Rfa Officer cadet engineering Sift Interview

[Paul1021]

Hi guys,
Long time reader first time poster here. I have a sift interview in two weeks time for the role of Officer Cadet in Engineering.
I'm pretty sorted on my responses to questions relating to my education and motivation and have passed my recruitment test when trying to apply as Warfare Officer.
However I'm a little stumped on the details I need to know regarding fleet knowledge.
How specific does my knowledge need to be, in terms of the details of each fleet( for example top speed, capacity main function and current location of the ships)? Should I be finding more out?
Furthermore where can I find more information regarding my role as an engineering officer? The Royal Navy website is great for getting the basic information, but I feel like I should know more regarding the time training and how long it will be until I get on board a ship.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[Steve]

The RN website and RFA recruitment material is full of lies.

All the college training and the job onboard as a junior officer is much the same as for the commercial guys.

[Paul1021]

I found this an wanted to see if it's similar to what I should expect http://www.nafc.ac.uk/WebData/Files/...ET%20ROUTE.pdf

[Steve]

I expect it will be the Foundation Degree route rather than HND, and at Fleetwood if they offer that course. There are a few RFA engineer cadets around here somewhere...

[The H]

I have a sift interview in two weeks time for the role of Officer Cadet in Engineering.
I wouldn't worry too much about this if you have passed it already.

However I'm a little stumped on the details I need to know regarding fleet knowledge.
How specific does my knowledge need to be, in terms of the details of each fleet( for example top speed, capacity main function and current location of the ships)? Should I be finding more out?
I assume you are asking this regarding the AIB. If so the fleet knowledge is only worth a very small percentage of your final grade (about 1% if I remember correctly). Concentrate more on the planning exercises and the final interview. Aslong as you appear well motivated and switched on you should get through.

Furthermore where can I find more information regarding my role as an engineering officer? The Royal Navy website is great for getting the basic information, but I feel like I should know more regarding the time training and how long it will be until I get on board a ship.
As an Marine Engineering Officer you will be responsible for the onboard machinery for a segment of time, either on a watch system or on a duty system. You will be allocated equipment by the billet that you join in and will be responsible for its maintenance and correct operation.

Training wise, if you have A-levels you will be put onto the FD course. Assuming that Fleetwood operate a similar course structure to Warsash then you will carry out the following:

Phase 1 - 7 months - Maths based and Workshop skills with a few short courses.

Phase 2 - 5 months - Of which you will spend 4 at sea.

Phase 3 - 9 months - Engineering theory based and finishing Workshop skills.

Phase 4 - 5 months - Another 4 month trip.

Phase 5 - 6 months - FD Group Project and final short courses and preparing for your Class 4 Orals.

I have added some comments in red above, I hope they help.

[Steve]

and preparing for your Class 4 Orals.

That's STCW '78 terminology. Who is still calling it that?

[The H]

Steve, I find it strange that you have picked me up for apparently referring to a term that is no longer used, yet you do not make reference to the term that is currently used.

Everyone from college lecturers to onboard personnel have referred to it as a Class 4 ticket or COC. Frankly I don't think it matter what it is called providing it is obvious what is being referred to.

[Paul1021]

Cheers for that info H. I haven't passed my Sift interview yet only my recruitment test. In my Navy interview there were a lot of questions regarding the fleet and I want to make sure I'm prepared. Is there much difference between the fleet knowledge required in the RN interview compared to the RFA?

[Steve]

yet you do not make reference to the term that is currently used.

EOOW, STCW 95 Regulation III/1. For example as per the syllabi.

Your ticket will not say 'Class 4'. It wasn't a "pick up", just curiosity about where the 78 terminology is still in use.

[YoungMariner]

You still come across a few of the old boys using the old terminology.

[Steve]

You still come across a few of the old boys using the old terminology.

To be fair, given the age profile of RFA engineers, most of them probably sat Class 4 exams 'back in the day'. It is quite a while since I heard a deck officer referring to a "Class 2 ticket" or such. One place it is definitely still used is in RFA pay scales! It is a little unfair to base pay on a system of qualifications that no longer exists.

[GuinnessMan]

That's STCW '78 terminology. Who is still calling it that?

Those that are not pedants. Yes, we know it's now referred to as the EOOW, but the term "Class 4" is still commonly used by most folks in the industry.

[timmillea]

I had my RFA Deck Officer sift interview today. I am relieved to say that I passed and am through to the RFA AIB. I was tested on knowledge of the service and this was my weakest aspect in the feedback given to me. I was asked where RFA ships are serving, their names, what they do, and to identify a ship and its purpose from a photo. It was my decision not to memorise these things as I considered it OTT for an outside applicant to be expected to know such details before entering the service. I said as much in the interview and was told that there are some candidates who know more details than the interviewers about the RFA fleet but are rejected for other reasons. Concentrate on your strengths. Unless your weaknesses are uncorrectable, you will make it.

I hope this helps.

Good luck and try hard!

Tim.

[Paul1021]

Hey tim,
That is the info I was looking for were you asked questions purely on RFA fleet? We're there any relating to the main fleet ? I currently have a basic set of revision about the whole fleet(RN rm and RFA) but from what you said I should focus on
More of the rfa but have RN an rm as reserve just in case am I rigt? Congrats on passing to the next stage by the way

[timmillea]

Paul,

I was asked only about the RFA. In the post-interview mentoring for the AIB I was advised to learn about RN & RM ops, traditions, insignia, ranks, history, weapons, vessels & aircraft too. This will be tested by computer multiple-choice for 30 mins on day 2 of the AIB. The RFA AIB is only a slightly modified version of the RN AIB and as far I understand, the only difference is that an RFA officer will probably be on the interview panel and we formally get our results by post from the RFA - this allows them some discretion in cases of a near-miss. Anyway that is to come, concentrate on the RFA for now.