*This may be more relevant in a different forum, so please move it if appropriate*
Here are my thoughts and experience as a RNR direct entry officer candidate (no previous military experience whatsoever), currently awaiting security clearance after passing AIB:
I believe that my recruitment process proceeded along roughly the same lines as a direct entry regular RN officer, with an acquaint visit at the RNR unit, recruit test, eye test, medical, fitness, sift interview, AIB briefing, attendance at AIB and security clearance. I have an AIB debrief booked for later this month. The whole process has taken about 7 months so far, including a month of being declared TMU. I'm self employed so pretty flexible time-wise. There's no 'holding class' at the unit I hope to join, so after my acquaint visit, which was a personal tour rather than a group recruitment presentation, I have had no contact with the unit.
The initial acquant visit was facilitated by a regional Recruiting Pipeline Manager who then passed me over to the AFCO who dealt with everything up to the sift interview, which was handled by the regional Officer Careers Liaison Centre up to attendance at AIB. The AIB office initiated the security clearance process after I passed.
I went through AIB with a selection of candidates; of the eight people two were direct entry RNR officers, two serving RNR ratings, two young regular warfare officers, and two specialist/qualified officers. The other direct entry RNR officer and one of two young guys didn't pass.
I've found the process so far pretty straightforward - if a little protracted - but I have a few observations:
1. I realise security clearance is an expensive process, but surely it could have been carried out earlier? Perhaps after the medical while waiting for an AIB date? I made it clear that I would apply to join as a rating if unsuccessful at AIB, so it wouldn't have been a 'wasted' SC application. As it is, I've passed AIB and I'm keen to attend the unit and get started, but I can't (I have asked). For regular officers awaiting a date for BRNC I guess this delay wouldn't really be much of an issue. As it is, I have no idea when I'll actually be attending the unit for the first time (or what I'll actually be doing when I walk through the door for the first time (see below)).
2. As I understand the situation is changing on a fairly regular basis I struggled to get a definitive answer as to the RNR officer training progression, ranks at various stages of training, courses that I'll need to do etc. I managed to piece together a bit of an overview from various sources, but it was all a bit sketchy! Thankfully the board didn't ask in too much detail either.
3. While the officer recruitment process is obviously designed to accomodate those with no military background, the RNR ratings attending AIB along with me were very well prepared prior to attending and appeared to breeze through the process with confidence (though I have no idea of their individual scores). There seemed to be excellent mentoring for those hoping to attend AIB within their different units.
4. Unlike those wishing to join a 'regular' branch, who I understand are offered acqaunt visits via the OCLC, there didn't seem to be any way of organising a branch-specific acquaint visit, or even a phone chat with an officer in the branch I wish to join. I was lucky enough to be able to talk to a young officer preparing for Fleet Board at the unit during my visit, but I would have loved to have spoken to an officer in the branch I hope to join. I'm confident that I tried all the phone numbers and email addresses that I have access to, and I appreciate that the OCLC did try on my behalf too.
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As it is I'm hoping to attend the unit before the end of the year, but I've got no idea if that's feasible! Regardless - I'm looking forward to getting started.