Applying from overseas. Please help - very confused.

[cjt123]

Hi

My fiance is Fijian - a commonwealth citizen - and wants to apply for the role of aircraft handler in the RN. We are both confused about how he applies. He wil be spending 3 months in the UK as from next week, and the plan was for him to go and have a careers interview at a local office and then maybe start the process there. However, I emailed the LND head quaters and it seems that he has to apply from Fiji. They told him to fill out a form on the website - but we can't find it! I found a link, but it appears to be broken - so now he has no idea how to apply, and is leaving for the UK in a weeks time. It would be such a waste of money if he had to fly home - just to apply!

I have also seen that the waiting time for this role, if he were to be successful, is up to 4 years. I know the available roles for a non brit citizen are limitted, but if anyone could advise me of other roles in the Navy that have shorter waiting times I would appreciate it...

Also, I know you have to be prepared to work anywhere in the world... but myself and his child are currently based in Cornwall - which roles are prodominately based in Culdrose, Plymouth, or Yeoville whilst not at sea?

Also, do you have to be able to swim well for all roles within the Navy?

Sorry if this post seems ignorant I do not know much about the Navy at all and just trying to get some answers asap!

Thanks in advance

 

[WreckerL]

Can't answer for the FAA part but the waiting times are the same for all applicants and everyone has to pass the Naval swimming test irrelevant of which branch you're in.

Believe it's always been the case that non-UK personnel cannot join up in the UK but apply from their home country.

NJ and SM will be along to advise on the recruiting side of life.

 

[sgtpepperband]

CJT: Online information may be limited at the moment as the RN website was recently compromised. Supermario or Ninja_Stoker (two RN Careers Advisers) will give you the definitive answer in due course.

And welcome to Rum Ration, by the way! :thumbleft:

 

[supermario]

Yes he will have to apply from abroad. The best thing to do as the web-site is still in the process of being re-secured is to ring the overseas recruiting line. No. 00(44) 1604 640015. They will then be able to take his details and pass them on to the overseas recruiter, who will then deal with his application.

The average waiting times for all FAA jobs is 36 to 48 months, which is also the average waiting time for any job available to overseas candidates. All persons wanting to join the Royal Navy should really be choosing a job they want to do not the one with the shortest entry time.

My honest opinion is that he needs to start the process at least 4 months before travelling across to the UK so that everything can be put into place before his arrival.

SM

 

[soleil]

Welcome to Rum Ration, cjt123.

If cost is an issue when it comes to making 'phone calls to the UK, he may find it cheaper to send an e-mail seeking further advice to:

nr-london-ca3g @ rncareers.mod.uk

This is the e-mail address for the Overseas Recruiter in London.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Welcome to the site.

To echo the comments above: The RN Website is offline & it's therefore not possible to submit an overseas application online.

As he's coming to UK anyway, he may enquire at the nearest AFCO to where he is staying, or contact the overseas desk as stated above.

Current waiting times are listed here http://www.navy-net.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/t=27658.html

Jobs are limited to Logistics, Engineering & Royal Marines for Commonwealth citizens, who will also need a residency waiver in order to gain security clearance. To re-iterate, he should select a job he wants, not on the basis of waiting times.

With regard air trades based predominantly in Plymouth, Culdrose & Yeovil (AET, NA(SE), NA(AH)), it's worth bearing in mind that any trades based in the South West could also be based in Scotland when not afloat. If you want a more stable/static-based UK military career, the RAF are probably a more viable option, although not as prominent in the South West.

Best of luck.

 

[cjt123]

Hi

Thanks for all the helpful replies really appreciate it. He has emailed the overseas recruiter asking how to apply without the website, so hopefully he'll be able to start the process before he leaves Fiji. His flight leaves next week.... left it a bit late I guess.

He is now thinking about applying 4 the Marines because he said 4 years is a bit too long to wait seeing he really wants to start his career in the next 2 years. Having said that if it's definately the role he wants to do then it will be worth the wait if he's successful. I guess it's just finding something to do in the meantime - if he's successful that is.

stresssssssssss!

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

The role of Naval Airman Aircraft Handler has little in common with Royal Marine.

It is true that NA(AH) can work within 3 Commando Brigade with the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), and opportunities occasionally exist for an NA(AH) to undergo the All Arms Commando Course, but it's by no means assured.

As a Royal Marine he should join in the expectation to serve & deploy operationally immediately after training. At present the Royal Marines will be deployed on Operation Herrick 14 (Afghanistan) next year (before he could possibly complete training) but it's quite likely he could be deployed on Herrick 17.

Whilst I'm sure this won't be the case in this instance, we occasionally witness overseas applicants appealing for a "service sponsor" online to vouch for their integrity in order that they may shorten the residency requirement & apply for a residency waiver. Needless to say such a person must already be genuinely known by the applicant in those rare instances a waiver is considered.

(Not so long back a person was taken-on in the UK armed services in similar circumstances & was later caught & convicted for trying to smuggle a substantial quantity Class A drugs into UK as part of an organised crime syndicate. The sponsor faces prosecution also. Story here: http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve..._hms_manchester_to_smuggle_drugs_into_britain ).

More detail on the Royal Marines here : http://webarchive.nationalarchives....arines/careers/what-sort-of-person-becomes-a/

and here: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20101001110155/royalnavy.mod.uk/prmc/

More detail on NA(AH) here: http://webarchive.nationalarchives....aval-airman-(aircraft-handler)/whats-the-job/

and here: http://webarchive.nationalarchives....val-airman-(aircraft-handler)/whats-involved/

Commonwealth citizens cannot serve in Submarine trades, Warfare, AET & NA(SE) under current regulations.

 

[cjt123]

Complicated!

Thanks for all your comments. He will actually be moving to the UK late next year once we are married, and he wants a career in the forces. He wants to apply for the Aircraft Handler role.. but the 4 year wait just seems absolutely crazy. What are applicants on the waiting list doing during the wait?

The other major draw back is that although he's physically very fit - he's not a confident swimmer due to a near drowning incident when he was younger! It would be likely that he would have to take a lot of swimming lessons in order to pass the initial swimming test, and he's worried that whilst he's doing this the waiting period for the role he wants will only increase!

Also, he emailed the RN overseas recruiter and has been told that he can apply when he comes to the UK from the career office. VERY CONFUSED now because that just completely contradicts everything else I've read about overseas applicants having 2 apply from their home country.

Looking at other options outside of the RN, he's considered the RAF but the website says commonwealth citizens have to have been in the UK for 3-5 years as a resident before they are considered eligable to apply.
He is now thinking about the Army.... but I guess that means him being deployed to Afghanistan and even when he's in the UK I'm pretty sure he won't be based anywhere near Cornwall, which is where his family will be.

Any advise or input would be appreciated.

Again sorry if any of the above sounds ignorant, just trying to find some answers...

charlotte

 

[soleil]

cjt

Just as a matter of interest.

How old is he and what does he have in the way of educational qualifications?

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Complicated! Thanks for all your comments. He will actually be moving to the UK late next year once we are married, and he wants a career in the forces. He wants to apply for the Aircraft Handler role.. but the 4 year wait just seems absolutely crazy. What are applicants on the waiting list doing during the wait?

Presumnably undergoing further education or finding temporary employment.

The other major draw back is that although he's physically very fit - he's not a confident swimmer due to a near drowning incident when he was younger! It would be likely that he would have to take a lot of swimming lessons in order to pass the initial swimming test, and he's worried that whilst he's doing this the waiting period for the role he wants will only increase!

Any job that has the words 'Marine' or 'Navy' in the title is going to involve water unfortunately, so common sense would suggest learning to swim is prudent. The Military Swimming test is not assessed as pass/fail until phase one training for RN Ratings, although it is assessed if a Ratings Preparation Course is taken. For those attending Potential Royal Marines Course, they need to be able get from one end of the pool to the other without drowning.

The "clock" starts when the recruiting test is passed, so the sooner the test is taken, the shorter the wait.

Also, he emailed the RN overseas recruiter and has been told that he can apply when he comes to the UK from the career office. VERY CONFUSED now because that just completely contradicts everything else I've read about overseas applicants having 2 apply from their home country.

As stated previously:

As he's coming to UK anyway, he may enquire at the nearest AFCO to where he is staying, or contact the overseas desk as stated above.

But...if actually still technically resident overseas, then the application must be made via the overseas desk at London AFCO, having first confirmed eligibility through the overseas helpline. Once resident full time in UK, he can apply in UK.

Looking at other options outside of the RN, he's considered the RAF but the website says commonwealth citizens have to have been in the UK for 3-5 years as a resident before they are considered eligible to apply.
He is now thinking about the Army.... but I guess that means him being deployed to Afghanistan and even when he's in the UK I'm pretty sure he won't be based anywhere near Cornwall, which is where his family will be.

Any advise or input would be appreciated.

He will need 5 years UK residency to join the RN or RM under normal circumstances if resident outside of UK prior to submitting an application. In exceptional circumstances a waiver maybe considered depending on country of residence and individual circumstances, but it is not assured.

All members of the UK Armed Forces should join in the expectation of service in an operational environment such as Afghanistan, regardless of service joined.

Engineering graduates & Doctors of medicine are the only Officer trades available in General Service.

Again the advice is for him to talk to the experts on the Overseas Helpline, listed earlier in the thread if he is the person intending to join the service.

 

[Hedgeporker]

I think someone had better tell him about the jobs which require / do not require British citizenship too . . .