Warfare Officer Training Pipeline & career progression

[The_Commissar]

Hey guys, got my AIB coming up in about a month and I've been trawling the internet for an accurate rundown of the current training pipeline and subsequent career progression for a Warfare Officer. So far this is what I've cobbled together from various sources. However, I'm aware that some aspects of this change pretty frequently so I'd be grateful if someone on here could cast an experienced eye over what I've got and see if there's anything obviously wrong/missed out etc...

Training Pipeline

Phase 1: BRNC 30 Weeks, 3 x 10 Week Terms
Term 1- Induction, seamanship, navigation and leadership, culminating in 4 day long ABLE (Assessed Basic Leadership Exercise) on Dartmoor.

Term 2- Maritime operations, academics, further navigation, picket boat handling, presentation skills. 3 week “Initial Sea Acquaint” aboard an operational RN warship.

Term 3- Naval military training, strategic studies, critical thinking, seminar presentations and maritime leadership programme all culminating in 4 day MARL (Maritime Leadership) exercise on the River Dart followed by ceremonial training and passing-out parade.

Phase 2: BRNC and HMS Collingwood, ~14 months
IWO(F)- The Initial Warfare Officer (Foundation) course is conducted at BRNC and lasts 13 weeks, principally an academic package on navigation and warfare.

BFT- Basic Fleet Time, 4 months on board a working RN warship (likely a capital ship), time spent in each department and developing key knowledge of how the ship is run, safety & DC procedures etc.

IWO(NAV)-The Initial Warfare Officer (Navigation) course is conducted at the Maritime Warfare School at HMS Collingwood, near Fareham, and lasts 7 weeks. Development of specialist navigation skills.

SFT- Specialist Fleet Time, nine months on an active warship at sea, primarily spent working towards bridge watch keeping qualification.

Nav Sea Week and Final Assessment

IWOC- 12 week Initial Warfare Officer Course, Consolidating training, core warfare skills, Divisional Officer course. Usually ~2yrs after completion of BRNC.


Career Progression
roughly 18-30 months in each post

First Compliment Assignment- As OOW 2-4, mainly watch keeping but possibly small ship navigator, flight controller, Gunnery or Met. With different secondary duties for each OOW position: Classified books, Intelligence, XO’s assistant etc.

Specialisation- General Service (work towards OOW1), Flight Controller, Mine Warfare, Intelligence, Hydrography and Meteorology, Mine Clearance Diver.

Next Steps (General Service)- Navigator, OPV First Lieutenant or P2000 CO. Followed by P2000 Command, OPV XO or Straight to PWO course.

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

Must admit, I have every sympathy for those told they need to know the training pipeline without anything being available through official sources.

I've attached the latest versions I have, but even then I cannot be 100% certain they are bang up to date.

If it is a criteria element of selection it would be bloody helpful if the latest versions were published through official sources.

Good luck

 

[PO Potty Mouth]

What is the BR/Reference for Officer training pipelines?
cheers

 

[alfred_the_great]

There isn't one, unfortunately.

 

[The_Commissar]

Yeah, that was one of the first places I looked. Not in the BR.

 

[kinross_special]

Must admit, I have every sympathy for those told they need to know the training pipeline without anything being available through official sources.

I've attached the latest versions I have, but even then I cannot be 100% certain they are bang up to date.

If it is a criteria element of selection it would be bloody helpful if the latest versions were published through official sources.

Good luck

It's just a case where the questions haven't caught up with the existence of the internet... Back in the 90s when I did it, the staff answer to training pipeline for a warfare officer was something like:

Dartmouth for a bit (inc IST), some fleet time as a dogs body, fleetboard, back to Dartmouth for a term, more fleet time as a chart chimp, course, first job.

If you could demonstrate awareness that the hurdles existed, let alone the order they came in (and I'm pretty sure the above isn't quite right - it was nearly 20 years ago - but would do) then that was a tick in the box, next question.

I'm not sure whether the current level of detail that keeps appearing in threads like this is an absurd chapter and versing expected by either the candidate or the Service (or both).

 

[Ninja_Stoker]

It's just a case where the questions haven't caught up with the existence of the internet... Back in the 90s when I did it, the staff answer to training pipeline for a warfare officer was something like:

Dartmouth for a bit (inc IST), some fleet time as a dogs body, fleetboard, back to Dartmouth for a term, more fleet time as a chart chimp, course, first job.

If you could demonstrate awareness that the hurdles existed, let alone the order they came in (and I'm pretty sure the above isn't quite right - it was nearly 20 years ago - but would do) then that was a tick in the box, next question.

I'm not sure whether the current level of detail that keeps appearing in threads like this is an absurd chapter and versing expected by either the candidate or the Service (or both).

So far as I'm aware it shouldn't be a "deal-breaker" at Sift but I do tire of the lazy answer "If you want to be an Officer, you should take the initiative to find out", particularly if those saying it can't be bothered publishing it through official sources. Because of this we have people making money out of prospective applicants and there's an industry riding on the back of it.

I guess it tends to a personality-driven question rather than a mandatory question of a critical nature.

 

[kinross_special]

First chapter of "We Joined the Navy" is still the best guide for candidates for what the board is looking for and how to approach it, and that was written the thick end of 60 years ago.

I'm only half joking.

 

[Wagemage]

So far as I'm aware it shouldn't be a "deal-breaker" at Sift but I do tire of the lazy answer "If you want to be an Officer, you should take the initiative to find out", particularly if those saying it can't be bothered publishing it through official sources. Because of this we have people making money out of prospective applicants and there's an industry riding on the back of it.

I guess it tends to a personality-driven question rather than a mandatory question of a critical nature.

I am utterly mystified at the business of punishing civilian aspirants for not knowing information that is not open-source. As far as the 'motivation' grade is concerned, I have far more officer-like initiative than my DE counterparts, simply because I have access to DII and MOSS.

As it is we have candidates freaking out because they don't know what PT kit you need for the fifth Thursday of IWOC, or whatever, because they think they'll fail if they don't know that level of detail, and published information sources that are directly contradictory or out of date.

 

[The_Commissar]

published information sources that are directly contradictory or out of date.

^This. On the whole I'm bloody lucky that I know quite a few people in the mob who've been able to point me in the right direction. I don't envy the civvies without much by the way of military contacts who have to do this.

 

[Rantalope]

I got given a copy of the training pipeline from the AFCO. Don't know if it's standard procedure or I had a particularly nice ACLO.

two small changes to your summary Commissar, BRNC is now two terms of 15 weeks each. Militarisation and Marinisation. The assessments are the same, ABLE at the end of term 1 and MARL at the end of term 2.

Also there's an Initial Warfare Officer (Aviation and warfare) section (IWOAVWAR) After IWONAV. 7 weeks at HMS Collingwood

Best of luck with your AIB

 

[Skibur33]

Must admit, I have every sympathy for those told they need to know the training pipeline without anything being available through official sources.

I've attached the latest versions I have, but even then I cannot be 100% certain they are bang up to date.

If it is a criteria element of selection it would be bloody helpful if the latest versions were published through official sources.

Good luck

Hi, do you have similar documents for the other Officer roles? if so I would be more than grateful for the MEO one.
Cheers.