)
You’ll be tested on: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension. You will need to attempt all sections of the DAA.
To help you prepare, you can practise the DAA.
Step 3
Interview
A formal Selection Interview to confirm suitability of your chosen Profession followed by discussion of your preferred roles that are available within that Profession, including Submarine Service It will also cover the initial stages of the Security application. This is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform.
Step 4
Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
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.
Step 5
Start training
Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at HMS Raleigh to commence your initial training. Allocation to a specific role within your chosen profession will occur during the latter part of initial training.
Got a question?
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