At a glance
Take a step out of your comfort zone. Push yourself further. You don’t even need any previous Naval experience, just the commitment to complete your Basic Training alongside your day job.
Job Role
Engineering Technician (Direct Entry) Reserve
Learn management and leadership techniques in an environment that’s far removed from any office, and excel in a career that runs alongside your day job.
- No qualifications
- Surface Fleet
- Royal Naval Reserve
- Rating level
Pension
Membership of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme
Training
Commitment with civilian recognition
Paid Leave
Proportionate to attendance
Travel
All around the world
Tax-Free
Annual bounty potential
Protected
Pay if you’re mobilised
The Royal Naval Reserve gives me the opportunity to travel and to carry out practical engineering and maintenance again.
Role details
What you’ll do
As an Engineering Technician (Direct Entry) in the Royal Navy Reserve means you'll work with fellow Royal Navy and Reserve engineers conducting operational maintenance and repair on our state of the art warships and weapons systems. Whether working across the UK or in overseas ports, your commitment will open up extraordinary responsibilities and opportunities like never before, in some of the most challenging and rewarding environments imaginable.
Your role
- Complete your Initial Training (INT) and then join your fellow Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Navy engineers in maintaining the warships and weapons of the service
- Start as a Probationary Leading Engineering Technician and work to gain a promotion
- Depending on the nature of your engineering experience, specialise as either a Marine or Weapon Engineer
- Work throughout the UK and across the world
- Work as part of a team dedicated to keeping Royal Navy assets operationally ready
Pay & benefits
- Pay for each day worked
- Salary equivalent to the OR4-1 pay scale
- Paid for annual leave, proportionate to the number of days you work
- Membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
- Access to the Royal Navy’s superb sports and fitness facilities
- Adventurous Training opportunities
Skills for life
- Dramatically boost your skills and knowledge to advance your future civilian career
- Gain nationally accredited qualifications
Skills you’ll develop
- Determination, discipline, confidence and teamwork
- Responsibility, time management, organisational and leadership skills
Eligibility
- Must be aged 18 to 40 when you start training
- Hold a level 3 (HNC) or higher in an Engineering discipline, accredited by a UK Engineering institution
- Be registered with a UK Engineering institution at or above Level 3 (Eng Tech)
- Have a minimum of two years practical employment experience in an engineering related position within five years of applying
- Must be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen, who has lived in the UK continuously for the past five years prior to applying, or a Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
- Have a healthy range for Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Pass a written and oral Level 3 technical scenario examination
- Pass the Naval Swimming Test
Skills & Interests
- Enthusiastic and competent technician
- Team player
- Problem solver
- Able to commit to 24 days through the year (not consecutively)
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 fill in an online application form. 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 your nearest Armed Forces Career Office (AFCO) for an interview, 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. If successful at this point, you will be invited to attend the technical interview and scenario examination board. 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 or Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC). 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