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Medical Assistant (Submariner)

Medical Assistant (Submariner)

Working predominantly on submarines, you are responsible for providing routine and emergency medical care to the crew in a challenging environment as part of an elite and highly respected team.

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This role is classed as a RBP Healthcare and Medical Rating Unqualified. As part of your application process, we’ll help you find the most suitable role based on your skills and experience.

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  • £26,334 - £75,000
  • GCSEs
  • Submarine Service
  • Medical
  • Rating level
A colour image shows a Submariner physician taking medical notes in an infirmary. Standing next to him, a female Submariner medical professional relays information. They both wear blue Royal Navy work uniforms with Submariner badges. In the foreground, just out of frame, a third medical professional takes notes; the image has been cropped and only a forearm and clipboard is visible. In the background is a glimpse of a fourth medical Submariner in the middle of their duties.

Role details

You’ll embark on a medical career that offers more variety and adventure than you’d ever experience in civilian medicine. And doing this role as a submariner sets it even further apart.

You’ll need to think on your feet in challenging situations, within the operational confines of a state-of-the-art submarine.

Being a submariner means joining an elite team like no other, with your crewmates looking to you to safeguard their health and wellbeing, whatever the mission, wherever you are in the world.   

  • Work on vessels at the forefront of our nation’s defence: a Vanguard class ballistic missile submarine (our nuclear deterrent) or an Astute class attack submarine.
  • Make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of your crewmates, as you carry out highly classified global missions.
  • Work across all medical departments, learning directly from specialists in a number of fields.
  • You’ll become more than a medic, monitoring the boat’s life support systems such as air and water generation, plus radiation on our nuclear vessels.
  • A £5,000 bonus for earning your 'Dolphins' - the mark of the Submarine Service
  • A starting salary of at least £26,334
  • Potential to earn £75,000 per year as your career progresses (not including Longer Separation Allowance (LSA))
  • Additional pay starting at £1000 per month at sea once qualified as a Submariner
  • £25,000 Retention Payment after serving 6 years as a Submariner
  • An excellent pension scheme
  • Six weeks of paid holiday every year
  • Free medical and dental care

Qualifications you'll gain

  • Study for GCSEs, A-Levels, NVQs or even a degree, paid for by us 
  • Gain specialist vocational qualifications as your career progresses

Skills you'll develop

  • Learn about first aid, environmental and preventative medicine, anatomy and physiology
  • Develop your skills in specialist areas, like pharmacy or nursing
  • You’ll need to be aged 17.5 to 39 (You can start your application from 15 years and 9 months old however you must be at least 17.5 years old on day of entry to basic training)  
  • GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above formally grade C
  • You must be a United Kingdom citizen or British Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
  • You need to be a minimum height of 157cm
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • A quick thinker with a passion for helping people
  • Great team players who thrive on working with others
  • Enthusiasm for working in high-pressure environments
  • Hands-on people who can react quickly in an emergency
I’m constantly learning on the job, much quicker than I would anywhere else. Being a submariner means I’ve learned another whole set of skills too.

Emily

Medical Assistant, Submariner

Career Progression

From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
DAY 1
Following Defence Medical Training you will move on to submariner training
YEAR ONE
All training takes up the first year. Looking after patients on the boat.
FIRST PROMOTION
Accelerated promotion to Leading Hand providing you pass task book
SECOND PROMOTION

Promotion to Petty Officer (Medical Assistant) (POMA) will be on merit. As a POMA you could have an instructor's role

Joining Process

From picking your role to starting on your first day, these are the steps you'll take to join as a rating.

  • Register your interest
  • Complete your application
  • Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) 
  • Interview
  • Candidate Preparation Course (CPC)
  • Start training

Register your interest

Find the right profession and entry level for you, make sure you meet the basic eligibility criteria, and register your interest online.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll receive an email with more details about your chosen profession, along with an invitation to speak with our friendly recruitment team about any questions or concerns you might have.

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