Branches: an introduction

The Naval Service has nine branches. The specialist rating and officer roles within them perform a vital function across the five services, enabling each to be operationally effective, wherever they are in the world.

For example, you could be an Air Engineering Technician, working in the Engineering branch for the Fleet Air Arm (service), maintaining Lynx helicopters on a ship.

Or you could be a Medical Officer (Submariner), practising in the Medical branch, keeping your fellow submariners in peak condition in the Submarine Service.

To help you explore roles that fit with your skills and ambitions, each branch’s principle function is summarised below.

Branches at a glance

Warfare

  • Be on the frontline of Naval operations, all over the world
  • Work with cutting-edge weapons, comms and surveillance systems
  • Suits hands-on team players, who can keep a cool head

Logistics

  • Coordinate the movements of everything from weapons to people, across the world
  • Be part of one of the Naval Service’s most active, essential branches
  • Suits highly organised, methodical people, with a meticulous eye for detail

Engineering

  • Maintain the ships, submarines and aircraft that make the Royal Navy a formidable fighting force
  • Work with some of the most advanced weapons, navigation and comms kit on the planet
  • Suits budding engineers at all levels and of all disciplines, with a passion for fixing things

Medical

  • Keep our most vital asset – our people – in the best possible shape
  • Practise medicine in extraordinary, challenging circumstances, anywhere in the world
  • Suits hands-on medical practitioners at all levels who want a medical career with a difference

Aviation

  • Fly and support the Royal Navy’s significant air power, at sea and from shore bases
  • Join the vital team that are Naval Command’s ‘eyes in the sky’
  • Suits effective team players with a passion for flying

Chaplaincy

  • Support our people as they do extraordinary jobs in challenging circumstances, often a long way from home
  • Become a friend, adviser and confidante to everyone, regardless of rank
  • Suits Chaplains who want something different from their parish

Royal Naval Reserve

  • Combine a life of adventure in the Navy with home and work life
  • Support the Naval Service across all functions, learning new transferable skills, while travelling and getting paid for it
  • Suits people who want to add some adventure to their lives

Royal Marines

Even thinking about joining the Royal Marines makes you different. It sets you apart. Click below to see the opportunities available to you.

Read more

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