Naval Careers Service

The Naval Careers Service (NCS) was formed on 1 April 1963 when the Naval Recruiting Service was renamed.[2] It is one of the four components of Her Majesty's Naval Service – alongside the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines and the Reserve Naval and Marine Forces – and is governed by the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council.[3] The service is led by the Captain of Naval Recruiting.[4] The service's personnel consist of former Royal Navy, Royal Naval Reserve, Royal Marines and Royal Marines Reserve warrant officers, sergeants and petty officers. These personnel hold the named title of career adviser in the NCS of which there are three ranks – CA3, CA2, CA1 (in order of ascending seniority).[4] Personnel wear the uniform conforming to the rank or rate they held in their regular service, with the addition of the NCS badge.[5] Careers advisers are typically assigned to one of the 53 Armed Forces Careers Offices.[6][7]

NCS members are subject to the Queen's Regulations, service law and the provisions of the Armed Forces Act 2006.[8][3] Service members are classed as Full Time Reserve Service (FTRS) under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 and are subject to call-out (mobilisation) in addition to any liability they have as ex-regular service personnel (as recall reserve).[9] NCS members are also entitled to the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal.[8]

The NCS is by far the smallest of the four components of the Naval Service: in September 2017 it amounted to 180 full-time trained personnel.[10] The Royal Navy had a strength of around 22,500 regular personnel and the Royal Marines around 6,600.[10] The combined Royal Navy and Royal Marine reserves amounted to around 2,700 personnel.[11]

Applicants are only accepted as direct entrants from the other components of the Naval Service. They must have 12 years service and have held the minimum rank of petty officer (or sergeant in the Royal Marines) for at least two years.[12] Applications may be made whilst serving in the regular forces or within two years of leaving (extended to five years where applicants entered the reserve forces upon end of regular service).[12] The maximum age on entry is 52 and the normal retirement age is 55, which may be extended in exceptional circumstances to 60 years.[12][13] Additionally all entrant must have a clean driving licence, no unspent convictions and pass medical fitness checks.[7]

New entrants are always assigned to the CA3 rank, regardless of previous rank.[9] Initial training is carried out at the Royal Navy School of Recruiting in Bovington.[7] Progression is via promotion boards specific to the NCS.[9]

Additionally regular and reserve officers and ratings can be temporarily assigned to the service. Such personnel are generally required to be over 30, present a good image and able to communicate with potential recruits and their parents. These personnel typically serve in an Armed Forces Careers Office, a Royal Navy Careers Information Office, an Officer Careers Liaison Centre or for university presentations and displays.[14]

The role of NCS career advisers is to increase awareness of the Naval Service to potential recruits and the general public and to enable the service to meet recruitment targets. Career advisers interview potential applicants, administer selection tests, check recruits meet eligibility requirements and assist them in completing necessary documentation. They may also accompany potential recruits on visits to Royal Navy establishments, attend careers fairs and carry out presentations to schools and colleges and outreach events.[7]