Test your dentistry expertise outside your civilian practice and find out what it takes to provide first class care for Royal Navy personnel. As a Dental Officer (Reserve), the work you do will be vital to keeping our operations on track.
You’ll have the support of a dedicated team, including a Dental Hygienist and Dental Nurse as you spend 24 days a year looking after the wellbeing of our people, anywhere from a UK shore base to a ship in the Caribbean.
Dental Officer Reserve
Test your dentistry expertise outside your civilian practice and find out what it takes to provide first class care for Royal Navy personnel. As a Dental Officer (Reserve), the work you do will be vital to keeping our operations on track.
- Undergraduate Degree
- Surface Fleet
- Royal Naval Reserve
- Officer level
Role details
- Deliver world class healthcare as part of a highly skilled and motivated team.
- Provide vital support to maritime and wider military operations across the globe.
- Provide support in a range of challenging conditions at sea, on land or in the air. Adapt to a variety of platforms including state of the art warships such as the new Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier.
- Travel the world as part of the front line medical services team.
- Daily rates of pay equivalent to those of full-time personnel
- Annual tax-free bounty subject to meeting the minimum training commitment
- Paid leave in proportion to the number of training days attended
- Automatic membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
- Expenses and allowances when undergoing training
- Access to sports and fitness facilities
- Opportunities for Adventurous Training (AT)
Qualifications you'll gain
- Leadership and management courses from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
- Qualifications based on your role and specialisation
Skills you'll develop
- Determination, discipline and confidence, which will transfer to your civilian career
- Leadership, responsibility, time management and personal organisation skills
- Aged from 21 and up to 55 (or 56 if you're serving or are an ex-regular, when you start training
- 5 GCSEs grades C/4, which must include English Language and Mathematics
- You’ll need a dentistry degree and full General Dental Council registration, without restrictions
- Relevant speciality training with national training number or a Consultant
- A National of the United Kingdom, a Commonwealth citizen or Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
- You need to be within the healthy range for Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Pass the Naval Swimming Test
- An ambitious medical professional
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Quick thinking and calm under pressure
- Caring and compassionate nature
- A team player
- An adventurous spirit
I thought qualifying as a Dental Officer was the hardest thing I’d ever do, but I was wrong. Since I joined the Royal Navy I’ve been challenged more than I imagined possible – it’s been really rewarding.
Career Progression
From responsibilities to pay, find out where this role can take you.
Day One
Complete your militarisation and marinisation training within 10 weeks at HMS Raliegh. This initial stage of development for young officers, designed to build the leadership, discipline, and core military skills required for naval service, before then moving onto Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth for another 30 weeks to further develop these skills.
Professional Training
Develop your chosen profession skills at your respective training establishment dependant on your profession.
First Year
Learn management theory, develop your own style of leadership and experience your first time at sea practicing your role.
First Promotion
Become a Sub – Lieutenant, advance you skills with further training, have an increased responsibility.
Second Promotion
Become a Lieutenant, lead a department and report directly into command.
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
- Presentation
- Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA) and interview
- Join your local unit
- Medical and fitness test
- Admiralty Interview Board (AIB)
- Phase 1 training
- Training
- Confirmation course
Start your application
Find your place in the Royal Navy. Make friends for life, learn new skills and experience the world.
Got a question?
Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day