Navy Pay & Training

[ElSupremo]

Ok, so I'm tempted to apply to the Navy (and/or the RAF) to fly. I'm a graduate in law and I'm currently studying for a post-graduate diploma in law (i.e. the professional qualification to be a solicitor). I have a few questions in regards to training and pay in regards to the Navy.

As a graduate, I've read that I would enter the Navy as an Officer with basic pay starting at £28-£31. When does this start? Do you have to complete training first? Obviously if I applied to be a pilot I'd have to go through few years of specialist training - how much would I get paid during this period? If I applied to be a non-flying officer, what sort of training is involved, how long does it take and how much would I get paid at that point? Additionally, how difficult is it to obtain promotions?

I appreciate that this looks like that I'm asking greedy questions about money but unfortunately it's a question which I have to ask (especially as I may be turning down a career in law which is traditionally well paying).

Many thanks for your time!

[minigundiplomat]

As a graduate, I've read that I would enter the Navy as an Officer


Likely, but not absolute. There are plenty of non-graduate officers in all three services, and plenty of non-commissioned types with degrees. Worth bearing in mind.

[NickGooseBrady]

Passing the Admiralty Interview Board or OASC for that matter, requires a certain amount of initiative.


Careers : Royal Navy (http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.6022)

[Mr C Hinecap]

ElSupremo - didn't you send your application paperwork off a couple of months ago? For the RAF?

[ElSupremo]

Nope, not yet. I was asking questions on this forum a few months ago but I haven't yet applied to either the Navy or RAF (I'm going to wait until I finish this year in uni).

[taxydual]

El

You may need to ask yourself some questions.

What comes first

Flying then Pay

or

Pay then Flying.

Once you've got that sorted, I'm sure you'll make the right decision.

Good luck either way.

ps Please don't sue me for wrong advice.

[onlywatching]

To answer a few of your questions, if you were to join the Royal Navy as an Officer, as you are a graduate you would be a Sub-Lieutenant on entry to BRNC, maybe with a year or 2 seniority, and would be paid at that rate exactly as those who have left training. I don't have the figures to hand unfortunately, but they shouldn't be too hard to find. This starts as soon as you step through the door, no qualifying period beforehand.

You would be paid from the same pay scale as everybody else of that rank and seniority, there is no lesser pay during any training. However if you were to join as a pilot you would not recieve flying pay until award of wings, which may be a few years after joining.

As for the training in non-flying jobs, it depends entirely on what branch you join, but be advised that if you have any intention on doing Law within the RN it is much much easier from the Logistics branch. In theory you can do it from any branch, but it is extremely rare as it doesn't fit neatly with the other branch structures and career profiles. At the moment Naval Barristers are doing a lot of work in Operational Law, International Maritime Law, Law of Armed Conflict and such, and tend to do a couple of jobs in a legal post before going back to their original branch for a job, then back to law and so on.

If you were to join as a Sub-Lieutenant (Fg Off) you would be automatically promoted to Lieutenant (Flt Lt) after 3 years seniority in rank, so if you joined with 1 year in the bag, then after 2 years service. After that you need 6 years as a Lieutenant to be eligible for promotion to Lieutenant Commander (Sqn Ldr), but that is by merit.

I hope this helps.:ok: