Officer Corps of the Royal Navy
Encyclopedia
The Officer Corps of the Royal Navy is the cadre of personnel holding a commission from the Sovereign appointing them in a position of authority in the Royal Navy
.
Direct entrants are recruited as civilians and undertake a full course of training to become employable.
Professional entrants are individuals who have qualified professionally in the civilian environment and their employment in the RN will use these qualifications. These are Doctors, Dentists, Nursing Officers and Chaplains.
The Upper Yardman scheme allows for ratings identified as potential officers to be selected for commissioning training and operates in two ways. An Upper Yardman under 30 years of age will join a Direct Entry class, undertakes the same training path and is otherwise treated as a Direct Entrant. Candidates for UY can transfer to any specialisation in the officer corps.
The Senior Upper Yardman scheme allows for very experienced ratings identified as potential specialist officers to be commissioned. Candidates for the SUY scheme will be over 35 years of age and undertake a short training period at Dartmouth before being employed within the same specialisation as their rating career.
Initial Officer Training is undertaken at Britannia Royal Naval College
, Dartmouth and at Sea undergoing Initial Sea Training. Junior Officers are appointed to seagoing ships for Common and Specialist Fleet Time and will then undertake specialist training as appropriate to their branch.
There is a general view of a two stage career where one is employed in predominantly operational roles in the early stage of a career, and then predominantly strategic management in the later stage.
leading to a first complement job in a surface ship. Junior Submarine Warfare Officers undertake training at the Submarine School at HMS Raleigh
in Plymouth before being appointed to a complement job in a submarine. The JWO is responsible for navigation
and bridge watchkeeping, where they will ensure the navigational safety of all ship operations on behalf of the Captain
.
Following the first complement job a junior officer may be further employed in bridge watchkeeping duties in ships or submarines or may sub-specialise. The available sub-specialisations include Mine Clearance Diving, Hydrography and Meteorology, Fighter Control, Frigate Navigation or submarine warfare with some of these earning a notification in the Navy List
.
Career development leads to the Principal Warfare Officer, advanced submarine warfare or Advance Hydrography and Meteorology training. The PWO will fight the ship on behalf of the Captain, deciding what targets to engage and in what order; directing the naval rating
s in their operation of weapons and sensors. With experience as a PWO further development increases the individuals specialisation and employability.
Some warfare officers will specialise in aviation at an early stage, leading to employment in the Fleet Air Arm although there are opportunities to undertake PWO training.
The warfare branch also acts as the nominal branch of Air Traffic Control Officers and for specialist officers commissioned in the SUY scheme who are not in the Logistics or Engineer branches. These SUY Officers need not qualify as watchkeepers however will not be considered for Sea Command if they have not. This category includes Physical Trainers, Naval Police Officers and Aviation officers.
s to conduct preventive and corrective maintenance. Engineer Officers are responsible to the Captain
for the operational capability of the platform and as such form part of the Command Team. Engineers are also widely employed in the Defence Equipment & Support
engaged in Logistic support, procurement or capability development and in the United Kingdom
Ministry of Defence
, supporting the Fleet or other elements of the British Armed Forces
.
Engineer Officers specialise in one of five sub-branches that serve as a career alignment throughout their career; Weapon Systems, Marine Systems, Aviation Engineering, Information Systems and Training Management.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
.
Recruiting and training
There are three main routes of entry to the Officer Corps; Direct Entry, Professional Entry and the Upper Yardman scheme.Direct entrants are recruited as civilians and undertake a full course of training to become employable.
Professional entrants are individuals who have qualified professionally in the civilian environment and their employment in the RN will use these qualifications. These are Doctors, Dentists, Nursing Officers and Chaplains.
The Upper Yardman scheme allows for ratings identified as potential officers to be selected for commissioning training and operates in two ways. An Upper Yardman under 30 years of age will join a Direct Entry class, undertakes the same training path and is otherwise treated as a Direct Entrant. Candidates for UY can transfer to any specialisation in the officer corps.
The Senior Upper Yardman scheme allows for very experienced ratings identified as potential specialist officers to be commissioned. Candidates for the SUY scheme will be over 35 years of age and undertake a short training period at Dartmouth before being employed within the same specialisation as their rating career.
Initial Officer Training is undertaken at Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College
Britannia Royal Naval College is the initial officer training establishment of the Royal Navy, located on a hill overlooking Dartmouth, Devon, England. While Royal Naval officer training has taken place in the town since 1863, the buildings which are seen today were only finished in 1905, and...
, Dartmouth and at Sea undergoing Initial Sea Training. Junior Officers are appointed to seagoing ships for Common and Specialist Fleet Time and will then undertake specialist training as appropriate to their branch.
Specialisation
Officers enter the service in one of the available branches; Warfare, Engineer, Logistics, Medical, with each of these are a range of sub-specialisations. Entry into a sub-specialisation may define career direction or may only be for a short period.There is a general view of a two stage career where one is employed in predominantly operational roles in the early stage of a career, and then predominantly strategic management in the later stage.
Warfare
Specialist Fleet Training for Junior Warfare Officers concentrates on shiphandling, seamanship and bridge watchkeeping. The Initial Warfare Officers (IWO) course is undertaken at the Maritime Warfare SchoolHMS Collingwood
Three ships and one shore establishment of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Collingwood, after Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood, 1st Baron Collingwood....
leading to a first complement job in a surface ship. Junior Submarine Warfare Officers undertake training at the Submarine School at HMS Raleigh
HMS Raleigh
Six ships and one shore establishment of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Raleigh, after Sir Walter Raleigh:*HMS Raleigh was a 32-gun fifth rate, previously the American . She was captured in 1778 by HMS Unicorn and HMS Experiment and was commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Raleigh...
in Plymouth before being appointed to a complement job in a submarine. The JWO is responsible for navigation
Navigation
Navigation is the process of monitoring and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another. It is also the term of art used for the specialized knowledge used by navigators to perform navigation tasks...
and bridge watchkeeping, where they will ensure the navigational safety of all ship operations on behalf of the Captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
.
Following the first complement job a junior officer may be further employed in bridge watchkeeping duties in ships or submarines or may sub-specialise. The available sub-specialisations include Mine Clearance Diving, Hydrography and Meteorology, Fighter Control, Frigate Navigation or submarine warfare with some of these earning a notification in the Navy List
Navy List
A Navy List or Naval Register is an official list of naval officers, their ranks and seniority, the ships which they command or to which they are appointed, etc., that is published by the government or naval authorities of a country....
.
Career development leads to the Principal Warfare Officer, advanced submarine warfare or Advance Hydrography and Meteorology training. The PWO will fight the ship on behalf of the Captain, deciding what targets to engage and in what order; directing the naval rating
Naval rating
A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy, subordinate to Warrant Officers and Officers hence not conferred by commission or warrant...
s in their operation of weapons and sensors. With experience as a PWO further development increases the individuals specialisation and employability.
Some warfare officers will specialise in aviation at an early stage, leading to employment in the Fleet Air Arm although there are opportunities to undertake PWO training.
The warfare branch also acts as the nominal branch of Air Traffic Control Officers and for specialist officers commissioned in the SUY scheme who are not in the Logistics or Engineer branches. These SUY Officers need not qualify as watchkeepers however will not be considered for Sea Command if they have not. This category includes Physical Trainers, Naval Police Officers and Aviation officers.
Engineer
Engineer Officers are responsible for the material condition of the various aspects of maritime platforms: Ships, Submarines and Naval Aircraft and as such lead teams of naval ratingNaval rating
A Naval Rating is an enlisted member of a country's Navy, subordinate to Warrant Officers and Officers hence not conferred by commission or warrant...
s to conduct preventive and corrective maintenance. Engineer Officers are responsible to the Captain
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
for the operational capability of the platform and as such form part of the Command Team. Engineers are also widely employed in the Defence Equipment & Support
Defence Equipment & Support
Defence Equipment and Support is the name of the merged procurement and support organisation within the UK Ministry of Defence. It came into being on 2 April 2007, bringing together the MoD's Defence Procurement Agency and the Defence Logistics Organisation under the leadership of General Sir...
engaged in Logistic support, procurement or capability development and in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
, supporting the Fleet or other elements of the British Armed Forces
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces are the armed forces of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.Also known as Her Majesty's Armed Forces and sometimes legally the Armed Forces of the Crown, the British Armed Forces encompasses three professional uniformed services, the Royal Navy, the...
.
Engineer Officers specialise in one of five sub-branches that serve as a career alignment throughout their career; Weapon Systems, Marine Systems, Aviation Engineering, Information Systems and Training Management.