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BRNC? Me?

Chalky

Chalky

Lantern Swinger
Hey hey.

I come from a military family made up of RAF, RM and the Army, Gawd bless 'em.

I'm currently at University and have 2.5 years left of a 4.5yr degree and have decided to jack it in and finish through OU, as I'm bored with my subject and can't change it.

Anyways, I am interested in joining the RN as an officer, but as my family background is in every other service, I'm naturally getting a lot of biased information!

So, can anyone give me information on what the BRNC experience is like and an insight into Naval Officerdom?

For the record, I currently serve as a CMT in the TA.

I appreciate that's a lot, but I'm fighting the odds here!
 
Bit of advice. Get your degree done (through whatever means) before you join up. I had the choice of joining the RN or going to Uni and I chose the former. I wish I'd cracked my degree instead. I'm nearly there through the OU but I wish I'd done it first.

Not sure whether I want to go down the officer route though.....
 
Have a look at BRNC web site for info on the college. I was there 5 years ago, and I suspect BRNC was/is the same as any intial training establishment...like kindergarden. You get treated like a child, but you just have to play the game...its not difficult.

I can assure you, it is worth it when you get into the real Navy.

I would second the_matelot though; you'll be in a much stronger position if you get your degree first, regardless of where you end up.
 
I do want to finish a degree, but I am on a fixed degree scheme here and can't transfer.

The thought of another two odd years after this one is less than comfortable. I can transfer the credits and finish my degree within a year at the OU, so my time won't be wasted and I can then go onto my MSc as well.

Will it affect your promotion prospects if you get commissioned without a degree and will the balance be restored if you get your degree later?
 
Chalky said:
I do want to finish a degree, but I am on a fixed degree scheme here and can't transfer.

The thought of another two odd years after this one is less than comfortable. I can transfer the credits and finish my degree within a year at the OU, so my time won't be wasted and I can then go onto my MSc as well.

Will it affect your promotion prospects if you get commissioned without a degree and will the balance be restored if you get your degree later?
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Having spent a number of years working for the Director of Naval Recruiting, I would advise that you get your degree first (by whichever means suits you) - You get your second ring (Lieutenant) a great deal quicker, which in turn, will put you on the rung for Lieutenant Commander sooner.
 
I know of a 1 star about to become a 2 star who hasn't got a degree and who informed me of this over a beer as he got told to leave uni due to his attitude.....(get me drinking with the top guys!!!)

Not bad for a drop-out eh???

But definitely get your degree cracked before going through the process. You won't regret it
 
Aye. I'm a mature student sanyway at the grand old age of 23 which adds its own set of problems to the mix. Not that time is running out, but in terms of a military career, it is getting more pressing.
 
Chalky - Ratrat's advice is a bit out of date. Since the advent of the Three Tier Commission (3TC) in 1999, having a degree makes no difference to your seniority date, promotion, or even your training pipeline. These days, rightly or wrongly, it's all to do with age not qualifications and everyone who joins up ages 21 or older will start as a Sub Lt with 1 yrs seniority, backdated to the start of the month. As you're 23, you fall under this rule. The days of the 24 year old ex-rating (or indeed the 21 year old who failed uni) Midshipman are well and truly over.

So, if (for example) you join up on 14 Sep 06, your seniority will be 1 Sep 05, and you will automatically be promoted to Lt on 1 Sep 08 (ie as a Sub Lt with 3 yrs). And, since the demise of the old "Grad Course" and "A1/A2" training at BRNC (in 2003ish), all Officer Cadets do exactly 12 months at the college before embarking on Fleet Time.

As for advice about your degree, if you hate it, bin it. No one (and I mean no-one) gives a hoot about degrees these days, since your qualities as an officer and maturity will be almost entirely age-related. If you're an immature and twee 18 year old who got past the AIB, you're not respected because of your ... er ... twee qualities and immaturity, not your lack of letters after your name.

AND, if you stick at the degree which you could easily achieve part time via OU, you'll miss out on 2 years of SLt salary (£38,000 in total) and always regret it. All, "in my opinion" of course.
 
Thanks geoffrey!

It's that kind of advice that'll make this site great!

I'm heading off to my local careers office next week and with that information in my pocket I feel a lot more confident about doing it.

Much obliged.
 
Hello. First time post etc. Have done the DNR job and recruited a fair few officers. I don't have a degree and managed for 16 years fine as an officer. The only difference is your starting pay but promotion (to Lt Cdr) now is on merit at selection boards so time in is less important.

Check out the recruitment site as details change but there is a an In Service Degree scheme via OU. It adds all the stuff you do during intinial training and gives you a OU credits.

If you are not enjoying your degree and the chances are you are gain debt as a student, then consider joining up and using the very good Education grants to get a relevant degree or masters later on. As I am finding out your career in the Navy will count more later on in life rather than a bit of paper.

If you need more advice contact your local careers officer or drop me a line.
 
geoffrey said:
Chalky - Ratrat's advice is a bit out of date. Since the advent of the Three Tier Commission (3TC) in 1999, having a degree makes no difference to your seniority date, promotion, or even your training pipeline. These days, rightly or wrongly, it's all to do with age not qualifications and everyone who joins up ages 21 or older will start as a Sub Lt with 1 yrs seniority, backdated to the start of the month. As you're 23, you fall under this rule. The days of the 24 year old ex-rating (or indeed the 21 year old who failed uni) Midshipman are well and truly over.

So, if (for example) you join up on 14 Sep 06, your seniority will be 1 Sep 05, and you will automatically be promoted to Lt on 1 Sep 08 (ie as a Sub Lt with 3 yrs). And, since the demise of the old "Grad Course" and "A1/A2" training at BRNC (in 2003ish), all Officer Cadets do exactly 12 months at the college before embarking on Fleet Time.

As for advice about your degree, if you hate it, bin it. No one (and I mean no-one) gives a hoot about degrees these days, since your qualities as an officer and maturity will be almost entirely age-related. If you're an immature and twee 18 year old who got past the AIB, you're not respected because of your ... er ... twee qualities and immaturity, not your lack of letters after your name.

AND, if you stick at the degree which you could easily achieve part time via OU, you'll miss out on 2 years of SLt salary (£38,000 in total) and always regret it. All, "in my opinion" of course.
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Hi, I’m just finishing my three year degree and as I was sponsored by the RN and so I join Dartmouth on 5th September this year. However I went to school in Scotland and so am younger than most graduates and don’t turn 21 until the 25th September. Will I miss out on a year’s seniority because of 20 days? That would be rubbish and my mates that are joining at the same time as me would point and laugh.

Does anybody know the score?
 
Chalky - you're welcome. Best of luck!

NearlyNavy - as far as my reading of the rules goes, I'm afraid so, yes. Young graduates (and there are very few) are about the only losers from the switch to 3TC, as previously a (eg Scottish) 20 year old graduate had the SLt + 1 year seniority by dint of his degree. However, these days if you are 20 when you join up, you are a SLt with zero seniority, so those 20 days puts you back an entire year (it seems harsh, but they have to draw the line somewhere), which also delays your promotion to Lt from 1 Sep 08 to 1 Sep 09. As for your mates, no-one knows anyone else's seniority at BRNC, so it's not the pisstake you should worry about - it's the money. Although the pay scales for different years of SLt aren't too different, there is a HUGE pay rise on promotion to Lt, so in fact those 20 days will cost you thousands of pounds.

If I were you, I'd beg the AIB (or whoever it is who liaises with you pre-Dartmouth) to delay your starting date by one entry. As there are now 6 entries a year, this would only put you back 7 weeks or so, but make a massive financial difference in about 2 years time. If they refuse to do so voluntarily, you're stuck. Unless of course you accidentally suffer a serious but temporary illness/injury in mid-September which will take a month to clear up. :wink:

Having said all of that - there may be some leeway on how they treat 20 year olds who are only a few days away from 21 on entry that I don't know about. The best thing to do is ask someone who knows. I'll guarantee the ACLO doesn't, however. If you are an URNU type - your boss should know who ask. Good luck.
 

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