Career Choice

Hey Guys! Very new to the site and looking forward to chatting to new people! Nice to meet everyone.

I'm 24 and I've been going through the processes to join the Navy for about a year now and I've just been given my joining date - the 17th of February.

I took a look through the website and decided that being a Warfare Specialist might be quite a good choice. When I took the psychometric test, I was told my score was well above what would be expected for a Warfare Specialist and they suggested I consider engineering, or something else, but being I had my heart set on the specialist role - mainly because of the varied role that I'd read about, and that it was both in and outdoors work.

Since then, I've spoken to a couple of people and they've said that Warfare Specialists are generally treated as other peoples 'dog's body's' and this is something that's been concerning me and I've been tempted to change. What I was really hoping for, after this long winded post, is a little advice. How true is what I've been told, and should I consider choosing another path, as as Marine Engineering or something else?

I don't really enjoy swimming, so diving stuffs is out of the question. But without actually doing the jobs, I don't really know what I'm getting into.

Any comments would be very helpful!

 

Welcome to the site mate! Im in the app process at the mo too, so cant help much with your question, but welcome aboard!

Saxon

 

Cheers mate! Been looking for a decent RN forum and really happy to have found this one!

 

I don't know how it is nowadays. So I can't tell you what the current score is.

If you decide you want to be a Warfare Specialist (Above Water Tactical) WS(AWT) (Ops Room - Used to be R, RP, AWT etc)

Then do it. Yes you do all more than just sit in an Ops room i.e Seamanship evolutions, Store ship, Gangway duties, F & DC Duties, Bridge watches etc.

But you don't do as much as the Old OM's Branch which included Gunnery and WE.

I loved the Ops room and I enjoyed being an OM(AW) but I got out when they made me an OM(W) as it wasn't what I signed up to do.

But you ain't everyone's dog body. If your heart is set on being a warfare specialist of some sort go do it.

 

Yeh I was hoping to get into Electronic WS.

I guess I don't want to get in there only to find out that it isn't really what I want to do and then have to try and transfer, which I understand really isn't easy.

Dammit, I wish they'd kept their mouth shut lol.

 

Ah the gollie branch

Well instead of sitting in from of a radar you sit in front of some other form of machine which tells ya what emmisions are being pushed out. Blowing a whistle which the Ops room sweeper has rimmed and shouting lots across the ops room lol

Best thing to do is speak to someone who currently is in that branch and enjoy's it. Let them tell you how it is and what you do. Unfortunately career offices don't tell you the full story as they want bum's on seats.

I've a friend who was a gollie on my first ship.

 

lol, sounds fun, better start getting my voice trained

Will have to try and figure out if anyone here is in the same branch.

I haven't quite decided on Electronic WS yet as I don't think you choose until you've been doing general WS for about 2 years, that right? But it sounds quite interesting and apparently promotion opportunities are good.

EDIT: Gollie? how'd it get that name? lol

 

I don't know much about the new branches how they work as in choosing I'm afraid.

When I joined up I said I wanted to be an OM(AW) didn't let the careers office tell me I should be anything else.

When I was in Raleigh and I had to see the PSO he asked me questions on the job and why I wanted to be one after that i was allowed to be an OM(AW) otherwise I would've been a OM(C) as those were my two choices at the time.

AS for being a WS for two years before you choose which sub branch I can't tell you unfortunately. If that is the case then it sounds like you would be experience pretty much most of WS sub branches within those two years.

But that is just an educated guess.

As for the name Gollie not 100% sure but I think due to EW's used to wear the Gollie Badges but there was also a ship linked to the name gollies as well I think a mine sweeper HMS Chricton

You're best off asking the really old and bolds why EW's were named Gollies

 

Thanks for all the advice, it's been quite a help.

If WS doesn't take on the Gunnery role these days.. who does?

 

As a Warfare Specialist you will dedicate most of your time to the operational defence of the ship, manning the various sensors (radar, sonar, EW). You will also have to do some communal tasks in and around the ship, mainly involving cleaning and some basic maintenance of equipment.

Most seamanship tasks and upper deck duties are now carried out by Seaman Specialists, a different branch entirely (although within the Warfare family tree). There may be some whole ship evolutions were you will work alongside other branches (Harbour Stations, RAS/towing, gangway watches, firefighting/damage control, etc.) but the Seaman Specialists will generally man upper deck weapons and boats, and now also do all Bridge watches too, as they are responsible for bridge communications (the old Yeoman job) as well as Quartermaster/Boatswain's Mate.

So to recap; WSs are just that; Warfare Specialists, mainly between decks. SSs are seamanship specialists, responsible for most upper deck evolutions.

Further details on either branch are available on the RN website (can't be arsed to post the link, as I've done it too many times before...)

:thumbright:

 

Hello Optimystic, welcome to RR.

A few little pointers for you, not withstanding the advice so far:

1. You cannot change branches after you join, no matter who tells you otherwise, you can't. Even if someone tells you they know someone who has, you can't. End of.

2. For that reason ensure you join the correct trade even if it means waiting longer.

3. Whilst Warfare Specialist (WS) has many attributes, all Engineering Technicians have technical trade training, WS does not.

4. You will have been advised at your AFCO that your score was such that there are more trades available to you & it would be wrong of your AFCO not to inform you that you could be a Technician if you wish. You do not have to be a technician but if you do not take that option, you cannot change your mind later.

Hope that helps & good luck.

 

Optimystic, my advice would be to think of life after the navy. Like Ninja Stoker pointed out, technicians have trade training and as a technician, should you choose to leave, or should you be forced to leave the navy for any reason, you'll be leaving with many good sought after qualifications.

 

"Shoplifter, Aisle Three..."

:wink:

 

We used to tell the joke "What do you say to a dabber that goes outside after 4 years?"

"Quarter Pounder with cheese please, large fries..."

 

The reason why the 'Gollies' got their nickname started when they were Radio Operators, the promotion was very fast and it was said that they got their rates by collecting the paper gollywogs off Robinsons Jamjars and sending them to the promotions office in Centurion.

 

I'd say go Comm's, it's a good career and something that will set you up well for when you eventually leave the mob. UW/AW's spend alot of time watching the plot (radar) in the ops room but you also have a lot of hands on jobs i.e. looking after the ship, inside and out aka alot of cleaning/painting and such.

Comms would be better suited, by what I read you want. But it's up to you, maybe you could PM CRYSTALTIPS for advice on the Comms branch, she'd be very helpful and she was good at her job.

Also, have a look at the below link for more info;

Comms

 

J_D, remember that the whole branch structure has changed recently.

 

Thats the trouble with the old and bold, always getting it wrong :thumright:

 

Still the basic outline though; even thought I've not used the W title. Yes, I know, they switch and change, before anyone says anything.

 

Hence why I've made no attempt to describe it. As I understand it the Warfare Specialist will do a lot less of the deck-ape carry on, but I don't know if it's working like that in practice.

there will still be a need for internal cleaning and the like, but they're less likely to be spending several months chipping and painting the same bit of ship time and time again; because the rust keeps showing through...