17yr old wanting to join the RN

[Maiya02]

Hi everyone,this is the first time I’ve ever posted on here but not quite sure who else to ask these sort of questions to as I’m in a bit of a sticky situation.
I’m a 16 year old female(turning 17 in 2 days time) and I’ve just received a phone call from the RN asking whether I was still interested in the role I applied for around 6 months ago(hydrography and meteorology) and honestly I think I really want to go for it,the only problem is I haven’t yet mentioned anything about the navy to my mum and I’m not sure how she’d react. I’m currently at sixth form and studying 4 Alevels but I’m really not enjoying it at all and have little to no motivation to revise or work for them(which I know is really bad) but I just can’t stop thinking about joining the navy and I was so excited to have heard back from them today after waiting so long!
Do any of you have any recommendations on what to do in regards to telling my mum aswell as joining at a young age;my uncle was once in the RN and advised me to wait until I’m 18 and try to join as an officer but unfortunately I don’t speak to him much so can’t ask he anymore questions!
Really sorry for writing so much but I’m so confused at the moment and not quite sure what else to do.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Waspie]

There is quite a bit on here ref METOC, the branch you are interested in. Try entering Meteorology or such in the search box upper right of the home page. After you have digested that lot - ask away. I believe we have a couple of ex and maybe even a serving Metoc that frequent the site.
Please be advised this IS an unofficial forum and not the gospel according to the RN. You need your Forces Recruiting Office for the official word.
Crack on and enjoy the banter.

 

[Maiya02]

Hi,thanks for replying so quickly,I’ll do some research on it all then,I’ve just had a quick look and I seen your reply to someone else asking about it..you said it’s a slow moving branch,with slow promotion opportunities,would it be necessary for me to advance into the officer role or could I still achieve everything the officer would as a rating?

 

[Stirlin]

If you want to go HM stick with it , officer or rating/rank the RN is an adventure you will enjoy and will set you up for life. If you are worried about what your mum thinks explain to her the positive things you have read on this site from serving /former RN.

 

[Waspie]

Hi,thanks for replying so quickly,I’ll do some research on it all then,I’ve just had a quick look and I seen your reply to someone else asking about it..you said it’s a slow moving branch,with slow promotion opportunities,would it be necessary for me to advance into the officer role or could I still achieve everything the officer would as a ranking?

My bold!! Sorry, not qualified to comment. Maybe a Droggie or someone in the branch will be along to give a true reflection of the Met branch.
What I took in from my aircrew met training, including a Met Observers course, was it was such an imprecise science it's a wonder anyone can forecast the weather never mind the underwater weather. (That's oceanography in today's money).

 

[Alfacharlie]

My bold!! Sorry, not qualified to comment. Maybe a Droggie or someone in the branch will be along to give a true reflection of the Met branch.
What I took in from my aircrew met training, including a Met Observers course, was it was such an imprecise science it's a wonder anyone can forecast the weather never mind the underwater weather. (That's oceanography in today's money).

Seconded. We, (AC’s), only did a week of it, and fair play it blew my brains. (Not hard).
I spent most of the week looking out the window waiting for the oggie wagon to arrive.
Good luck though.

 

[Waspie]

Seconded. We, (AC’s), only did a week of it, and fair play it blew my brains. (Not hard).
I spent most of the week looking out the window waiting for the oggie wagon to arrive.
Good luck though.

Similar experience. The instructor would tell me to stand by the window and look at the clouds etc then ask me what the weather was going to do!
So I would give him my version of what I knew.
To be told, 'it could be - BUT!!!!!
So after many poor forecasts, I said why when invited to get it wrong again!!!!

On another note, as the dits are flowing. As the flight crewman, it was my job to either decode the weather signal and produce a synoptic weather chart! Or, use the Mufax and download a chart from Bracknell!
One day, no charts available, no signal, no download.
Skipper needed a weather brief from the flight commander. So!
After the time check, the weather. The flight commander stood there, produced a small tin, shook it, then threw the contents on the bridge deck!!! Chicken bones, the FC then wandered around the scattered bones and gave a forecast for the next four hours. Skipper was kinda impressed then admitted after the brief he had listened to radio 4 shipping forecast too!!!!

 

[Alfacharlie]

Similar experience. The instructor would tell me to stand by the window and look at the clouds etc then ask me what the weather was going to do!
So I would give him my version of what I knew.
To be told, 'it could be - BUT!!!!!
So after many poor forecasts, I said why when invited to get it wrong again!!!!

On another note, as the dits are flowing. As the flight crewman, it was my job to either decode the weather signal and produce a synoptic weather chart! Or, use the Mufax and download a chart from Bracknell!
One day, no charts available, no signal, no download.
Skipper needed a weather brief from the flight commander. So!
After the time check, the weather. The flight commander stood there, produced a small tin, shook it, then threw the contents on the bridge deck!!! Chicken bones, the FC then wandered around the scattered bones and gave a forecast for the next four hours. Skipper was kinda impressed then admitted after the brief he had listened to radio 4 shipping forecast too!!!!

Ha, my skipper was pissed off that FLOB’s forgot the cricket scores.

 

[Maiya02]

If you want to go HM stick with it , officer or rating/rank the RN is an adventure you will enjoy and will set you up for life. If you are worried about what your mum thinks explain to her the positive things you have read on this site from serving /former RN.

Thankyou,I think I’m going to speak to my mum about it tomorrow and call them back depending on how the conversation goes!

 

[Maiya02]

My bold!! Sorry, not qualified to comment. Maybe a Droggie or someone in the branch will be along to give a true reflection of the Met branch.
What I took in from my aircrew met training, including a Met Observers course, was it was such an imprecise science it's a wonder anyone can forecast the weather never mind the underwater weather. (That's oceanography in today's money).

Oh okay,I think I’ll try and fine someone who’s in the branch just because I’m not actually quite sure what the role consists of and I want to be sure before I go ahead and speak to my mum..so I can back everything up with why it would be good for me but thank you!

 

[Waspie]

Thankyou,I think I’m going to speak to my mum about it tomorrow and call them back depending on how the conversation goes!

Good luck. I know how parents can be. Went through it myself. And again when one of my sons wanted to join. So seen it from both sides.
A few plus points for your mum. You'll be joining a trade which has a fair bit of time at shore bases which means weekends off to travel home.
When embarked, you will I think, be on the larger vessels as a Met. That means more female staff as company.
Disadvantages are leaving home but with today's tech your only a phone call/Facetime away.
As I said, good luck, I hope your mum takes on board what you want.

 

[Maiya02]

Seconded. We, (AC’s), only did a week of it, and fair play it blew my brains. (Not hard).
I spent most of the week looking out the window waiting for the oggie wagon to arrive.
Good luck though.

Did you find it interesting? What I don’t want to do is get through to the training and find it tedious and boring but by the sounds of it,it doesn’t consist on much and I think I’m looking for something a bit more upbeat,maybe even pressurising,if that makes any sense.
Also Thankyou!

 

[Alfacharlie]

Did you find it interesting? What I don’t want to do is get through to the training and find it tedious and boring but by the sounds of it,it doesn’t consist on much and I think I’m looking for something a bit more upbeat,maybe even pressurising,if that makes any sense.
Also Thankyou!

I did , in a strange way. But, tbh, we didn’t really go too far into it. I wouldn’t say it wasn’t ‘interesting’, just no my cup of tea. Ours was basic, clouds, QNH etc.

 

[soleil]

Hi everyone,this is the first time I’ve ever posted on here but not quite sure who else to ask these sort of questions to as I’m in a bit of a sticky situation.
I’m a 16 year old female(turning 17 in 2 days time) and I’ve just received a phone call from the RN asking whether I was still interested in the role I applied for around 6 months ago(hydrography and meteorology) and honestly I think I really want to go for it,the only problem is I haven’t yet mentioned anything about the navy to my mum and I’m not sure how she’d react. I’m currently at sixth form and studying 4 Alevels but I’m really not enjoying it at all and have little to no motivation to revise or work for them(which I know is really bad) but I just can’t stop thinking about joining the navy and I was so excited to have heard back from them today after waiting so long!
Do any of you have any recommendations on what to do in regards to telling my mum aswell as joining at a young age;my uncle was once in the RN and advised me to wait until I’m 18 and try to join as an officer but unfortunately I don’t speak to him much so can’t ask he anymore questions!
Really sorry for writing so much but I’m so confused at the moment and not quite sure what else to do.
Thanks in advance!

Maiya

Something which I think that you should bear in mind is that it may be some time before you actually join the Royal Navy.

The company which deals with the early stages of recruitment on behalf of the Navy rings up people who have expressed an interest in joining on a regular basis. It doesn't actually mean that people are about to join, it means that people are being teed up to begin the application process, the RT, the Fitness Test, Medical etc.

The Navy knows approximately who it needs and when it needs them and sometimes its forecast need is many months ahead. Please bear in mind that what the external company which has rung you is doing is creating a queue of people who are then ready to start making their way through the process.

I think that there is a real possibility that your joining date will be something like mid 2021, which gives you time to complete your A Levels, something I think you should do.

By all means tell your Mum that you have enquired about the Navy, but don't give her the idea that you will be giving up school and on a ship by Easter; that would worry her, it would worry many parents. Tell her that you have enquired and that, all being well, you will start after your A Levels. Do bear in mind that your A Levels will give you a wider choice of jobs in the Navy as they will, if you are offering what is required for the role, open up certain Officer roles as well as Rating ones.

 

[Maiya02]

Maiya

Something which I think that you should bear in mind is that it may be some time before you actually join the Royal Navy.

The company which deals with the early stages of recruitment on behalf of the Navy rings up people who have expressed an interest in joining on a regular basis. It doesn't actually mean that people are about to join, it means that people are being teed up to begin the application process, the RT, the Fitness Test, Medical etc.

The Navy knows approximately who it needs and when it needs them and sometimes its forecast need is many months ahead. Please bear in mind that what the external company which has rung you is doing is creating a queue of people who are then ready to start making their way through the process.

I think that there is a real possibility that your joining date will be something like mid 2021, which gives you time to complete your A Levels, something I think you should do.

By all means tell your Mum that you have enquired about the Navy, but don't give her the idea that you will be giving up school and on a ship by Easter; that would worry her, it would worry many parents. Tell her that you have enquired and that, all being well, you will start after your A Levels. Do bear in mind that your A Levels will give you a wider choice of jobs in the Navy as they will, if you are offering what is required for the role, open up certain Officer roles as well as Rating ones.

Yeah,that actually makes a lot of sense,I probably just got a bit too over excited and carried away. Say I did start the process,would I still be able to complete the fitness and medical tests and other things in between aswell as completing my alevels? I really would like to finish and get them because I know how valued they are and how many more opportunities they give you but I'm finding it really difficult to find the motivation for them at the moment but I suppose it’s nothing I couldn’t work on! Also,what is the fitness test like? I’m in pretty good shape at the moment but not sure how intense it would be and how much work I’d have to do on myself in the meantime.
But yes like you said I think I should try and remain a little more realistic when telling my mum!
You also mentioned how the company that ring people are getting ready to put people through the process,so does that mean if I ring them back and it’s not too late I’d be one of the people that would be able to start the process and joining whenever needed? And when would the fitness and medical training start after the initial phone call?
Thanks so much,that helped me think about things in a much more realistic way! And sorry for so many questions.

 

[Maiya02]

I did , in a strange way. But, tbh, we didn’t really go too far into it. I wouldn’t say it wasn’t ‘interesting’, just no my cup of tea. Ours was basic, clouds, QNH etc.

Yes,that makes sense!
Thankyou!

 

[Maiya02]

Good luck. I know how parents can be. Went through it myself. And again when one of my sons wanted to join. So seen it from both sides.
A few plus points for your mum. You'll be joining a trade which has a fair bit of time at shore bases which means weekends off to travel home.
When embarked, you will I think, be on the larger vessels as a Met. That means more female staff as company.
Disadvantages are leaving home but with today's tech your only a phone call/Facetime away.
As I said, good luck, I hope your mum takes on board what you want.

Thanks so much! I’ve made a pros and cons list(which is mainly pros,if I’m honest) that I’m going to try and pitch to my mum,so I’ll check those are on there!
Thanks again.

 

[Sumo]

Yeah,that actually makes a lot of sense,I probably just got a bit too over excited and carried away. Say I did start the process,would I still be able to complete the fitness and medical tests and other things in between aswell as completing my alevels? I really would like to finish and get them because I know how valued they are and how many more opportunities they give you but I'm finding it really difficult to find the motivation for them at the moment but I suppose it’s nothing I couldn’t work on! Also,what is the fitness test like? I’m in pretty good shape at the moment but not sure how intense it would be and how much work I’d have to do on myself in the meantime.
But yes like you said I think I should try and remain a little more realistic when telling my mum!
You also mentioned how the company that ring people are getting ready to put people through the process,so does that mean if I ring them back and it’s not too late I’d be one of the people that would be able to start the process and joining whenever needed? And when would the fitness and medical training start after the initial phone call?
Thanks so much,that helped me think about things in a much more realistic way! And sorry for so many questions.

Yes you should have time to complete your A level, even if you have hold off joining to take exams, the Navy will see it as a strength that you are committed to completing your A's.
Good luck
@Maiya02
Foot note: try to find an interest in your current studies and do your best, focusing on your future career in the RN. You could also call the recruiter for a chat re options an career paths re age and possible A level grades, that may help you to focus.
The training and fitness is down to you, only hard work will deliver the results required.

 

[fishhead]

@Maiya02 Don't forget you can take Mum with you to talk to the recruiters before any commitments are made. It may help put her mind at rest as to what the future may hold while you're in the RN
Good Luck

 

[clonmel]

As others have said, for heaven's sake complete your A-levels.

Everyone gets a bit down when they are on a long academic slog like you are on just now, but once you've got them in your back pocket they are yours for keeps. Imagine how jarred off you will be with yourself if, in 5-10 years' time, you are missing out on employment / study opportunities because you chinned off your A-levels halfway through.

Don't foul up your long-term prospects just to scratch a short term itch of wanting to join up. Get everything out of school that you can whilst you are there, it's the best time you'll have to do it, trust me.