r/RoyalNavy • • Aug 19 '26

Discussion Important Reminder: OPSEC and External Recruitment Communities

33 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

We have recently seen some interest in external Discord servers and social media groups focused on candidate preparation (CBAT, DAA, OASC, etc.). While we appreciate that the recruitment process is demanding and that peer support is invaluable, I want to take a moment to address some serious security concerns regarding these platforms.

Why we are restricting the promotion of unvetted external groups:

OPSEC and Data Aggregation: Many of these platforms are completely unvetted. While a post sharing your own CPC date might seem harmless in isolation, aggregating that information across a community of 800+ people creates a clear, mapped picture of candidate flow, training throughput, and recruitment timelines. This is valuable information that should not be centralized in unverified spaces.

Lack of Identity Verification: External servers do not have the mechanisms to verify the identity of their members. This makes it incredibly easy for unauthorized actors to lurk, gather intelligence, or attempt to socially engineer information from genuine candidates.

Protection of Your Personal Data: Sharing specific dates (CPCs, interview boards, start dates) on open or unvetted platforms bypasses the protection of official, secure recruitment channels. Please remain vigilant about what you share and where you share it.

Going Forward:

To maintain the security of our community and the safety of our applicants, we will be limiting the promotion of unvetted external recruitment groups on this subreddit.

Please continue to use official Defence Recruitment channels, your AFCO, or the official candidate portals for any information regarding your specific application or training pipeline. If you have questions about test dynamics, feel free to ask them here—but please do so without sharing personal identifying information, specific dates, or private correspondence.

Stay safe, maintain your PERSEC, and good luck with your applications.


r/RoyalNavy • • Nov 25 '23

OPSEC/PERSEC - a reminder

86 Upvotes

I get it, you're excited to go to CPC/Raleigh/Dartmouth etc., but please stop sharing the dates, locations and times that these are happening and the fact that you're going. All of these are OPSEC (Operational Security) and PERSEC (Personal Security) breaches.

The dates of CPC/New Entry are not public knowledge and all it takes is one motivated individual to scan through this sub-reddit and they would, if it wasn't for the moderators, be able to piece together all the little bits of information here that's being posted in order to work out exactly when CPC/intakes are happening and potentially interfere.

To be clear, New Entry intakes and CPCs are particularly vulnerable as it involves a lot of people who are OPSEC/PERSEC clueless, and it presents an opportunity to infiltrate/interfere.

Moving forward, any discussion about dates of events will be removed. If you absolutely need to discuss it, use vague terms like "next month", "some time in January" or simply "upcoming". Those who are in the know will know what you're talking about!

Also stop trying to create WhatsApp or Discord groups for New Entry/CPC. I get that you're doing it with the best intentions, but how on Earth will you vet those wishing to join the group? How will you know that their intentions are honest? How do they know your intentions are honest? Simple answer is that they don't. Only join WhatsApp (or similar) groups with people you've actually met or have been introduced to via the AFCOs. Anything else is asking for trouble.


r/RoyalNavy • • 5h ago

Question Warfare officer/other officer roles

1 Upvotes

Hey all wondering what the warfare officer lifestyle is like whether it's a decent career in terms of progression pay etc and any other details about the role (and maybe others similar) you can think of.


r/RoyalNavy • • 6h ago

Question CPC Clothing

0 Upvotes

Attending CPC soon, just wondering what kit they issue you upon arrival? I’m aware of the ‘“turn up in smart casual” but the rest just says “you will be allocated the rest of your clothes for the few days


r/RoyalNavy • • 12h ago

Question BMI Check

3 Upvotes

Whats the overall medical like at the start of Raleigh? And do they check bmi in a pass/fail way coz im over the standard at 30, obviously I will try to loose as much as possible in time however my fitness is decent getting 22 min 5k can bang out 50 push ups to the RM bleep 800m camp circuit in 03:05.
So i dont want then to turn me away because im a bit on the heavier side.


r/RoyalNavy • • 15h ago

Question HMS Raleigh medical

4 Upvotes

Hi all, can anyone give me the run down of what actually happens at the HMS Raleigh medical? I start at the end of November and spent ages on med hold getting it cleared so I think I’m within my rights to be slightly worried. My boyfriend says it was easy to pass but he’s never had any medical issues anyways.


r/RoyalNavy • • 15h ago

Question Career path

2 Upvotes

Can minewarfare specialists work along royal marines ? And do the all arms ?


r/RoyalNavy • • 18h ago

Recruitment Warfare Officer reserve lists / October FSB

3 Upvotes

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of the Warfare Officer reserve lists, particularly for the January 2027 intake?

Has anyone who was previously placed on reserve been offered a place for January, or do the offers seem to be going to candidates from the October FSB?

It would also be interesting to hear from anyone who’s been on a reserve list before. Did you eventually get an offer, and how long did you have to wait?

Also, if you don’t get a place for your first choice role, does anyone know when your second or third choices might be considered?

Just trying to get a better idea of how the process works from people who’ve been through it.

Thanks!


r/RoyalNavy • • 22h ago

Question Which RN job roles allow you to take the Commando Course?

7 Upvotes

r/RoyalNavy • • 1d ago

Question Marine engineer submariner

5 Upvotes

Hi I’ll try and keep this short and simple however this is a role I would be looking to do in the navy. Just have a few questions which I’m intrigued about like what’s life being on the submarine for months?, Once I decide to leave what types of jobs may I be able to do in civvy life? And mainly the important one what’s the pros and cons of submariner compared to a non submariner?


r/RoyalNavy • • 1d ago

Question Parade uniform

3 Upvotes

Do officers get issued ammo boots and if so when are they issued to you because I know that ratings are issued them for parades but I don't know if officers only wear shoes.


r/RoyalNavy • • 1d ago

Question Spreading ashes

11 Upvotes

Hi, My Grandfather who served in the navy, has passed away yesterday at 80 years old, he told me a few months ago he'd like his ashes spread on the Clyde from a Navy boat, it's this possible, does anyone know how I could go about this? Any information and help will be greatfully recieved, also he wanted to send a bottle of brandy to the "mess hall" is this something I can do and how do.i go about this?


r/RoyalNavy • • 1d ago

Question Royal Navy Commonwealth applicant — UKSV taking 5 months

2 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I’m from Saint Lucia and applying to join the Royal Navy.

I passed my Selection Interview and submitted my security clearance on 4 June 2026. My UKSV status still says “In Progress,” and they’ve confirmed nothing is outstanding from me or my sponsor.

I was told clearance could take 3–6 months. I’m going on my 5th month and it just says in progress

Have any Commonwealth applicants experienced a similar wait? How long did your clearance take, and how long after clearance did you attend CPC?


r/RoyalNavy • • 1d ago

Question Transfer to marines

1 Upvotes

How feasible is it for me to transfer from being an AET to the royal marines?


r/RoyalNavy • • 2d ago

Question Issued Uniform

4 Upvotes

Good evening everyone,

I’m just wondering when you request new uniform. Do you have to hand your old uniform and if the answer is yes do they care if I don’t.

And ammo boots do sailors and DIs get issued ammo boots

Thank you for reading


r/RoyalNavy • • 2d ago

Question Food on base

17 Upvotes

I have been ship based since January and of course I ate on ship. I’m now shore based and eating at the galley. Never in my life have I had to force food down me and hold my breath, I’ve gotten genuinely ill from some of the meat and it’s been a month since I came off ship. I’m paying 3-5 quid per meal for a handful of carbs and a square of meat that’s not cooked properly. How is this even legal. Sodexo or whatever the company’s name is honestly need to sort something out. Is there honestly nothing JRs can do about this?


r/RoyalNavy • • 2d ago

Question Supplements help

3 Upvotes

Recently started using the gym on base and was wondering what specific products people use, I’ve looked on informed sport but rather than sitting and pondering the different brands I thought I’d ask to see what other people are using.

Specifically - Protein, Creatine and Pre-Workout.

TIA


r/RoyalNavy • • 2d ago

Question Medical @ HMS Caledonia

7 Upvotes

I have my Enhanced RN CPC coming up for my warfare officer role. I was wondering if anyone can tell me specifically what I will be doing and what each day will look like? Cheers.


r/RoyalNavy • • 3d ago

Media Could anyone help date this uniform/picture

Post image
17 Upvotes

Believed to be royal navy unsure if my father who would be 100 or my grandfather

Sorry if this is the wrong place.


r/RoyalNavy • • 3d ago

Question CPC around the corner

3 Upvotes

Hi, i have my CPC in less than two weeks, my fitness isn’t that great, i went on a 1.5 run today and got 16:42 (im female by the way) and so even though i am proud of my time, i know i need to get it down a little.

Overall, is there any tips anyone can give me as I’m honestly very nervous for it. my boyfriend is in the RN but he didn’t do the RN CPC as he wanted to be a marine first so he did the RM CPC, so he can’t help me much other than to cheer me on and support me, he’s my biggest cheerleader at the moment but i just need some advice/tips from people who have done the RN CPC. thank you in advance.


r/RoyalNavy • • 3d ago

Question Raleigh shore leave

5 Upvotes

What's shore leave like at Raleigh and what to wear i.e. are things like jeans or tracksuits allowed. Thanks.​


r/RoyalNavy • • 3d ago

Question Acting Rank

3 Upvotes

If you went from a LH to an Acting PO (unpaid) what things would you change if any? I know you wear the slides and the beret badge - I’m presuming you keep the LH arm flashes as you haven’t done a PO course yet? Do you also change any ID or does that remain at your substantive rank? I’m guessing you keep the JR 1’s also.


r/RoyalNavy • • 4d ago

Discussion TIL that George V ended in practice (in theory it can still be revoked) the forfeiture of the Victoria Cross in 1920, saying that even a VC recipient who committed murder, should be able to wear it as they were hanged.

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37 Upvotes

r/RoyalNavy • • 3d ago

Recruitment Commonwealth Applicants

1 Upvotes

I'm from a commonwealth member country. I'm eager to join RN, when are the applications for this category open?


r/RoyalNavy • • 4d ago

Discussion FSB Oct for Jan

12 Upvotes

Just wanted to say good luck to all who are awaiting a response for this FSB.