submarine warfare officer? heavily subscribed?

[ajcee867]

hi

this is my first post!

i am currently getting myself ready for an application for a Commision as a submarine warfare officer, and my question is this, is this branch of the navy heavily subscribed? or can i expect that this is a branch with shortages such as engineering?

thanks

andy

[tn201]

Submarine warfare officer is one of the least popular branch choices, most seem to want to go to the major surface vessels. The Navy is also short of Engineer officers and Mine clearance diver officers (MCDO). They tend to throw money at problems like this. Financial incentives have been offered to people wanting to join the submarine service since last year and this helped. This year I believe there were enough people volunteering for duty on boats so they didnt have to draft. There's a lot of banter about the submarines and yes in some ways its a pants life apparently, but in many ways the job appears fascinating. The RN sub service is something of an elite; as are the clearance divers. I'm joining in September as a Warfare officer and intend to go for either SWO or MCDO. Both jobs are incredibly interesting to me, are specialised and will be highly challenging. A word of caution: unless you are sure you want to go for subs dont mention it on the application or the AIB. You may be pushed in a direction that subsequently you dont actually want to go in. Wait until Dartmouth before you go volunteering for things, that way you will be on the inside and you can find out for yourself. Part of the Dartmouth training programme gives you an in depth insight into subs, you will visit one for a few days. This is designed to attract people to the service as traditionally it is unpopular. The sub service and Divers also get a lot more pay.

Good luck.

[ajcee867]

thanks

SWO is actually something that has interested me for a few years now, but like you said maybe best not to mention this straight away.

does anyone have any personal experience of life on a sub?

[Jammy]

There's a lot of banter about the submarines and yes in some ways its a pants life apparently, but in many ways the job appears fascinating. The RN sub service is something of an elite;

LOL Life on Boats is way way better than on Skimmers Better pay no bullshit better oppos & better trained more switched on men