Royal Navy Initial Training Period and Further Training
Royal Navy Training falls into two areas:
- Initial training, that undertaken by officers, ratings, and other ranks prior to joining the active service
- Further training, who those who are already in active service.
This article only considers initial training.
Standard Initial Training Period
Here we details the Standard Initial Training Period (SITP) undertaken by Ratings and Other Ranks for Personnel Joining the Royal Navy.
The SITP varies across specialisations and is the theoretical aggregate of the time that a rating or other rank spends undergoing the various components of initial training, assuming a smooth flow through the system and including an element for leave.
Warfare Branch SITP
Warfare Specialist – 7 months
Warfare Specialist Sensors (Submarine) – 12 months
Warfare Specialist Tactical (Submarine) – 11 months
Mine Warfare Specialist – 7 months
Communications Information Systems Specialist – 9 months
Communications Information Systems Specialist (Submarine) – 12 months
Hydrographic and Meteorological (H) Specialist -7 months
Hydrographic and Meteorological (M) Specialist – 6 months
Seaman Specialist – 10 months
Naval Airman (Survival Equipment) – 15 months
Naval Airman (Aircraft Handler) – 7 months
Aircraft Controller – 10 months
Direct Entry Diver 9 months
Direct Entry Communications Technician – 24 months
Engineering Branch SITP
Artificer Apprentice – 48 months
Air Engineering Technician – 14 months
Engineering Technician (Marine or Weapon Engineering) – 7 months
Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering Submarines) – 12 months
Engineering Technician (Weapon Engineering Submarines) – 14 months
Logistics Branch SITP
Logistician (Writer) – 7 months 2 weeks
Logistician (Chef) – 10 months
Logistician (Steward) – 6 months 2 weeks
Logistician (Supply Chain) – 6 months 2 weeks
Medical Branch SITP
Dental Nurse – 8 months
Medical Assistant -13 months
Student Naval Nurse – 39 months
Medical Technician – 42 months
Direct Entry Naval Nurse – 3 months
Royal Marines SITP
Recruit training 32 weeks
Bugler 105 weeks (7 terms)
Musician 135 weeks (9 terms)
Royal Navy Return of Service (ROS)
When Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel undertake training, studies the Naval Service requires a return on its investment.
The normal requirement is that individuals complete an effective period of service called a Return of Service (ROS). ROS is defined as a period of time that an individual who has undertaken a course of funded training, taken up a secondment or placement within industry or been assigned into a designated command appointment shall be required to serve in order to give a reasonable return on the investment made by the MOD
Royal Navy Return of Service for Initial Training
All new recruits enlisting in the Naval Service, who have not previously enlisted, have a statutory right to claim discharge within their first six months of service, provided that they have completed a minimum four weeks’ service (excluding leave periods and any forfeited service) from their date of entry, or until the day before their 18th birthday, if this comes after the end of the six month period.
For ratings and other ranks, a ROS is required to consolidate an individual’s training and give a reasonable return on the investment made by the Service. Having completed six months’ service, or reached the age of 18 (if this comes after the end of the six month period), and subject to the exceptions that below ratings and other ranks become eligible to submit an application for Early Termination 2½ years after completion of Phase 1 and Phase 2 Training. This is commonly known as the Minimum Time to Serve (MTS).
The exceptions to the 2½ year rule are Student Naval Nurses and Medical Technicians who must complete a minimum of 3 and 3½ years respectively from the end of the SITP.
The MTS period cannot run concurrently with the notice period. An individual must complete the MTS period before they become eligible to apply for Early Termination
When a rating or other rank voluntarily transfers from one specialisation to another and therefore undergoes two periods of initial training, the first SITP or point of reaching the active service, if completed, is to be used in determining their earliest release date.
Return of Service General Points
ROS Starting Point. Whilst a training ROS will normally commence on the completion of the course, the ROS obligation is incurred from the start date of the course and may be applied, subject to service needs, at any time, irrespective of the final course outcome.
Concurrency. All periods of training ROS, whether for initial or further training, together with any time an individual is committed to serve as part of their Service engagement, will run concurrently unless otherwise specified.
ROS Waivers. Requests for a ROS waiver will be considered on a case by case basis. Early release from a ROS commitment is not a right and should therefore not be relied upon if applying for civilian employment. Individuals must not accept an offer of employment which would commence earlier than the end date of the ROS period until their application for a ROS waiver is approved officially.
Royal Navy Basic Training Period
Before you start to consider leaving the Naval Service you will have to complete basic training. The Royal Navy Initial Training Period is 10 weeks and is normally conducted at RMS Raleigh but in recent months training has also been taking place at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth due to the demand for new places caused by the Covid-19 Coronavirus.
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