Current RN News and Updates

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Royal Navy failing to get enough recruits into basic training

Here we report on serious issues hampering the flow of new sailors into the fleet.


Background
Between July 2022 and July 2023, the already under-strength RN workforce shrank by 4.1% (1,640 more people left than were recruited). The high level of outflow of experienced people continues to be a major concern, although the number of resignations has slowed slightly from its post-pandemic peak. The gap between the number of resignations and the intake of new sailors continues to grow and if numbers are allowed to decline at 4% or more per year, the RN will quickly be unable to meet even its core commitments. Tackling the complex issues underlying the high outflow of people has always been seen as the more difficult aspect of the personnel challenge but in the last couple of years, changes to recruitment systems have had a very negative effect on the number of new sailors joining (and is the focus of this article).

Applicants not becoming recruits
Despite the tight jobs market, an average of 80 applications were made to join the RN/RM as regulars every day (March 2022-23) and numbers are rising according to official figures. There is not an attraction problem, rather it’s a processing failure resulting in basic training courses at HMS Raleigh not being filled. At the time of writing, defence sources day there are just 108 recruits allocated to the last 7 entries of 2023. That means 354 training places for this quarter will go unfilled. If this trend has been repeated across the year the RN could be around 1,200 short of its target this year just for ratings alone. Assuming a place at Raleigh for a naval recruit costs about the same as that of an Army recruit, there are around £27,000 in sunk costs per place. This suggests in Q4 2023 the RN will see approximately £9.5 million wasted with no benefit to the frontline.

This crisis has been unfolding over the last 18 months. Sky News reported in July that RN intake for the year up to March 2023 had plunged 22.1% with HMS Raleigh training just 109 recruits out of a capacity of 375, with only 10 recruits showing up one week. A year earlier, the weekly average intake at Raleigh had been about 60.

Asked for formal comment, the RN insisted: “We continue to undertake 42 entries per year, with up to 66 recruits joining in each intake. No future entries have been cancelled with the established programme being adhered to for training year 23/24.” While courses may have officially been ‘run’, navy insiders are concerned that some courses have just single-figure numbers or even zero recruits.

The situation at Britannia Royal Navy College where officers are trained is slightly better, although there is a lack of engineer and warfare candidates so numbers are made up by creating an over-supply in other branches.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy- ... -training/

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Royal Navy rescuers and polar photographer to be honoured by The King

HMS Queen Elizabeth
Today we’re celebrating one of the people behind the camera!
We’re incredibly proud that one of our photographers has earned a King’s Commendation.
Her work is amazing, which of these is your favourite?

See - https://twitter.com/HMSQNLZ/status/1720 ... 24/photo/1
And - https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-l ... y-the-king

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National media just catching up with the story we published in May:

HMS Westminster refit suspended and her return to service in doubt.

See- https://www.navylookout.com/hms-westmin ... -in-doubt/

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National media just catching up with the story we published in May:

HMS Westminster refit suspended and her return to service in doubt.

See- https://www.navylookout.com/hms-westmin ... -in-doubt/

Royal Navy's HMS Westminster: Future uncertain for rusting Plymouth warship made famous by James Bond

The vessel appeared in James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies in 1997

See - https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/p ... re-8879776 - LFT

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Sir Humphrey

A short Pinstripedline blog on whether sending a gunboat works in terms of influencing audiences in an era of multiple media channels.
Do we need to think differently about how to influence audiences?
See - https://thinpinstripedline.blogspot.com ... -work.html

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Tories and SNP both get Faslane job figures wrong
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/tories- ... res-wrong/

Former Scottish Labour leader spreads Trident misinformation
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/former- ... formation/

Port Glasgow shipyard looking for more Type 26 Frigate work
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/port-gl ... gate-work/

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Why it’s not the Royal Navy’s job to stop migrant boats

The flow of migrant boats crossing the English Channel has led to daily rants on social media demanding we “send in the Royal Navy to defend our borders”. Here we briefly look at why using the navy this way is impractical, wasteful and has already proven to be largely pointless.

Migration is a highly emotive subject and there are plenty of ill-informed and extreme suggestions about how government should address the arrival of illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel in small boats. The RN is rightly perceived as the UK’s primary maritime shield. Misunderstandings about its role and about maritime law lead people to call for the navy to protect us from this “invasion” and or even “sink migrant boats and let them drown”.

Continues at - https://www.navylookout.com/why-its-not ... ant-boats/

See also:
https://www.navylookout.com/hms-mersey- ... oyal-navy/
https://www.navylookout.com/the-rns-thi ... ree-years/
https://www.navylookout.com/the-strateg ... er-relief/
https://www.navylookout.com/nine-minute ... operation/

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The Royal Navy State Ceremonial Training officer is retiring.

WO1 Eddie Wearing says it has been an 'honour' to oversee events such as Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's funeral.

Sunday's remembrance march past the Cenotaph will bring his 8 years in the role to an end.

Short video at - https://twitter.com/ForcesNews/status/1 ... 9576091925

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Portrait of an active fleet – snapshot of the Royal Navy surface fleet today

Despite a slew of concerning news stories about the struggles of the service in the last few months, the RN is currently maintaining a high tempo of ships at sea on operations. Here we summarise the key activities of the surface fleet and the purpose of their deployments.

See - https://www.navylookout.com/portrait-of ... eet-today/

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Current Recruiting

Looks as tho they have more grades and pay scales than the Civil Service:

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/ro ... al-marines - Clear all filters

Recrutment age range now 16 - 39.

https://www.navylookout.com/royal-navy- ... one%20week.