Royal Fleet Auxiliary

[Supermario]

Hi Folks, Just wondering if there are any RFA seafarers on this Forum. I'm thinking about applying for a trainee place with them, and would appreciate any comments/advice you would be kind enough to offer. I'm familiar with the official website/careers brochures, but would be keen to get a better idea of the "life" in this branch of the Merchant Navy, the ups and downs, and any differences from say container ships, offshore vessels etc. What are the chances of getting in as a Rating? I know this is virtually impossible for us Brits on commercial vessels.
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[Steve]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA rating recruitment has been suspended for the immediate future. No doubt it will restart sometime, but with three ships paying off by April there is a need to shrink the number of personnel. Redundancies are likely. Cadets are still being recruited.

[penfold]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

RFA rating recruitment has been suspended for the immediate future. No doubt it will restart sometime, but with three ships paying off by April there is a need to shrink the number of personnel. Redundancies are likely. Cadets are still being recruited.

What about recruiting keen 4th engineers? I like gin, and I fancy a change from bobbling around the north sea coaxing non-functional boilers into life.

[Brimbo]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

as said above the RFA is cutting down on vessels, and as far as im aware they only recruit 2 engine / 2 deckies per intake so getting a placement or interview is difficult!

[Steve]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

4th Engineers are out of luck, apparently direct recruitment of officers has been canned too. Cadets only. I expect it's more than 2 per intake but they are having difficulty getting enough past the damned AIB.

[Lewis]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Just curious do RFA officers hold the Queen Commission?

[tempest]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Don't know about the Queen Commission, but for questions about the RFA, you're best going to http://www.toysoutofthepram.com/foru...8d5fd5d350964f it's an unofficial forum, but it's dedicated to the RFA, and one of the guys, is somehow involved in the recruitment process, it's quite active, and has a fairly detailed account of the AIB, which sounds like quite an interview/audition to me.

[Steve]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Just curious do RFA officers hold the Queen Commission?

No.

Civvies, see?

[kayak]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

I heard they're still gonna be short of engineers in the next few years when they all retire though? The engine cadet who was at brnc with us kept getting told that he'll do fairly well for promotion because of it...

[penfold]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

I heard they're still gonna be short of engineers in the next few years when they all retire though? The engine cadet who was at brnc with us kept getting told that he'll do fairly well for promotion because of it...

I'd have thought so; when redundancy packages are offered, it's disproportionately the elder and more experienced personnel that take the shilling and run as it's worth their while. Unchecked, this buggers up the demographic and without careful forethought(and continuing to recruit cadets and experienced staff) will make manning a headache for the next decade. The MoD have a extremely bad habit of doing not doing any of that pesky foward planning though, so I guess anything's possible.

[Supermario]

Re: Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Thanks for the TOOTP link tempest......as you say, plenty of activity there

[SharkyB]

Hey guys,

Think it is internet etiquette not to start a new thread, so that is why I have resurrected this old one.

Judging from what I have seen online, it seems that there are now places to join the RFA as a rating (even if this is very competitive).

Have I got the right idea? I ask as I can imagine it coming up in an interview.

Thanks

[Thesneakyfish]

if you call their number, they usually list all the current vacancies

[SharkyB]

Thanks sneaky.