Warfare Officer

Joining the Royal Navy as a Warfare Officer means making key strategic decisions on board some of the most advanced warships on the planet. You’ll be more operationally active than most Naval personnel as you provide the warfare capabilities that are essential to protecting our nation’s interests, all over the world. From starting as an Officer of the Watch, to becoming a Principal Warfare Officer, the Executive Officer, or the Commanding Officer, you’ll manage a team of dedicated sailors, in a range of unique and challenging environments.

• Contribute to the success of every mission, using your skills as a seaman, and as a leader, to operate in all conditions. Keeping the crew safe is your remit, so when the unexpected happens, everyone looks to you.
• Be a key part of some essential operations. You might be on a Type 45 Destroyer conducting anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean, or escorting a mine hunter that’s sweeping the Persian Gulf.
• Take on real responsibility from day one, using your knowledge and experience as a professional sailor to tackle anything, from navigation, to planning boarding parties.
• React to ever-changing situations, using your tactical skills to achieve a successful outcome, whatever the operation.

• A starting salary of over £33,000
• Salary rising to around £41,000 after just two years
• An excellent pension scheme
• Six weeks of paid holiday every year
• Free medical and dental care
• Extra pay for every day spent at sea

Qualifications you'll gain

• We’ll make a significant contribution towards GCSEs, Masters degrees, and everything in between
• Gain internationally recognised professional qualifications as your career progresses

Skills you'll develop

• Gain the unique naval leadership and management skills that are highly valued by civilian employers
• Develop an in-depth knowledge of life as a professional seaman, from navigating and manoeuvring, to more advanced war-fighting skills

• You’ll need to be aged 18 to 39
• You’ll need a minimum of 72 UCAS points. These can be accrued from either GCE A/AS levels (or equivalent) or National Diplomas (e.g., BTEC)
• You'll need at least 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C (9-4) (or Scottish equivalent) which must include English Language and Mathematics
• You must be a United Kingdom citizen or British Dual National. Dual Nationality restrictions do apply
• Applicants who have resided outside the UK over the previous 5 years may require a residency waiver
• A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18

• An ability to thrive on responsibility and lead from the front
• Confidence making key decisions in high-pressure situations
• Calmness under pressure and a love of teamwork
• A passion for life at sea