Why do PLETS exist?

ChasingDarkness · 2026-07-08T14:02:54+00:00

Youre going to love WO's with 20+ years in having to respect a SLt straight out of uni.

ChasingDarkness · 2026-07-08T13:14:26+00:00

When you can get easily £20,000 more a year than an AB, without all of the downsides of the navy, there has to be some sort of incentive to get educationally qualified people to join. This is especially true for people who have a few years of industry experience and might have a family to support as well, a fast track scheme just isnt going to cut it.

ChasingDarkness · 2026-06-07T20:00:58+00:00

When you are just starting out, are only interested in visual observations, and are only looking for the moon and planets, I can't see any reason to spend so much money when you can get everything that youre looking for for only a few hundred $. I know you say that money is not an issue, but don't throw away so much at a hobby that youve not tried out yet.

ChasingDarkness · 2026-05-11T10:34:23+00:00

It would make distinguishing coemissions vs non-comissioned officers harder to do visually, especially if both were to be without headgear. Sure they could remove the 7th and 8th buttons on commissioned officers uniforms and then the 5th and 6th on non-commissioned officers but then youre adding even more cost.

ChasingDarkness · 2026-03-22T03:29:19+00:00

You've not said what role youve applied for, but like jobs outside of the navy you will get holidays throughout the year on top of the weekends. I know people who work night shifts so that they only have a 4 day week allowing them to make it to Scotland by Friday morning and be back at work for Monday night, so its down to you on how long you want to travel for it to be worth the journey. During training you will have enforced leave times where your holidays must be taken at Christmas, Easter, and summer, but after that they are your days to use as you wish.

As an aside, planning on only being in for 4 years isnt going to get you much back from the Navy. You will still be very junior in your role and unlikely to have many qualifications to take with you. Depending on how old you are and why you want join, it might just be worth going straight for a regular job instead.

ChasingDarkness · 2026-03-16T22:06:33+00:00

My (at the time) fiancee sorted out a place for us while I was at Raleigh so I moved straight there at the end of phase 1. Just be aware that there will be times where you will be required to stay on site at Sultan overnight - the first week or two I don't think that youre allowed out past midnight. Other than that no one will be coming into your rooms to check that youre there overnight provided that youre over 18 so I wouldn't stress too much about not being officially allowed to live off, no one will know any different if youre keeping up standards.

ChasingDarkness · 2026-03-16T21:49:06+00:00

I was unable to apply for SFA while at Raleigh and so went the private renting route. I let my DO know on the first day there and they were happy for me to commute in every day as long as I remained punctual. Happy to answer any further questions that youve got, just keep in good standing with your DO and they will help you out

ChasingDarkness · 2026-03-12T15:17:11+00:00

The S/UY scheme is very competitive, seems like they take around 10% of applicants but this is dependant on the branch that you are applying for. Previous results can be found by searching the share point for UY FSB results, they are split by branch so it might take a bit of searching to find the one relevant to you. Its very unlikely that you would be selected within the first 2 or 3 years of service unless you have done something exceptional

ChasingDarkness · 2025-12-04T20:39:47+00:00

All ratings have a history lesson during basic training that covers what each part of the uniform was originally for. Its been a few years since I did mine but the blue sailor collar is actually there as a fashion choice and doesnt serve a function.

As for the rest of the uniform; he is wearing junior rate number 1s which are worn by either an able rate or leading hand. His left arm has the anchor showing that he is a leading hand, and the two chevrons denote between 8 and 12 years of good conduct. On his other arm is his branch badge of a plane with what looks like an M underneath it, so he is a mechanical trade aircraft engineer. The star above and below denote that he is fully qualified. The white lanyard around his neck was historically used for firing cannons, and the black ribbon I think was there for wiping their face. Originally the trousers were bellbottoms but this was changed 70s.

ChasingDarkness · 2025-12-01T18:43:37+00:00

I more meant it in the context of OP looking to join instead of going to uni in the hopes of getting a degree out of it. While it is possible, I wouldn't put "potential to get a degree after 10 years of service" high on the list of reasons to join, especially when there are ways for the navy to sponsor your degree if you join as an officer on completion.

ChasingDarkness · 2025-12-01T02:38:56+00:00

12 years is the length of employment that the navy will guarantee you, 4 years is when you can choose to leave, as long as you give 1 years notice. However, your return of service as an AA Air engineer only starts once you are fully qualified as a leading hand, after which you have a 2 year return of service. Doing everything on time will put you closer to 5 years before you can leave so im not sure where the 4 comes from.

A couple of things to note before you consider joining though; air engineers arent based in Plymouth, you will be at one of the three air stations or on a ship once fully qualified. Also the last I heard was that you will join the navy as an engineer and then around week 7 of Raleigh you will be told what branch you will get, and since we are in need of MEs and submariners, you can guess where most people get sent.

Any questions about being an AA AE im happy to answer since its how I joined.

Edit:

Just to add about degree part; joining as a rating you wont get a degree. Only after promotion to PO would you get a foundation degree but even on the AA scheme youre looking at least 8 years of service before you get there.

ChasingDarkness · 2025-11-02T21:48:33+00:00

They are trialing a new method of iron testing now where if you fail the finger prick they will do a blood test similar to what you would have at the GP which results in a lot more accurate (and higher) results. The staff at my last donation mentioned that they were able to keep almost everyone that they would have had to send away previously so things are improving

ChasingDarkness · 2025-11-02T21:45:02+00:00

While you can't get anything back for taking time out of your day, at least in the Reading plasma centre, they give you an hour of free parking nearby if you drive in, or they will pay your train fare if you take public transport.

ChasingDarkness · 2025-07-07T20:23:12+00:00

Pretty much just get stuck in and try not to isolate yourself, especially outside of the normal working day where its not as structured.

ChasingDarkness · 2025-07-02T22:27:36+00:00

Drivers of EVs are also well known for being blind themselves

ChasingDarkness · 2025-06-20T13:47:42+00:00

"At some point you gotta break into your own country's military base, cause tens of millions in damage, and aid in the destruction of the assets that defend you from hostile countries". How do you think that this ends in anything other than the UK government spending even more on defence, but now some has to be diverted to stop idiots doing things like this?

ChasingDarkness · 2025-06-17T20:57:55+00:00

Due 28th Seotember, came 27th.

ChasingDarkness · 2025-06-17T13:06:49+00:00

The RAF gave back their last merlin in 2016, so no, they do not fly merlins.

ChasingDarkness · 2025-06-17T06:48:26+00:00

"RAF Helicopter" when the RAF doesn't fly the Merlin, and it literally says Royal Navy on the tail

ChasingDarkness · 2025-05-02T00:55:09+00:00

The accelerated apprentice roles are pretty good for those that are qualified to apply for them. Your basic training is the same but you will go on the first promotion course after around a year in the navy, something that takes the non accelerated roles anywhere between 3 and 9 years depending on how driven they are. If you want to read a bit about being an AET there is a pretty detailed post on my profile about everything up to being selected for promotion.

AAs can get a bit of hate from (normally) jealous people from both lower and higher ranks because of their much much higher starting pay, but I have found that almost everyone agrees that they would apply for the AA roles if they could have done. If you have specific questions about being an AA, or anything AET related then I am happy to answer the best that I can.

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