Royal Navy officers are senior managers in the Royal Navy. As well as their managerial and welfare responsibilities, they also have one of the following specialist roles:

• warfare officer - can progress, when qualified, to principal warfare officer, fighter controller, aircrew officer (pilot or observer), mine warfare officer, or clearance diver and hydrographic, meteorological and oceanographic officer

• marine engineer, air engineer and weapon engineer officer - managing teams of technicians who maintain systems and equipment

• logistics officer - managing the delivery of supplies and equipment

• medical officer - providing medical care on ships, submarines and ashore

• dental officer - providing dental care ashore and on larger ships

• nursing officer - providing nursing support for the Royal Navy in the UK and around the world, mainly ashore in peacetime and at sea in war-time

• chaplain - providing spiritual, moral and social support to Royal Navy personnel and their families.

Full detail of the roles can be found on the careers section of the Royal Navy website - see Further Information below.

Hours and Environment

As a Royal Navy officer you will usually be on call 24 hours a day, generally working eight-hour duty shifts. This will include weekends and public holidays. 

You must be prepared to move within the UK and overseas. Whilst serving at sea, you may be separated from your families for several months.

Skills and Interests

To be a Royal Navy officer you need:

• the ability to inspire and motivate your team
• resilience and resourcefulness
• self-discipline, confidence and determination
• the ability to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the men and women in your command  
• excellent communication skills
• physical fitness, stamina and resilience
• to be prepared to operate in combat situations.

Entry

You can enter the Royal Navy as an officer from the age of 17. The upper age limit is usually 26, but there is an higher limit for some roles. You must:

• have a minimum height of 151.5cm
• meet strict eyesight standards
• pass a medical
• meet the Royal Navy nationality and residence requirements.

To apply for Naval College Entry (NCE) you need the following (or equivalent) qualifications:

• five GCSEs (A-C)/S grade (1-3), including English Language and Maths
• two A levels/three H grades.  

If you have a degree you can apply for Direct Graduate Entry.

You will need specific qualifications for some officer roles, for example to become an engineering officer you will need an accredited engineering degree.

For some roles, such as those in medical services, the Royal Navy recruits professionally qualified staff.

You may be able to get financial assistance through sixth-form scholarships, sponsorship or bursaries for degree courses at certain universities.

To be a chaplain you must be ordained, recommended by your church authorities, and usually have had three or more years’ experience of parish work. You will serve initially for six years.

For all officer roles you will need to pass the Admiralty Interview Board at HMS Sultan in Hampshire. This is a two-day assessment which includes:

• gym tasks
• discussion exercises
• interviews
• tests in communication, numeracy, mental agility, spatial orientation and physical fitness.

You can get free leaflets and full information and advice on Royal Navy officer careers by ringing the Royal Navy Career Enquiries helpline listed in Further Information below, or by visiting your local armed forces careers office. Contact details for these are listed in telephone directories under ‘armed services and reserve forces’ and ‘careers advice/careers guidance services’.

Training

You will begin your career as a Royal Navy officer at the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in Devon. Your basic training here will last up to 12 months, depending on your area of specialism. It will include:

• leadership and teamworking skills
• commanding and managing junior personnel
• handling boats. 

As part of the training, you will spend seven weeks at sea on a warship.

You will then do further training in your specialist area. See the careers section of the Royal Navy website for details - there is a link in Further Information below. 

You may be able to add to your skills, experience and knowledge by moving to a new ship or shore base. Opportunities for this are likely to come up every two to three years.

Opportunities

The Royal Navy recruits around 500 new officers each year. You will join on an Initial Commission for 12 years. You may leave during initial training, after giving 14 days notice. After this, it is usually possible to leave after three to five years, depending on the branch.

You will be automatically promoted to Lieutenant, provided that you pass the training and perform to an acceptable level. After that, you could progress to Lieutenant-Commander and beyond if you prove your ability to lead and achieve certain career milestones.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Midshipmen/women and sub lieutenants start at between £15,169 and £21,940 a year, depending on age.
Lieutenants earn from £33,795 and £40,190 a year.
Lieutenant commanders earn from £42,570 to £50,983 a year
Commanders earn between £59,747 and £66,046 a year. 

Deductions may be made if accommodation is provided. Extra allowances are paid for family separation, special service and flying duties.

Further information

Royal Navy and Royal Marines
Palace Barracks
Holywood
Co Down
BT18 9RA
Tel: 028 9042 7040