Skip to content
Job Role
General Entry Rating Reserve
Job Role

General Entry Rating Reserve

Learn management and leadership techniques in an environment that’s far removed from any office, and excel in a career that runs alongside your day job.

Civilians
  • No qualifications
  • Surface Fleet
  • Royal Naval Reserve
  • Rating level

At a glance

Take a step out of your comfort zone. Push yourself further. You don’t even need any previous Naval experience, just the commitment to complete your Basic Training alongside your day job.
A Royal Navy Reserve rating in uniform.
When I joined the Royal Navy Reserve I knew it would be a big undertaking. A life changing journey that would affect my personality and character. I don’t think I could get that with any other kind of work, or by doing anything else.

Jack

Reserve General Entry Rating

Role details

What you’ll do

As a General Entry Rating in the Royal Navy Reserve (RNR), you’ll be taking a step out of your comfort zone. A step that will start an adventure. You don’t even need any previous Naval experience, just the commitment to complete your basic training alongside your day job. If you can do that, you’ll open up the extraordinary. Travelling the world, doing things you never thought you’d do, and seeing things you never thought you’d see.

Your role

  • Basic training in the Royal Navy Reserve is delivered in modules, and can easily be completed in 12 months if you attend training weekends and weekday evening sessions.
  • After you’ve completed your basic military training, you can select a Specialisation and join an active unit.
  • When you’re mobilised for deployment, you’ll join regular ranks in protecting our nation’s interests all over the world. That might mean working on humanitarian aid operations in the Philippines, or providing logistical support in a conflict zone in the Middle East.
  • Learn management and leadership techniques in an environment that’s far removed from any office, and excel in a career that runs alongside your day job.

Pay & benefits

  • Extra pay and allowances if you’re mobilised
  • Annual tax-free bounty subject to meeting the minimum training commitment
  • Paid leave in proportion to the number of training days attended
  • Membership of the non-contributory Armed Forces Pension Scheme
  • Expenses and allowances when training
  • Access to the Royal Navy’s superb sports and fitness facilities

Skills for life

  • Progressive leadership and management training courses are embedded in your career path
  • You will have the opportunity to take a range of vocational courses, depending on your specialism

Skills you’ll develop

  • Determination, discipline, and confidence which will transfer into your civilian life
  • Responsibility, time management and personal organisation skills

Eligibility

  • You must be aged 16 to 42 when you start training
  • No qualifications are required for this role
  • You must be a British or Irish national, a Commonwealth citizen, or a Dual National. Dual nationality restrictions apply
  • A Body Mass Index (BMI) between 18 and 28 (between 17 and 27 if under 18)
  • Pass the Naval Swimming Test
     

Skills & Interests

  • Problem solvers with a keen eye for detail
  • Team players
  • A willingness to help shipmates
  • A high level of physical and mental fitness
  • An interest in spending time at sea

Joining Process

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

Got a question?

Our virtual recruiter is available to answer your questions 24 hours a day

More roles like this