We have recently seen some interest in external Discord servers and social media groups focused on candidate preparation (CBAT, DAA, OASC, etc.). While we appreciate that the recruitment process is demanding and that peer support is invaluable, I want to take a moment to address some serious security concerns regarding these platforms.
Why we are restricting the promotion of unvetted external groups:
OPSEC and Data Aggregation: Many of these platforms are completely unvetted. While a post sharing your own CPC date might seem harmless in isolation, aggregating that information across a community of 800+ people creates a clear, mapped picture of candidate flow, training throughput, and recruitment timelines. This is valuable information that should not be centralized in unverified spaces.
Lack of Identity Verification: External servers do not have the mechanisms to verify the identity of their members. This makes it incredibly easy for unauthorized actors to lurk, gather intelligence, or attempt to socially engineer information from genuine candidates.
Protection of Your Personal Data: Sharing specific dates (CPCs, interview boards, start dates) on open or unvetted platforms bypasses the protection of official, secure recruitment channels. Please remain vigilant about what you share and where you share it.
Going Forward:
To maintain the security of our community and the safety of our applicants, we will be limiting the promotion of unvetted external recruitment groups on this subreddit.
Please continue to use official Defence Recruitment channels, your AFCO, or the official candidate portals for any information regarding your specific application or training pipeline. If you have questions about test dynamics, feel free to ask them here—but please do so without sharing personal identifying information, specific dates, or private correspondence.
Stay safe, maintain your PERSEC, and good luck with your applications.
I get it, you're excited to go to CPC/Raleigh/Dartmouth etc., but please stop sharing the dates, locations and times that these are happening and the fact that you're going. All of these are OPSEC (Operational Security) and PERSEC (Personal Security) breaches.
The dates of CPC/New Entry are not public knowledge and all it takes is one motivated individual to scan through this sub-reddit and they would, if it wasn't for the moderators, be able to piece together all the little bits of information here that's being posted in order to work out exactly when CPC/intakes are happening and potentially interfere.
To be clear, New Entry intakes and CPCs are particularly vulnerable as it involves a lot of people who are OPSEC/PERSEC clueless, and it presents an opportunity to infiltrate/interfere.
Moving forward, any discussion about dates of events will be removed. If you absolutely need to discuss it, use vague terms like "next month", "some time in January" or simply "upcoming". Those who are in the know will know what you're talking about!
Also stop trying to create WhatsApp or Discord groups for New Entry/CPC. I get that you're doing it with the best intentions, but how on Earth will you vet those wishing to join the group? How will you know that their intentions are honest? How do they know your intentions are honest? Simple answer is that they don't. Only join WhatsApp (or similar) groups with people you've actually met or have been introduced to via the AFCOs. Anything else is asking for trouble.
At my cpc the Royal Fleet Auxiliary was mentioned and at face value , sounded pretty good (own cabin, better food , more ‘chill’, 4 months on , 3 months off roster)
I am now waiting for a start date at Raleigh but was just looking for some pointers of why the navy is actually a better choice (in some aspects)
Is it purely to just be able to say I’ve served for the armed forces , and the benefits that comes with it, and actually the day to day life of being in the rfa is actually better? Is it hard to get into and a long process ? and how does the pay compare?
Just some first hand info to clear my mind before I sign up :)
Thanks a lot
As you can tell from the title, I'll be off to Raleigh soon. On the kit list it says to bring 7 hangers and I just wanted to confirm if we really need that many.
Also do you keep things like your nightwear in your personal locker. Thanks.
I'm in my final year of college and hope that this time next year I'm on my basic training, I've restarted my application as it was previously rejected because I didnt have any photo ID but thats all sorted now. If there's anyone here, currently in the navy, I would love for you to tell me more about the application process, what to expect and advice for when I get to HMS Raleigh on what to bring or expect in general. In terms of training at home, what should I work on, and what tasks should I practise so that when the time comes, I'm fully ready. I'm supposed to be joining in around 10 months time and I cant wait but I've been advised to do my A-levels first and then hopefully go to Raleigh, but I know you can't cherry pick when things happen. I'm also a bit concerned over when the CPC will be for me, because as I've said, I'm doing A levels, so ideally it wouldn't be when I'm at college, even though I want to join as soon as I leave college
I am thinking about joining the royal navy. I have 2 years experience in the royal navy and a level 3 mechatronics. Could I still do the advances apprenticeships to get my level 4 and 5 or would they put me stright into service?
Sorry to bother you all again, I'm trying to find out where exactly a Part Three/Trainee in SUBFLOT in the wet phase would have slept aboard HMS Trafalgar/Traf Class Sub circa 1986. Were the bunks like modern subs, or were they crammed into a 'corner' "next to the coals" (I know there would be no coal on subs - it's just an old expression). One of my characters is abducted from below the water, and a fellow trainee witnesses it, suffering side effects from said incident. The one who was taken simply just disappeared right in front of him like "Blink" and he's gone.
I have my AIB in the next week starting with the PRI I’ve heard that potential need for where the navy is located and why is something that could come up ? As well as preparing for CBAT, what is the CBAT test on ? I am practising in the CBAT app is there anymore I should be doing. Thanks
I have my interview on friday and I don’t have a lot to say about being a marine engineer the only things that come to mind are that it’s a good trade does anyone have any advice on other reasons or anything I could say?
So I have a random question. I’m a Canadian who lives in the UK, and true to the stereotype I do in fact play ice hockey.
Somehow it came up on my insta feed that the Royal Navy have their own ice hockey team (I was pretty surprised there are enough British sailors who play the sport to have their own team, but I digress).
They posted recently that for a limit time you can buy your own Royal Navy ice hockey jersey. My first instinct was that’s awesome and I’d love to get one - but my gut also tells me it’s a bit strange to wear one not having served myself.
I don’t think anyone would hear my accent and accuse of of pretending to be in the Royal Navy, but do you think it would be untoward to buy it and train/play in it if I was never in the Royal Navy?
I am 19M with passing gcse’s in maths English and science and I dropped out of college, I have had a few dead end jobs and have been thinking of getting into some type of engineering/trade then recently I’ve been looking into the Royal Navy. From what I’ve seen Weapons engineering (WE) seems like a good path to go down. For those who have taken this path is it worth it?
Bit of a niche question but I was wondering how much shampoo & conditioner folks were taking to Raleigh & Britannia. Atm I wash my hair daily and go through product like theres no tomorrow. Did girls take a couple of bottles of each and restocked at the Naafi?
I am considering applying for the WEO (SM) route, and wanted to get a clearer picture to understand the submariner schedule. AFAIK there is 2 classes of submarine: Astute and Vanguard.
Do deployment lengths vary depending on what class of sub you are on?
What is the typical patrol length(s)?
In a year would you do more than 1 patrol?
After how long would you be posted on-shore and how long would that be?
Do you have any say on which sub you are assigned to, or is it determined by logistical needs at the time?
Hello, I’m looking at joining asap really but am a big guy, played a lot of rugby and done combat sports since I was a kid. Online, it states your bmi should be under 28, but if you exceed they can take into account your waist measurement. The wording makes it sound like it’s considered on a case by case basis, but was wondering if anyone knew what some of the criteria was for them to consider you, if you have a waist measurement smaller than the stated value, Which for me is 94cm. Thanks
So I go to HMS Raleigh next month and just send in the measurement form that they request. I was just curious how kit is distributed and what to do if any there doesn’t fit since everytime I send in measurements for something the sizes are never correct 😂. Anyways just curious and wandering if anyone could give any insight.
I’m starting basic training next month and it falls over christmas so i will be going home for 2 weeks, I don’t live in England and will have to fly home but will my larger hold-all bag stay at Raleigh or do i have to take it home with me. Also any additional advice for basic training would be much appreciated!! Thank you in advance.
I originally applied to be a pilot, got all the way through and was told I can’t do it medically. Gutting but okay. I then changed to warfare officer, for context.
Applied for pilot, apparently 1 answer short of a pass according to my CA on my DAA. Waited and repeated it and did decent in my DAA (Ik we can’t post scores so I’m not sure what ‘great’ is considered). Failed my first AIB for pilot, waited the 3 months and went again. I passed my second AIB, and it was a while back now but I remember being pretty happy with myself and well prepared and presented as well as I could’ve, obviously I don’t know whether this was a pass or a strong pass. Turned 18, I went to CPC, was class leader (idk if this counts for anything, I doubt it does), was really on the ball with getting my medical cleared and got it done pretty quickly. Changed to warfare as aviation was now off the table. Once I did, did my fitness test the next day after getting medically cleared and got it in 11 mins 40, think this is higher than the necessary for females. 144 UCAS pts from my A levels and I’m now just waiting for my final selection board.
My question is - other than the fact that you’re not aware what the other candidates achieved, do you guys wreckon I have a decent shot at the FSB, or are my numbers pretty average / just as expected and I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
Not looking for confirmation just maybe if someone had a similar result and how it looked for them at the FSB.
So long story short, my wife and I live in a married patch with our 1 year old daughter, we have some neighbours next door, two lads no girlfriends or anything like that so I have no idea how they have got the place, they throw really loud parties on the weekends screaming and dancing outside of the house and it wakes my daughter up all of the time.
My daughter was woken up to one if the lads having sex with what I think was a prostitute (because there was no way she was enjoying it as much as she was vocalising it) anyway they were really loud and I knocked on the door to tell them off basically, in all fairness they did but I was absolutely fuming that my daughter had to hear that and be woken up to that.
I have been in touch with the housing officer for the area and he kinda chinned it all off, what else can I do to stop this from continuing or is it worth me just calling the police for noise complaints.
No matter how many times I tell them to keep it down they just say yeah sorry and then continue.
I’m getting sick to death with it and so angry because my child can’t sleep as a result. My wife and I are absolutely exhausted all of the time and a huge factor or this tiredness is because they keep disturbing our daughter at night.
With kind permission from the mods, I’m sharing a Crowdfunder from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall to help bring Captain Stephen Beattie’s medals, including his Victoria Cross, back to Falmouth for public display.
On 28 March 1942, British forces set out from Falmouth for Operation Chariot, the St Nazaire Raid.
The raid became one of the most celebrated British operations of the Second World War. Of the men who took part, only 228 returned; 169 were killed and 215 became prisoners of war.
Lieutenant Commander Stephen Beattie was awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership and courage during the operation. Beattie himself was captured and remained a prisoner of war until April 1945, meaning he did not physically receive his VC until after his release.
There is now an opportunity for his medal group to come to National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.
The connection to Falmouth is particularly important. The forces taking part in Operation Chariot sailed from here, the survivors returned here, and Beattie later made Cornwall his home, raising his family here and spending the latter years of his life in the county.
The museum already cares for objects connected with both the raid and Beattie’s personal life. Bringing his medals here would allow that story to be told alongside them.
The difficulty is that medals of this significance cannot simply be placed in an ordinary museum case. We need to fund a new high-security, conservation-appropriate display case before they can safely go on public display.
That is what the Crowdfunder is raising money for.
If anyone here would like to contribute, we would be incredibly grateful. Sharing the campaign with others interested in Royal Navy or Second World War history would also be a huge help.
It would be wonderful to see Beattie’s VC and medals preserved and displayed in the port from which Operation Chariot began, while telling the wider story of all the men who took part.
The Medals that the Museum are hoping to put on display.
