Chaplaincy

Provide cadets with invaluable chaplaincy and pastoral support in the Royal Navy environment, making a real difference to their lives.

Reverend Pill Amey, HMS Nelson Chaplain, gives a blessing aboard a ship

Guide our future leaders

As soon as you start, you’ll be part of the Royal Navy family, enjoying its unique sense of teamwork and camaraderie. You will get to make a real difference to the lives of young people, providing URNU Officer Cadets with Pastoral Care, Religious Leadership, Unit Cohesion and Ethical Advice.

You’ll gain qualifications in Command, Leadership and Management and Adventurous Training & Sport. You’ll also have the opportunity to be part of the wider military environment.

A portrait of Pastor Newton Ndlovu. A chaplain onboard of HMS Protector

Keep your Navy-civilian balance

No call-up commitment means you can achieve the right work-life balance, excellent rates of pay and an annual tax-free bounty. You only need to commit a minimum of 24 Reserve Service Days each year.

You’ll have the opportunity to support defence engagement activities at a local and regional level with charities and other religious and faith organisations, while maintaining the balance between your URNU commitments, your work life and your personal life.

Joining Process

Your first step is to check that you meet the eligibility criteria and then contact the Chaplain Recruiter by email: [email protected] or telephone 07811 991822. You will then be invited for an on-line initial interview to determine your eligibility.

If you are considered eligible you will then be invited to attend a residential acquaint visit, to find out more about what chaplaincy in the URNU entails.

You will then need to contact your Endorsing Authority, or their Training Institution as well as make a formal online expression of interest.

A final selection interview with the Chaplain of the Fleet is required if you are fully qualified. If however you are applying to be a Chaplain Cadet during your university studies, the Chaplain Recruiter will liaise with you, the local URNU Commanding Officer and your Training Institution; you will then be interviewed by the local URNU Unit and an experienced Naval Chaplain will be nominated to support you as a mentor.

Initial training

As an URNU Chaplain you will need to attend a Training Officers Course and Advanced Care of Trainees course.

You will also need to attend a Chaplains’ Induction week at Britannia Royal Naval College.

Later on there is an option to participate in the two-week residential training that Royal Naval Reserve chaplains and officers undertake, covering leadership and command skills.

What you'll need

Depending on whether you are already an experienced and qualified minister of religion/chaplaincy practitioner you can apply to be a Chaplain. Or if you have not yet qualified you can become a Chaplain Cadet in the URNU. To be a Chaplain Cadet you need to be studying for accreditation to be a qualified minister of religion or belief leader and a university student for whom a cadetship would form a pastoral placement alongside your vocational training.

You will need to be in the formal training pipeline for accreditation by one of the following faith or belief communities: Christian, Hindu, Humanist or Non-Religious, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh.

You must be a United Kingdom national, or Commonwealth citizen, or Dual National
Able to pass the Royal Naval Fitness Test (RNFT)
Pass the Naval Swimming Test
Hold a full and valid UK Driving Licence

How to apply

To apply, follow the link to our expression of interest form, fill out a few details and we will get in touch with you to progress your application.

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