At a glance
Become a Physiotherapist (Reserve) and you’ll have the opportunity to maintain your civilian career, while also joining our Medical branch, where you’ll dedicate 24 days a year to supporting our personnel.
Job Role
Physiotherapist Reserve
Become a Physiotherapist (Reserve) and you’ll have the opportunity to maintain your civilian career, while also joining our Medical branch, where you’ll dedicate 24 days a year to supporting our personnel.
- Undergraduate Degree
- Surface Fleet
- Royal Naval Reserve
- Officer level
Paid Leave
Proportionate to attendance
Tax-free
Annual bounty for training commitment
Extra
Pay if mobilised
Pension
Excellent pay and promotion prospects as your career progresses
Travel
All around the world
Since I finished my degree I’ve been deployed all over the world, helping some amazing people.
Role details
What you’ll do
Physical fitness is paramount in the Royal Navy. That’s why we need a team that’s dedicated to keeping our people in peak condition and helping them recover from injury.
Become a Physiotherapist (Reserve) and you’ll have the opportunity to maintain your civilian career, while also joining our Medical branch, where you’ll dedicate 24 days a year to supporting our personnel.
Your role
- Deliver world class healthcare as part of a highly skilled and motivated team.
- Provide vital support to maritime and wider military operations across the globe.
- Provide support in a range of challenging conditions at sea, on land or in the air. Adapt to a variety of platforms including state of the art warships such as the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.
- Travel the world as part of the front line medical services team.
Pay & benefits
- Daily rates of pay equivalent to those of full-time personnel
- Annual tax-free bounty subject to meeting the minimum training commitment
- Paid leave in proportion to the number of training days attended
- Automatic membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
- Expenses and allowances when undergoing training
- Access to sports and fitness facilities
- Opportunities for adventurous training (AT)
Skills for life
Qualifications you'll gain
- Leadership and management courses from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
- Qualifications based on your role and specialisation
- Courses to further your career
Skills you'll develop
- Determination, discipline and confidence, which will transfer to your civilian career
- Leadership, responsibility, time management and personal organisation skills
Eligibility
- You must be aged 21 and up to 55, (or 56 if you're serving or an ex-regular), when you start training
- 5 GCSEs grades C/4, which must include English Language and Mathematics
- A Physiotherapist Degree, without restrictions
- Full registration with no restrictions with the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC)
- Fully accredited Chartered Physiotherapist.
- You must be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen, or a Dual National
- You need to be within the healthy range for Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Pass the Naval Swimming Test
Skills & Interests
- Self reliant, well-organised future leaders
- Problem solvers with a keen eye for detail
- Team players
- A willingness to help shipmates
- A high level of physical and mental fitness
Joining Process
From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.
Step 1
Submit an application
Your first step is to request and fill in your online application. If you have any questions beforehand, you can phone us on 0345 600 3222
Step 2
Presentation
You will be invited to attend an Initial Maritime Reserves Presentation (IMRP) at your nearest Unit. This is your chance to have a look around, meet the team, ask any questions and find out about life in the Reserves
Step 3
Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) and interview
You will be invited to an interview, which is normally conducted using your own device over the Shine video platform, where we will check your eligibility and outline the joining process. See more advice here. You will then sit the DAA, which assesses: Verbal Reasoning, Numerical Reasoning, Work Rate, Spatial Reasoning, Electrical Comprehension and Mechanical Comprehension.
To prepare, you can practise the DAA.
You will also be invited to have an interview with the medical recruiting team
Step 4
Join your local Unit
You will then be invited to join your Unit for Attestation. This involves swearing allegiance to His Majesty The King and signing the Official Secrets Act. At this point you’ll be a Phase 0 recruit, and will attend weekly drill nights, however you won’t be able to start formal training until you pass your medical and fitness test
Step 5
Medical and fitness test
The medical tests are carried out by your nearest Ministry of Defence approved doctor, but eye tests can be completed at selected high street centres. The Pre-Joining Fitness Test (PJFT) requires you to complete a 2.4km run on a treadmill at a local approved fitness centre
Step 6
Phase 1 training
You’ll now be a signed-up member of the Royal Naval Reserve as a Phase 1 recruit. At this stage you’ll be given your Royal Navy identification card and uniform, and be able to conduct formal basic training
Step 7
Training
During your Phase 1 training you will learn about life in the Royal Navy. This takes place on weekly drill nights. You’ll also spend two weekends learning about life in the military and what it is like at sea
Step 8
Confirmation course
This two-week course is held at HMS Raleigh. Once you’ve completed this you will go on to specialise in your chosen discipline
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day