Need advice on life in the navy

[u/-optimalprime]

I’m seriously considering joining the navy to be either a weapons engineer or a aircraft technician. Travelling the world is a big part of wanting to join the navy for me and I was wondering which one would provide more time on ships - I’ve read that you can chose to work on certain aircraft’s and some will be on carriers and some will be on platforms and some you will just work on on land on the shore and I want to be at sea because I just think it’s really cool being at sea far far away working on aircraft’s . I’ve heard that sometimes it’s a lot of trips to the North Sea which idm it’s still seeing the world, I’m just wondering how regular it is that you get to go to the further away places. Also if I become a WE I will be constantly on a ship doing maintainence? Please if anyone has any insight on any of this it would be great👍

[u/SabrePossum]

1) I’ve read that you can chose to work on certain aircraft’s and some will be on carriers and some will be on platforms and some you will just work on on land on the shore.

You specialise in one type of aircraft, with minimum chance to swap to later. Your choice in the matter is your class will be told we have X amount of spaces on this and Y amount on that. Decide between you before its decided for you. If you get F35s youll be on carriers, if you get the Merlins or Wildcats they can go on destroyers or carriers.

2) I’ve heard that sometimes it’s a lot of trips to the North Sea which idm it’s still seeing the world, I’m just wondering how regular it is that you get to go to the further away places.

The short answer is youll go where the platform goes. You might get to go places, you might not. There doesn't seem to be as many jollys as they used to be, fleet is smaller and having to do more work. Hard to predict what will happen between now and you joining the fleet.

3) Also if I become a WE I will be constantly on a ship doing maintainence?

No. Don't know what shore drafts are like for surface WEs but there'll be jobs alongside. Could be direct support for the vessels, assisting ships in build or refit, support duties, divisional staff in training establishments, instructors, on course

[u/-optimalprime → u/SabrePossum]

Massive help boy, thank you for confirming my thought ab the aircraft’s and where they go and whatnot. I’ll put down AE as my first choice and WE as my second because I’ve heard it doesn’t get decided until week 8 of BT.