Royal navy submarine service
Hi, i'm thinking about applying for the royal navy submarine service. I origionally wanted to go in for general service, but the waiting list is ages for this, and for sub's its much shorter. Also, there's a 5k golden hello when you join, and the rate of pay is better.
Just wondered if anyone else is considering the submarine service, or if anyone has any experience of it, do you have any advice? Ta
Just wondered if anyone else is considering the submarine service, or if anyone has any experience of it, do you have any advice? Ta
I applied for Marines and there were many applying for Submariner. They get extra pay when on Subs, although if you've not applied yet it'l take you about 7-8 months to be fully processed.
Are you in any way Claustrophobic?
Do you hate the idea of sleeping in someone elses bed and not having room for your personal possesions?
If you answered yes to either question, its not for you.
I wasn't/am not a submariner but my mates dad was for 9 years and he has told me a fair bit about it.
Do you hate the idea of sleeping in someone elses bed and not having room for your personal possesions?
If you answered yes to either question, its not for you.
I wasn't/am not a submariner but my mates dad was for 9 years and he has told me a fair bit about it.
My cousin is a submariner and I've worked with a few who used to be. It is something you either are or are not. There doesn't seem to be any halfway house on it at all. Some guys can cope with the high pressure, away for months at a time, very limited communications with anyone, no privacy, no natural light and not actually knowing where you are for weeks / months at a time. The guys I know who are ex-submariners all left because they wanted to be with their wives and children more than the job allowed. That said, they had been to some very interesting places and enjoyed the high pressure job (mostly) when they served.
for a start dont join the submarine service for the money.
As been said you either have what it takes or you dont.
You wont get the golden hello until youve passed your BSQ anyway. And its taxed and has a 4 year return of service attached to it. So after tax works out a grand a year so its definitely not worth it for money alone.
Also its a bit of a myth that submariners are financially loads better off due to sub pay. When you are along side you will be living ashore and will have to pay food and accommodation which wipes out a huge chunk of your submarine pay.
Hot bunking is mostly a trainee thing. And almost always on fleet boats. Bombers have plenty of bunks.
Yes they are cramped on board but to be frank, you dont need much space when your away. You dont have much time to yourself and when your in bed youll be asleep/reading/watching porn/******* so you dont need any space.
But then in subs its a "work hard, play hard" mentality and "operational not decorational". So when your back home you tend to find they will do thier best to let you have time off, long weekends etc etc etc. You will find its a much more professional environment than on "skimmers/targets" yet is also much closer bond as a team. You wont do stuff for no reason on subs where as often on skimmers you do pointless tasks for no good reason.
Also once a submariner, always a submariner!
As been said you either have what it takes or you dont.
You wont get the golden hello until youve passed your BSQ anyway. And its taxed and has a 4 year return of service attached to it. So after tax works out a grand a year so its definitely not worth it for money alone.
Also its a bit of a myth that submariners are financially loads better off due to sub pay. When you are along side you will be living ashore and will have to pay food and accommodation which wipes out a huge chunk of your submarine pay.
Hot bunking is mostly a trainee thing. And almost always on fleet boats. Bombers have plenty of bunks.
Yes they are cramped on board but to be frank, you dont need much space when your away. You dont have much time to yourself and when your in bed youll be asleep/reading/watching porn/******* so you dont need any space.
But then in subs its a "work hard, play hard" mentality and "operational not decorational". So when your back home you tend to find they will do thier best to let you have time off, long weekends etc etc etc. You will find its a much more professional environment than on "skimmers/targets" yet is also much closer bond as a team. You wont do stuff for no reason on subs where as often on skimmers you do pointless tasks for no good reason.
Also once a submariner, always a submariner!
I have been told that the RN is desperate for Engineers and Submariners, so they want to push these through very quickly. If the only reason you are doing it, is for the money and the easiest shortcut of getting in, they I can't see you getting through. You need to have a passion for it. By all means go for it, but think long and hard why!
flugelr
Are you in any way Claustrophobic?
Do you hate the idea of sleeping in someone elses bed and not having room for your personal possesions?
If you answered yes to either question, its not for you.
I wasn't/am not a submariner but my mates dad was for 9 years and he has told me a fair bit about it.
Do you hate the idea of sleeping in someone elses bed and not having room for your personal possesions?
If you answered yes to either question, its not for you.
I wasn't/am not a submariner but my mates dad was for 9 years and he has told me a fair bit about it.
If you've answered yes to either question then don't join the Navy atall!
I'm not a submariner, doesn't float my boat, but I know a load of lads who are and they love it. Though, from the stories, I honestly don't know what it is that they love about it.
I was in the Sumarine Service for 6 years, and although i'm proud of my time in the service and have plenty of stories to tell, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they go in at officer level.
I found in general the ratings/nco's are looked down upon by the officers, and by the end of my time, I can truly say I felt demoralised and that I was a lower class of person than an officer. They talk to you very condescendingly.
It probably doesnt help many of the ratings are complete idiots, especially in the sonar branch but I realy felt that by joining at this level, the hierarchy surpressed peoples ambitions at almost every level and although there is a career path to follow, its very much the path they want you to lead, and not so much about reaching your full potential.
I left the service in 2004, at a time when many of my shipmates were leaving with the same gripe. During the last year in the service we were all constantly told there was nothing out there for us, that we were making a terrible mistake leaving the navy etc. Some succumbed and withdrew their notice, but the ones who went through with it and left the service have never looked back. We are all now professionals and enjoying very exciting careers. Teachers, company directors, engineers etc.
To sum it up, join as an officer yes, as a rating, only if you want to feel like your a 2nd class citizen!
I found in general the ratings/nco's are looked down upon by the officers, and by the end of my time, I can truly say I felt demoralised and that I was a lower class of person than an officer. They talk to you very condescendingly.
It probably doesnt help many of the ratings are complete idiots, especially in the sonar branch but I realy felt that by joining at this level, the hierarchy surpressed peoples ambitions at almost every level and although there is a career path to follow, its very much the path they want you to lead, and not so much about reaching your full potential.
I left the service in 2004, at a time when many of my shipmates were leaving with the same gripe. During the last year in the service we were all constantly told there was nothing out there for us, that we were making a terrible mistake leaving the navy etc. Some succumbed and withdrew their notice, but the ones who went through with it and left the service have never looked back. We are all now professionals and enjoying very exciting careers. Teachers, company directors, engineers etc.
To sum it up, join as an officer yes, as a rating, only if you want to feel like your a 2nd class citizen!
Call the Shrewsbury AFCO, there was a Submariner there who can give you the best advice.
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App
(edited 11 years ago)
Original post by Drewski
A 3 yr old thread does not need reviving.
A thread is a thread and can be revived anytime anyone wishes to revive it Drewski.
It may not help the original person who started the thread, but it will help anyone searching for things on this subject and could be useful.
This is exactly how threads are supposed to work. They may lie dormant for months or even years, but anyone can add anything at anytime. Thats the beauty of a thread.
My advice Drewski.... get out more and dont just comment on threads for the sake of it!
I would agree up to a certain point with both Drew and Ex-Sub and I think this particular thread is the exception to the rule of not resurrecting threads, purely because I don't think there have been many - if any - Submariner threads in a very long time.
Generally I think it's more prudent to create a new thread if the last one is over a year or so old since the information may well (and probably is) out of date and would only serve to confuse the matter for people who click the thread to reply to it and have to wade through x-number of pages before getting to the up to date question; especially if the original question or theme was controversial or awkward.
In this case the OP has probably already applied to join or is doing something completely different!
Generally I think it's more prudent to create a new thread if the last one is over a year or so old since the information may well (and probably is) out of date and would only serve to confuse the matter for people who click the thread to reply to it and have to wade through x-number of pages before getting to the up to date question; especially if the original question or theme was controversial or awkward.
In this case the OP has probably already applied to join or is doing something completely different!
I was in the navy also and ex-submariner does speak a lot of truth in his statements. A LOT of idiots join the armed forces in general and there's a LOT of bullying also. If anyone wants to ask me any questions then feel free to PM me. I'm now going to hopefully start studying to be a teacher and the civilian life to me is a lot better.
Hi all existing or ex-submariners, I am interested in joining the submariners in the Navy as it seems very challenging and interesting. I will be doing my A Levels first and gaining UCAS points to go in as an officer like you suggest is best. But what I want to ask is if you would provide a written commentary of a day in the life of a submariner so I can get information 'straight from the horses mouth' as they say. I am under no illusion that this is in any way an easy job for the money (I am not doing it just for the money) or easy in any way at all but information is always better from those that have actually experienced it rather than from the glorified brochures that are provided. Also how you felt and coped mentally in the sub conditions Hope you can help. Regards G.
(edited 10 years ago)
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Becoming an pilot within the RAF
- Can I join the Royal Navy with these qualifications?
- Computers
- LASIK and Transferring within the British Armed Forces
- UK military work experience
- No such thing as a well paid Biology/Biological sciences job?
- Nuclear Engineering - Is it worth doing a degree apprenticeship?
- no idea what to study.
- History dissertation
- What degree is best for this job?
- Eczema Royal Navy
- How many days a week do you do phys in RN basic
- ADD and Royal navy
- RAF Medical Officer
- Royal Navy AIB
- I don't have a plan
- Which uni is better?
- Royal Navy Eye sight
- Private Pilot License in RAF
- A-Levels for IT
Latest
Trending
Last reply 3 months ago
How can I go about appealing my army application after medically unfit report?Trending
Last reply 3 months ago
How can I go about appealing my army application after medically unfit report?
