Engineer (Information Systems) Officer

[tr313]

hello,

ive just finished uni with a degree in Computer Networking and i have been considering joining the navy as a Engineer (Information Systems) Officer, but the web site doesnt say much about the job? has any one here an any experance of this?

 

[dunkers]

I asked the same question a while back, have a search of the forums.

I'm about to start a computer science degree, thinking of doing the same as yourself.

From what I gather the job mainly involves instructing at places like Collingwood or serving aboard larger ships eg Ark Royal, Ocean etc. You can also specialise with the RM or submarines.

 

[tr313]

thats cool, ive just sent back the first form thing, saying i would like to join up, just waiting for them to get back to me, not sure how long it all takes, have you found much info online?

 

[dunkers]

Nothing other than what's on the RN website and the answers I've been given to my questions on here.

As it happens I am seeing my ACLO later this month and intend to discuss it more with him then. I'll let you know how I get on.

 

[ohaire]

btw, at the first interview thing you have, they sort of test your naval knowledge, you up to scratch on ship recognition, they also asked me what i knew about the job i was doing so background knowledge (the sort u pick up on forums) can help, and they can tell you all the details etc


btw, it takes about a month from sending form to actaully going

 

[wave_dodger]

Have a look here http://www.rumration.co.uk/cpgn2/Forums/viewtopic/t=679.html

PM me, I can fill you in on more if you need. You could also consider joining as a Warfare Officer and specialise as a PWO(C) in later life, or join as a WEO and go PWO(C) too. A few ways to get into operational IS, not as much money as civyy IS but a bit more satisfying.

 

[dunkers]

I'd be interested in any further details too wave dodger. One question I have though is to what extent does the standard of your degree affect your pay/seniority? I've heard it does have an effect but would be interested to know by how much.

I'm about to start a degree in computer science which I presume would be suitable for this branch.

 

[ohaire]

i think if u have a degree u start as a sub-lt rather than a midshipman and are paid a fair bit more when u sign up

however, the kids who didnt go uni, will have been in the navy for 3-4 years while youve been studenting and will be at least an Lt

i think thats correct, anybody?

 

[dunkers]

Not quite
If you're under 20 you start as a midshipman, otherwise you're a sub lt.
If you join as an E(IS) officer you start as a Lt.
If you've been in the navy X years you still start as a sub lt, but you do upper yardsman training at BRNC which is a shorter course since you know most of the stuff already.

 

[ohaire]

doesnt it say promotion to lt is gauranteed after a certain point in training, might be the junior officers thing

im not sure on this, not trying to argue with an "old salt"

 

[dunkers]

Yep you get promoted to Lt on passing your fleet board.

 

[empty_vessel]

Seniority age on entry:

18 Mid 0 yrs
19 Mid 1 yr
20 SLt 0 yrs
21 SLt 1 yr

Therefore, if someone joins at 18 by the time an E(IS) joins on completion of a MSc age 22 then direct entrant will still be SLt (if I've got my maths right). Seems to me a waste of time giving seniority to E(IS), same as E(TM) but that's well above my pay grade.

e_v

 

[ohaire]

so then won't the non-grads, who joined up and passed the fleet board while grads at uni and got a good few years head start and therefore have the better rank

what im trying to say is that at the age of 22 a non-grad could be an Lt for a few years, while a grad, at 22 is still at sub Lt and not yet completed training

however the grad gets paid more during training

 

[dunkers]

so then won't the non-grads, who joined up and passed the fleet board while grads at uni and got a good few years head start and therefore have the better rank

That used to be the case but I think grads now get equal seniority to non-grads in order not to deter potential officers from going to uni (if I heard my ACLO right). I may be wrong here however

 

[ohaire]

i dont no exactly, if an ACLO says it, it must be true ;-)

what you say sounds about right

 

[empty_vessel]

you only get seniority for going to uni until age 21, this is prob to prevent loafing gits who hav 3 gap years then do a 1st degree in underwater basket weaving joining as lt with 3 years seniority.

Seniority is actually awarded for doing the job, not preparing for it, and while I agree with the current system, which is a lot fairer than the army equivalent, I don't think it needs to be taken any further than it is already.

Even UCEs (joined up, BRNC, then uni) who did Masters degrees marked time at SLt +2 seniority so they weren't promoted earlier than anyone else.

 

[tr313]

thanks for all the replys guys, i guess i just have to wait now untill the navy gets back to me, its been about 10days since i sent the first form back to them, guess it all takes time

 

[tr313]

still no letter or calls from them :-(

 

[alastair]

It took exactly 1 week from submitting my initial interest form to getting a letter saying that my details had been passed to the OCLC. My initial interview was 8 weeks after that. Hope that helps.

 

[fishmiester]

ha ha ha ha
they tricked you.....

At the moment IS is not a branch with in the RN. It IS an ambition to make one, but as I understand it for IS officer read WE with IS aspects.

Good luck future DO's