daisyrobson
Newbie

Hey All,
Have recently passed my AIB and thought I'd post an up to date career pipeline that I created (with help from my AFCO) since it was the one thing I couldn't find anywhere online for love nor money when I was doing my revision. Hope this helps!!
IOT (initial officer training) - 30 weeks at BRNC including a 6 week IST (initial sea training) period.
- 15 weeks Militarisation assessed with Ex ABLE (assessed basic leadership ex)
- 15 weeks Marinisation assessed with Ex MARL (Maritime assessed leadership) - Initial Sea Acquaint (ISA) (approx) 3 weeks during Marinisation
IWO Foundation - 15 weeks at BRNC.
- Basic navigation, academics (radar theory, stability, Meteorology,/Oceanography Strategic Studies, Leadership and Management etc), sea time in a P2000, possibility of RYA qualifications.
ROR - 70%
1Year …
Common Fleet Time - 15 weeks in DD/FF/Capital Ship.
- CFT task book on whole ship knowledge.
ROR - 80%.
IWO Nav/Aviation and Warfare - 7 weeks at MWS Collingwood.
- Intermediate Nav training (coastal navigation and pilotage), WECDIS course. Includes 3 weeks of basic warfare and aviation.
ROR at least 80%, aiming for 90% and with no multiple choice at this stage.
Specialist Fleet Time - 6-12months.
- Watchkeeping, 600-900 hours in total. Get astronavigation ticket. Must be able to navigate in GPS denied environment.
ROR to 90%. (3x consecutive passes at 90%)
2 Years …
IWOC (initial WO continuation training) - 14 weeks at Collingwood.
- Starts with 3 weeks of prep - non-residential week, exam week, sea week.
- DOs course
- Junior Officer course part 1 (half Collingwood, half Wales)
- Opportunity for adventurous training
Exams in ROR 90%+, tides, Astro, general navigation, relative Velocity.
*Sea week - can you take a watch on your own? Coastal runs, busy shipping lanes, approaches to a port, night, restricted visibility scenarios. There will also be one or two emergencies. Possibility of PNO (Preliminary Navigating Officer) sim run - success grants PNO recommendation in your first assignment, more responsibility.
Sub-Specialisations
(training finished)
ASSIGNMENTS:
1st Assignment – OOW 2,3 or 4 (18-24mths per assignment)
(assuming core warfare pipeline AKA route of least resistance to driving a warship/becoming the CO):
- (numbers don’t mean anything apart from that I am an OOW in first assignment) Not full responsibility, but still a junior member of the watch crew.
2nd Assignment - PNO (preliminary navigating officer course) at HMS Collingwood
- Then re-join another ship as OOW 1 – in this instance it means Senior Bridge Watchkeeper. All responsibilities of previous assignment but also ship’s secondary navigator. Deciding the watch bill? Looking out who’s on watch and when. And the one who’s expected to be on the bridge to assist the junior officer of the watch in case there needs to be x2 OOW on the bridge (ie: Flying, Boat Ops etc..)
- Also take on a major secondary role as ship’s Krypto graphic materials officer (secret stuff).
3rd Assignment - FNO (Fleet Navigating Officer) Course at Collingwood
- Join Ship as Navigating Officer.
NO is not a watch-keeping officer - when ship is at see the NO is on call 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Line manager of OOW and deputy head of Warfare department
Broadening Appointment
- This is to broaden experiences outside of core branch. Up until this point it’s been very deeply specialised as a navigator and mariner. UK defence is much broader than that and so as one becomes more senior the level on engagement changes. Early understanding of how defence works outside of core role.
- I.e.: Careers Officer, Executive Officer to an Admiral or General in the HQ, could be a staff officer with Cadets Projects …
(very roughly) 7 / 8 years …
PWO (Principle Warfare Officer) Course - 1 year course.
- IF done exceptionally well during broadening assignment then MIGHT earn promotion to Lieutenant Commander during PWO course… Most will go on PWO as Lieutenant and complete without promotion
Join ship as PWO
- Watch-keeping role – but this time in the Ops room, not on the bridge.
Typically this is when promotion to LC happens.
- The PWO is to perform the duties of the Officer in Charge (OiC) of the Operations Room.
- The PWO is the Commanding Officer’s watchkeeping adviser on: tactics, the general operational situation. and on airspace coordination.
Have recently passed my AIB and thought I'd post an up to date career pipeline that I created (with help from my AFCO) since it was the one thing I couldn't find anywhere online for love nor money when I was doing my revision. Hope this helps!!
TRAINING PIPELINE:
IOT (initial officer training) - 30 weeks at BRNC including a 6 week IST (initial sea training) period.
- 15 weeks Militarisation assessed with Ex ABLE (assessed basic leadership ex)
- 15 weeks Marinisation assessed with Ex MARL (Maritime assessed leadership) - Initial Sea Acquaint (ISA) (approx) 3 weeks during Marinisation
IWO Foundation - 15 weeks at BRNC.
- Basic navigation, academics (radar theory, stability, Meteorology,/Oceanography Strategic Studies, Leadership and Management etc), sea time in a P2000, possibility of RYA qualifications.
ROR - 70%
1Year …
Common Fleet Time - 15 weeks in DD/FF/Capital Ship.
- CFT task book on whole ship knowledge.
ROR - 80%.
IWO Nav/Aviation and Warfare - 7 weeks at MWS Collingwood.
- Intermediate Nav training (coastal navigation and pilotage), WECDIS course. Includes 3 weeks of basic warfare and aviation.
ROR at least 80%, aiming for 90% and with no multiple choice at this stage.
Specialist Fleet Time - 6-12months.
- Watchkeeping, 600-900 hours in total. Get astronavigation ticket. Must be able to navigate in GPS denied environment.
ROR to 90%. (3x consecutive passes at 90%)
2 Years …
IWOC (initial WO continuation training) - 14 weeks at Collingwood.
- Starts with 3 weeks of prep - non-residential week, exam week, sea week.
- DOs course
- Junior Officer course part 1 (half Collingwood, half Wales)
- Opportunity for adventurous training
Exams in ROR 90%+, tides, Astro, general navigation, relative Velocity.
*Sea week - can you take a watch on your own? Coastal runs, busy shipping lanes, approaches to a port, night, restricted visibility scenarios. There will also be one or two emergencies. Possibility of PNO (Preliminary Navigating Officer) sim run - success grants PNO recommendation in your first assignment, more responsibility.
Sub-Specialisations
(training finished)
ASSIGNMENTS:
1st Assignment – OOW 2,3 or 4 (18-24mths per assignment)
(assuming core warfare pipeline AKA route of least resistance to driving a warship/becoming the CO):
- (numbers don’t mean anything apart from that I am an OOW in first assignment) Not full responsibility, but still a junior member of the watch crew.
2nd Assignment - PNO (preliminary navigating officer course) at HMS Collingwood
- Then re-join another ship as OOW 1 – in this instance it means Senior Bridge Watchkeeper. All responsibilities of previous assignment but also ship’s secondary navigator. Deciding the watch bill? Looking out who’s on watch and when. And the one who’s expected to be on the bridge to assist the junior officer of the watch in case there needs to be x2 OOW on the bridge (ie: Flying, Boat Ops etc..)
- Also take on a major secondary role as ship’s Krypto graphic materials officer (secret stuff).
3rd Assignment - FNO (Fleet Navigating Officer) Course at Collingwood
- Join Ship as Navigating Officer.
NO is not a watch-keeping officer - when ship is at see the NO is on call 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. Line manager of OOW and deputy head of Warfare department
Broadening Appointment
- This is to broaden experiences outside of core branch. Up until this point it’s been very deeply specialised as a navigator and mariner. UK defence is much broader than that and so as one becomes more senior the level on engagement changes. Early understanding of how defence works outside of core role.
- I.e.: Careers Officer, Executive Officer to an Admiral or General in the HQ, could be a staff officer with Cadets Projects …
(very roughly) 7 / 8 years …
PWO (Principle Warfare Officer) Course - 1 year course.
- IF done exceptionally well during broadening assignment then MIGHT earn promotion to Lieutenant Commander during PWO course… Most will go on PWO as Lieutenant and complete without promotion
Join ship as PWO
- Watch-keeping role – but this time in the Ops room, not on the bridge.
Typically this is when promotion to LC happens.
- The PWO is to perform the duties of the Officer in Charge (OiC) of the Operations Room.
- The PWO is the Commanding Officer’s watchkeeping adviser on: tactics, the general operational situation. and on airspace coordination.