BRNC February 2021

[FrostyColdWaves]

Thought I would post a very speculative thread to see if anyone else here will be going to BRNC in February?

Also wondering whether it will be a 8 week or 10 week course?

 

[Random]

I take it you got a reply from your interview? (last I heard you were asking if they right to you if you fail) not being mean just curious?

I believe the length is 1 BRNC term and that shifted to 10 weeks a while back; I think during @RFA at HMS Raleigh 's stint as the RFA staff officer there.

Some advice ..

2 weeks will not make much of a difference about how you feel about the place, embrace it for what its worth and you will enjoy it, push back and it will be misery. The phrase to take to heart is play the game ...

BRNC is not the RN, nor the RFA, it is an artificial environment to generate good naval habits (such as teamwork, self organisation, timeliness, cleanliness and how to look spiffing in a blue suit). It does not teach you to be a leader, but it will give you the foundations to build upon and show you examples good and bad.

Enjoy it

 

[FrostyColdWaves]

Haha yes, I did get a reply. Due to COVID the AIB and Sift interview were rolled into one which was an hour and a half over Skype. I rang recruiting about 4 weeks later, just after my last post, and was told I got the job. Luckily got all the tests and paperwork sorted already so just waiting on the SC to come back.

I saw some posts saying that the shift to 10 weeks was to add rifle/light arms training but either way will be fun. Thanks for the advice though about just enjoying it. When I first started as a cadet with my current company they sent us on a tall ship around the Baltics for 3 weeks with 10 English cadets and 45 German cadets and crew. That was a very interesting experience, especially after having to climb the foremast the first night in torrential rain and winds. It’s all character building right?

Out of interest does pay start from signing of your contract or first day at BRNC?

 

[1-SE]

Off to BRNC myself in February, qualified systems engineer. Just waiting for the contract now

 

[FrostyColdWaves]

Off to BRNC myself in February, qualified systems engineer. Just wait

Ah nice, what rank are you going in as and what industry have you come from?

 

[1-SE]

Ah nice, what rank are you going in as and what industry have you come from?

3/O SE, from cruises, so it'll be quite different I'm sure. How about yourself?

 

[FrostyColdWaves]

3/O SE, from cruises, so it'll be quite different I'm sure. How about yourself?

Same as yourself, will be very different haha.

 

[SeaBiscuit]

It's 10 weeks.

It's not easy, but go with the right mindset and you'll be fine.

DO NOT forget for a moment where you are- BRNC is the most prestigious naval college in the world.

The RFA isn't the merch.

Even if it was 40 weeks- you're lucky to even be going there. Never forget that,

Good luck- you will only do this once in your whole life. Smash it.

 

[EightSixteen]

Even if it was 40 weeks- you're lucky to even be going there. Never forget that

Lucky to be going there? As a qualified SE?
Tell me more...

Play the game, win the trophy & none of that has any bearing on your career progression. Won't make you a better SE but you'll learn when to salute, return a salute or simply cross the road &/or double time it into a building.

Not exactly a waste of time but miles away from the privilege you make out.

 

[SeaBiscuit]

Lucky to be going there? As a qualified SE?
Tell me more...

Play the game, win the trophy & none of that has any bearing on your career progression. Won't make you a better SE but you'll learn when to salute, return a salute or simply cross the road &/or double time it into a building.

Not exactly a waste of time but miles away from the privilege you make out.

It is privilege.

I'm a qualified SE, designed most of the systems currently entering service, and BRNC is one of, if not the, most prestigious naval college in the world.

So sure, nothing to do with career progression, but as RFA ships are now classed as warships, and as the future looks like further integration with the RN- who are literally our whole reason for existing- surely you agree that BRNC is necessary?

 

[EightSixteen]

No, I don't. I actually think it's mind boggling that you feel so strongly that it is.

On ship we complete maintenance routines and fix broken things. We are employed for that purpose only. How's Dartmouth necessary for that?

 

[SeaBiscuit]

No, I don't. I actually think it's mind boggling that you feel so strongly that it is.

On ship we complete maintenance routines and fix broken things. We are employed for that purpose only. How's Dartmouth necessary for that?

It's not necessary at all for that, obviously.

I guess it depends on how you feel about your job- if you might as well be on any ship- fine, but some people are proud to be part of the RN family. Just different views.

I can only speak personally, and it was 50/50 on my course who thought it was a total waste of time..

 

[RabC]

It's not necessary at all for that, obviously.

I guess it depends on how you feel about your job- if you might as well be on any ship- fine, but some people are proud to be part of the RN family. Just different views.

I can only speak personally, and it was 50/50 on my course who thought it was a total waste of time..

You really would be a dangerous person to be near if the crap hits the fan....Deluded, it’s a job not a calling.

 

[FrostyColdWaves]

From my point of view as someone just coming in, I feel like the leadership aspects will be of benefit as I have never been in that position. How much of that I will actually use on ship as as 3/O I don't know. Whether it would be better to have a leadership course further down the line when I am in a position requiring leadership is for further discussion.

Don't get me wrong I am a proud to be working for the RFA as my brother is in the Armed Forces but seeing as the website describes us as the "uniformed civilian branch" on vessels crewed by "merchant sailors", I would say that it definitely comes across less military and more merch.

 

[SeaBiscuit]

You really would be a dangerous person to be near if the crap hits the fan....Deluded, it’s a job not a calling.

With respect, I've had the crap hit the fan, got the war pension, and am not deluded.

It's a job to you, maybe- but please don't question my safety integrity.

 

[SeaBiscuit]

From my point of view as someone just coming in, I feel like the leadership aspects will be of benefit as I have never been in that position. How much of that I will actually use on ship as as 3/O I don't know. Whether it would be better to have a leadership course further down the line when I am in a position requiring leadership is for further discussion.

Don't get me wrong I am a proud to be working for the RFA as my brother is in the Armed Forces but seeing as the website describes us as the "uniformed civilian branch" on vessels crewed by "merchant sailors", I would say that it definitely comes across less military and more merch.

It's a very grey area. The ships are grey, they are armed, they go in harms way, and you may be killed.


It's not P&O.

Hence the pride. Take no notice of the people who tell you otherwise.

 

[EightSixteen]

It's not P&O.

Hence the pride. Take no notice of the people who tell you otherwise.

Ironically we have more in common with P&O ETO's than we do with our RN WE counterparts. Until you become head of dept, your role will always have more in common with P&O regardless of where we are and what the ship is doing. We're fundamentally electrical engineers and that is more transferable to/from P&O than the RN WE role.

I think that's what Rab C was getting at.

You've just passed out of Dartmouth but from what you're saying and how you're talking, am I right in saying you're still awaiting your first RFA trip as a 3OSE?

 

[SeaBiscuit]

Ironically we have more in common with P&O ETO's than we do with our RN WE counterparts. Until you become head of dept, your role will always have more in common with P&O regardless of where we are and what the ship is doing. We're fundamentally electrical engineers and that is more transferable to/from P&O than the RN WE role.

I think that's what Rab C was getting at.

You've just passed out of Dartmouth but from what you're saying and how you're talking, am I right in saying you're still awaiting your first RFA trip as a 3OSE?

I transferred from industry, having designed the systems for QE, T45, and others, Before that I was RN.
So I'm not a newbie, if that's what you mean.

Fundamentally though, the ETO role is changing. HV elec etc is one specialisation, but as ships become more automated and have server compartments and fibre optics and ETOs are expected to know complex network architectures and manage automation... the "fundamentally electrical engineers" will become less true imo.

 

[EightSixteen]

So I'm not a newbie, if that's what you mean.

What I mean is "am I right in saying you're still awaiting your first RFA trip as a 3OSE?"

 

[SeaBiscuit]

What I mean is "am I right in saying you're still awaiting your first RFA trip as a 3OSE?"

You are right.