Naval Careers Service

Last updated
Naval Careers Service
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg
Active1 April 1963 - Present
CountryFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
RoleNaval Recruiting Organisation
Part of British Armed Forces
Navy Command HQ Whale Island, Portsmouth, UK
Commanders
First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Ben Key
Director People and Training & Naval Secretary Rear Admiral Jude Terry
Head of Recruiting & Attraction Royal Navy Captain Stephanie Pearmaine
Insignia
White Ensign
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg

The Naval Careers Service (NCS) is part of the Naval Service in the United Kingdom which includes the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and the Reserve Naval and Marine Forces. RNCS career advisors are responsible for the running of Armed Forces Careers Offices, providing career advice to potential recruits and managing their applications. When required, regular and reserve ranks and rates can be temporarily assigned to the service.

Contents

The Naval Careers Service processes applications to the Royal Navy (both Regular and Reserve), the Royal Marines and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. [1]


Organisation

The Naval Careers Service (NCS) was formed on 1 April 1963 when the Naval Recruiting Service was renamed. [2] It is one of the four components of Her Majesty's Naval Service – alongside the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Reserve Naval and Marine Forces – and is governed by the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council. [3] The service is led by the Captain of Naval Recruiting, now known as Head of Recruiting and Attraction . [4] The service's personnel consist of former Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines and Royal Marines Reserve Warrant Officers, Senior Non-Commissioned Officers and Senior Rates. These personnel hold the named title of Careers Advisor in the NCS, of which there are three ranks – CA3, CA2, CA1 (in order of ascending seniority). [4] Personnel wear the uniform conforming to the rank or rate they held in their regular service, with the addition of the NCS badge. [5] Careers advisers are typically assigned to one of the 48 Armed Forces Careers Offices. [6] [7]

NCS members are subject to the King's Regulations , service law and the provisions of the Armed Forces Act 2006. [8] [3] Service members are classed as Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 and are subject to call-out (mobilisation) in addition to any liability they have as ex-regular service personnel (as recall reserve). [9] RNCS members are also entitled to the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal. [8]

The NCS is by far the smallest of the four components of the Naval Service: in September 2017 it amounted to 180 full-time trained personnel. [10] The Royal Navy had a strength of around 22,500 regular personnel and the Royal Marines around 6,600. [10] The combined Royal Navy and Royal Marine reserves amounted to around 2,700 personnel. [11]

Entry

Applicants are only accepted as direct entrants from the other components of the Naval Service. They must have 12 years service and have held the minimum rank of petty officer (or sergeant in the Royal Marines) for at least two years. [12] Applications may be made whilst serving in the regular forces or within two years of leaving (extended to five years where applicants entered the reserve forces upon end of regular service). [12] The maximum age on entry is 52 and the normal retirement age is 55, which may be extended in exceptional circumstances to 60 years. [12] [13] Additionally all entrants must pass a selection board and have a clean driving licence, no unspent convictions and pass medical fitness checks. [7]

New entrants are always assigned to the CA3 rank, regardless of previous rank. [9] Initial and further training is carried out at the Recruiting and Training Advisory Group (RTAG) in HMS Sultan. [7] Progression is via promotion boards specific to the NCS. [9]

Additionally regular and reserve officers and ratings can be temporarily assigned to the service. Such personnel are generally required to be over 30, present a good image and able to communicate with potential recruits and their parents. These personnel typically serve in an Armed Forces Careers Office, a Royal Navy Careers Information Office, an Officer Careers Liaison Centre or for university presentations and displays. [14]

Role

The role of NCS Career Advisors is to increase awareness of the Naval Service to potential recruits and the general public and to enable the service to meet recruitment targets. Career Advisors interview potential applicants, administer selection tests, check recruits meet eligibility requirements and assist them in completing necessary documentation and process requirements. They may also accompany potential recruits on visits to Royal Navy establishments, attend careers fairs and carry out presentations to schools and colleges and outreach events. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Army</span> Land warfare force of the United Kingdom

The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. As of 2022, the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurkhas, and 28,330 volunteer reserve personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Netherlands Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of the Netherlands

The Netherlands Armed Forces are the military services of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The core of the armed forces consists of the four service branches: the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Royal Netherlands Army, the Royal Netherlands Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee. The service branches are supplemented by various joint support organisations. In addition, local conscript forces exist on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Aruba (AruMil) and Curaçao (CurMil). These operate under the auspices of the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Netherlands Marine Corps. The armed forces are organisationally part of the Ministry of Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British Armed Forces</span> UK military forces

The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, support international peacekeeping efforts and provide humanitarian aid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Canada

The Canadian Armed Forces are the unified military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air elements referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.

Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff</span> British Royal Navy senior admiral

The Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff is deputy to the First Sea Lord and the second highest-ranking officer to currently serve in the Royal Navy and is responsible for personnel and naval shore establishments. Originally titled Second Naval Lord in 1830, the post was restyled Second Sea Lord in 1904. They are based at Navy Command, Headquarters.

First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadet</span> Trainee or candidate to become a military officer

A cadet is an officer trainee or candidate. The term is frequently used to refer to those training to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. Its meaning may vary between countries which can include youths in voluntary youth organisations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Auxiliaries</span> An organized group supplementing the military or law enforcement

Auxiliaries are support personnel that assist the military or police but are organised differently from regular forces. Auxiliary may be military volunteers undertaking support functions or performing certain duties such as garrison troops, usually on a part-time basis. Unlike a military reserve force, an auxiliary force does not necessarily have the same degree of training or ranking structure as regular soldiers, and it may or may not be integrated into a fighting force. Some auxiliaries, however, are militias composed of former active duty military personnel and actually have better training and combat experience than their regular counterparts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">His Majesty's Naval Service</span> Maritime service of the British Armed Forces

His Majesty's Naval Service is the United Kingdom's naval warfare and maritime service. It consists of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines Reserve and Naval Careers Service. The term Naval Service should be distinguished from the "UK Naval Services", which consist of the Naval Service and the Merchant Navy. The Naval Service as a whole falls under the command of the Navy Board, which is headed by the First Sea Lord. This position is currently held by Admiral Sir Ben Key. The Defence Council delegates administration of the Naval Service to the Admiralty Board, chaired by the Secretary of State for Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Navy officer rank insignia</span> Official Royal Navy Officer ranks

These are the official Royal Navy Officer ranks ordered by rank. These ranks are part of the NATO/United Kingdom ranks, including modern and past. Past insignia is in italic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military reserve force</span> Military organization composed of citizens

A military reserve force is a military organization whose members have military and civilian occupations. They are not normally kept under arms, and their main role is to be available when their military requires additional manpower. Reserve forces are generally considered part of a permanent standing body of armed forces, and allow a nation to reduce its peacetime military expenditures and maintain a force prepared for war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Navy</span> Naval component of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces

The Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is the naval arm of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is classed as the country's most vital defence force due to its island geography and is responsible for the maritime defense of the Sri Lankan nation and its interests. The role of the Sri Lanka Navy is to conduct operations at sea for the defence of the nation and its interests and conduct prompt and sustainable combat operations at sea in accordance with the national policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Navy Command (Royal Navy)</span> Military unit

Navy Command is the current headquarters body of the Royal Navy, and as of 2012 its major organisational grouping. It is a hybrid, neither a command, nor simply an installation. Royal Navy official writings describe Navy Command Headquarters both as a physical site, on Whale Island, Hampshire, a collective formed of the most senior RN officers, and as a budgetary grouping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Forces Naval Reserve</span> Military unit

The Naval Reserve is the Primary Reserve component of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN). The primary mission of the NAVRES is to force generate sailors and teams for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations, including: domestic safety operations as well as security and defence missions, while at the same time supporting the Navy's efforts in connecting with Canadians through the maintenance of a broad national presence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Head of the Armed Forces</span>

Head of the Armed Forces is the position of the sovereign of the United Kingdom as commander-in-chief of the British Armed Forces. However, supreme military authority has been delegated by the monarch to the Defence Council of the United Kingdom, a body officially charged with the direction and administration of the Armed Forces.

The United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) is a directorate comprising the Special Air Service, the Special Boat Service, the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, the Special Forces Support Group, 18 (UKSF) Signal Regiment and the Joint Special Forces Aviation Wing, as well as the supporting No. 47 Squadron. In British freedom of information law, "special forces" has been defined as "those units of the armed forces of the Crown and the maintenance of whose capabilities is the responsibility of the Director of Special Forces or which are for the time being subject to the operational command of that Director". The Royal Marine Commandos and the Ranger Regiment are special operations–capable forces, however they do not form part of the UKSF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Officer (armed forces)</span> Person in a position of authority

An officer is a person who holds a position of authority as a member of an armed force or uniformed service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Recruitment Training Agency</span>

The Naval Recruitment Training Agency (NRTA) originally called the Naval Training Department was first established in 1944 as a department within the Admiralty it underwent numerous name changes until 1 April 1995 as a new agency of the Navy Department of the British Ministry of Defence. Its role was to contribute to the operational capability of the United Kingdom Armed Forces by recruiting to the Naval Service, delivering training to the Defence community it was administered by the Chief Executive (NRTA)/Flag Officer, Training and Recruitment it was abolished in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed forces in Wales</span> Overview of the British Armed Forces operating in Wales

The Armed forces in Wales refers to military bases and organisation in Wales or associated with Wales. This includes servicemen and women from Wales and Welsh regiments and brigades of the British Armed Forces.

References

  1. "Royal Navy Jobs | Careers in the Navy & Royal Marines". www.royalnavy.mod.uk. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  2. Privy Council (1965). The Orders in Council for the Regulation of the Naval Service. Harrison and Sons. p. vi.
  3. 1 2 "Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy Chapter One" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  4. 1 2 "Queen's Regulations for the Royal Navy Chapter One" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. pp. 1–3. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  5. "BR3 Volume One Naval Personnel Management Chapter Three" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 20-12. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  6. "BR3 Volume One Naval Personnel Management Chapter Three" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. pp. 20–6. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Pass it on! We need your experience in the Naval Careers Service" (PDF). National Archives. Naval Service. Archived from the original on 1 October 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  8. 1 2 "BR3 Volume One Naval Personnel Management Chapter Three" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 20-11. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "BR3 Volume One Naval Personnel Management Chapter Three" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 20-10. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Royal Navy and Royal Marines Monthly Personnel Situation Report" (PDF). British Government. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  11. "UK Armed Forces Monthly Service Personnel Statistics" (PDF). British Government. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  12. 1 2 3 "BR3 Volume One Naval Personnel Management Chapter Three" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. pp. 20–3. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  13. "BR3 Volume One Naval Personnel Management Chapter Three" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. pp. 20–6. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  14. "BR3 Volume One Naval Personnel Management Chapter 60" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. p. 60-28. Retrieved 31 October 2017.