At a glance
You’ll be in the heart of the action, making key strategic decisions on board some of the most advanced warships on the planet. You’ll lead a specialist team to ensure we have the capabilities vital to protecting our nation’s interests.
Profession
Warfare Officer
You’ll contribute to the success of every mission, and make key strategic decisions on some of the most advanced warships in the world.
- £33,000 - £117,500
- A-Levels / college qualifications
- Warfare
- Officer level
£33,000
Your minimum salary from day one
£41,000
Your approximate salary after two years
6 weeks
Of paid holiday every year
Free
Medical and dental care
Management
Opportunities early on
Travel
All around the world
My job is pretty intense, which is why I love it. There’s never a dull moment, and being responsible for the safety of everyone on board is so rewarding.
Profession details
What you could do
Joining the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer means taking the lead on decision-making across our vessels and managing the dedicated soldiers that shore up our frontline capabilities. You’ll be more operationally active than most, coordinating teams and analysing data to guide your strategic decisions. Warfare Officers can work broadly across teams or specialise in meteorology, intelligence, or the Submarine Service. No matter what, you’ll play a leading role in our defence strategies.
Your role
- Contribute to the success of every mission, using your skills as a seaman, and as a leader, to operate in all conditions. Keeping the crew safe is your remit, so when the unexpected happens, everyone looks to you.
- Be a key part of some essential operations. You might be on a Type 45 Destroyer conducting anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, or escorting a mine hunter that’s sweeping the Persian Gulf.
- Take on real responsibility from day one, using your knowledge and experience as a professional sailor to tackle anything, from navigation, to planning boarding parties.
- React to ever-changing situations, using your tactical skills to achieve a successful outcome, whatever the operation.
Pay & benefits
- A starting salary of over £33,000
- Salary rising to around £41,000 after just two years
- An excellent pension scheme
- Six weeks of paid holiday every year
- Free medical and dental care
- Extra pay for every day spent at sea
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- We’ll make a significant contribution towards GCSEs, Masters degrees, and everything in between
- Gain internationally recognised professional qualifications as your career progresses
Skills you'll develop
- Gain the unique naval leadership and management skills that are highly valued by civilian employers
- Develop an in-depth knowledge of life as a professional seaman, from navigating and manoeuvring, to more advanced war-fighting skills
Eligibility
- You’ll need to be aged 18 to 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 Language and Mathematics
- 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
- An ability to thrive on responsibility and lead from the front
- Confidence making key decisions in high-pressure situations
- Calmness under pressure and a love of teamwork
- A passion for life at sea
Joining Process
From picking your profession to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as an officer.
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)
Depending on Profession applied for and professionally qualified status, 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.
Step 3
Interview
A Career Interview to talk through suitability of your chosen Profession and 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
Medical and Fitness Assessments
This is conducted at one of our Candidate Preparation Centres and will include a Fitness and Medical Assessment.
Step 5
Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)
The AIB is conducted online and made up of two assessments, . A Pre-Recorded Interview (PRI) online assessment that assesses your awareness and motivation to join the Royal Navy as an officer. The Group Planning Exercise (GPE) is the second stage online competency-based assessment which will take place approximately 3 weeks after 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.
Step 6
Start training
Once you’ve passed all eligibility criteria, including a Security Check, you’ll be offered a place at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) to commence your initial training.
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day