Where does the Royal Navy train its officers?
Emily Baldwin
Updated on March 25, 2026
Where does the Royal Navy train its officers?
Dartmouth
Basic Training, also known as Initial Naval Training (Officer) (INT(O)), is conducted at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, and is a 30 week course that provides comprehensive induction into Naval life as an Officer.
Is it hard to become an officer in the Royal Navy?
It takes hard work, dedication and a sense of adventure to become an officer in the Royal Navy. Before you can start the application process, you need to fulfil the eligibility criteria below. If you can do that, you can begin your Royal Navy journey. All roles within the Royal Navy are open to both men and women.
What is Fost in Royal Navy?
Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) delivers through-life operational training across all disciplines for RN/RFA and other Navies that wish to make use of its world class services. FOST’s training prepares all types of surface warships, submarines and auxiliaries for peacetime, peace-support and war-fighting operations.
How long does it take to become a Royal Navy officer?
For officers, basic training takes place at Britannia Royal Naval College and takes over 30 weeks. Training is covered in more detail in the ‘Training and Post-joining’ section.
Where do officers sleep on Royal Navy ships?
The wardroom is the mess cabin or compartment on a warship or other military ship for commissioned naval officers above the rank of midshipman.
Is officer training hard?
It’s not so much physically difficult as it is mentally. Don’t get me wrong, you will definitely need to be in shape to successfully complete training, but more than anything you need to be mentally strong. The main thing you will need to mentally persevere through is lack of sleep.
Is 27 too old to join the Navy?
Military Maximum Age Requirements: Navy Age Limit: 34 for active duty, 39 for Navy Reserve. Marine Corps Age Limit: 29 for active duty and Marine Corps Reserve. Air Force Age Limit: 39 for active duty and Guard, 38 for Air Force Reserve. Coast Guard Age Limit: 27 for active duty, 39 for Coast Guard Reserve.
What rank does an officer start at?
Officers generally reach the rank of first lieutenant after 18 to 24 months of service. Soldiers at this rank may lead more specialized weapons platoons and indirect fire computation centers. The captain commands and controls company-sized units (62 to 190 Soldiers).
Do Royal Marine officers go to Dartmouth?
Royal Naval officer training has taken place in Dartmouth since 1863. Since 1998, BRNC has been the sole centre for Royal Naval officer training.
Do officers get their own room on a Navy ship?
The commanding officer has his own cabin. Any officer senior to the commanding officer generally has a cabin, and if none Is available, someone will give up theirs (including the ship’s captain). On some ships, the executive officer may have his own cabin.
Does the captain eat in the wardroom?
And aboard ship, the captain’s word is law. (On the larger ships, however, the captain usually doesn’t eat in the wardroom while at sea. He eats alone in a cabin near the bridge so that he can keep an eye on things.) For holidays, the wardroom staff uses the ship’s china, silver and crystal to set a festive table.