Royal Fleet Auxiliary

[Unregistered]

I am just posting to ask why there is a very limited discussion on the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and why many people don't choose them for their cadetship and career.
The RFA offers the highest cadetship pay and probably the best training so why doesn't everyone have it as their first choice???

[Estevenson92]

Personally I didn't have the english grade to even apply for the rfa other wise it would have been high on my choices

[GuinnessMan]

Because they have their own forum?

Also, how can you say that they have the best training? What's that based on?

[Blondie]

There's plenty of discussion on the RFA on this forum, I'm not really sure where you're getting this impression from. Yes the RFA pays the most for a cadetship but money isn't everything - the pseudo-military career offered by the RFA isn't for everyone.

Additionally, the requirement to have Bs in certain GCSEs is a problem for many and the there's the Royal Navy recruit test and the AIB to get through. No easy feat.

As for the training being the best, I'm at a college with 75 non - RFA cadets and we're all in the same lectures with the same staff....

Oh and we don't have our own forum, we have a thread on the navy forum RumRation.

[Unregistered]

A few of the RFA I've met have let the drill and camping go to their head. I did that in army cadets but it doesn't bloody make me special forces.

[condeh]

There isn't enough money in the world to get me to work in the RFA (OK, slight exaggeration, but you know...) The running joke I have heard from many places is that the RFA is more Navy than the Navy. Great if that's what you want, but I'd rather just join the RN.

[Blondie]

A few of the RFA I've met have let the drill and camping go to their head. I did that in army cadets but it doesn't bloody make me special forces.

Sounds like you've got a few issues

[size4riggerboots]

Dear Anon posters, if you have a particular bugbear about the RFA, then please, feel free to discuss it, as Blondie says there is a lot of discussion about the RFA on here, and we have several RFA cadets and officers within the membership. However, just making sweeping statements about the RFA anonymously isn't the necessarily the best way to start a rational conversation. The RFA is a highly respected and valuable organisation, which bridges the civilian/military gap, and as such it is not for everyone. I would never have chosen the RFA because I don't fancy having the slightest chance of having guns pointed at me, nor do I fancy working in a highly militarised environment. RFA cadets go to the same colleges that the rest of the us went to/go to, and, as far as I can gather, the amount of time an RFA ship spends at sea is significantly less than most Merchant ships, plus they have god knows how many people on the bridge at any given time, so why the OP makes claims that the training provided by the RFA is superior is intriguing, what evidence do you have to back up this claim?

Finally, this is the anon forum, for sensitive issues. If the sensitive aspect of this thread is that you simply wish to antagonise without taking responsibility for your views and actually engaging in a rational conversation, then this thread will be closed down. I strongly encourage you to become a member, or log in if you already are, thereby enabling us to take you and your views in a more serious light.

[GuinnessMan]

Sounds like you've got a few issues

To be honest, from some of the RFA folks I've met here and there I have to agree to a certain point. Some where fine and normal but some some were real RN mittys and others were just complete c*cks who thought "Civvi" shipping was beneath them...

[Blondie]

That attitude gives the whole organisation a bad name, such a shame.

[GuinnessMan]

That attitude gives the whole organisation a bad name, such a shame.

Yup...

[desdons]

My best friend works for the RFA, he did his cadetship with them 10 years and still there and enjoying it. I think the discipline thing is good and it means the cadets will always show respect to their seniors and address people correctly etc which I liked the sound of. They were one of my top choices however didn't even make the necessary grades so didn't get past the application form.

The only negative things I've heard are they're strict on comms e.g. emails as you're working for the navy ultimately so security is quite high when it comes to the internet. Not that you can't use it but you can't just email them on their regular email address and I think they are issued a special RFA one. I think promotions are very hard to come buy as the pay, benefits and conditions are really good in the company so people tend to stay.

[YoungMariner]

The RFA does seem to attract some very good guys, who seem to often subsequently leave for bigger and better things or they attract some absolute horrors of the type mentioned above. I had 5 RFA guys on my cadetship, 4 ok but one who failed to get into the RN and did believe himself to be something like SBS/Royal Marine with an ego/chip on his shoulder.

The RFA training does seem good in some aspects and poor in others, very much like all shipping types, none seem to cover all bases well.

[HolyNougat]

Well, there are plenty of people on cruise ships who think that they are somehow superior to everyone else, so that attitude it not restricted to the RFA.
I don't think you could go into the RFA having worked in other sectors of the industry - they are just too RN... but I would much rather join the RFA than the RN - at least there is a clear exit strategy into the commercial world.
I suppose it is each to their own - I did a couple of weeks recently working with RN / RFA type people on a foreign military ship and they really seem to love the whole Navy thing and way of life, so good for them.

[YoungMariner]

Yes will agree with cruise ship comment, I came across some serious egos at times.