SNIPPET
WHAT WAS YOUR JOB TITLE [YOUR BRANCH] WHEN YOU WERE IN THE ROYAL NAVY ?
Throughout the many pages on my website, I have mentioned branches, rates, and job titles. One in particular is this page http://www.godfreydykes.info/RN%20Ratings%20Titles%20-%20prepared%20after%20the%20introduction%20of%20the%20FCPO%20in%20the%20early%201970's.htm which took a snap shot of the job titles of the 1970's, now 43 years on! I see that my job was listed as a Communicator, a Fleet Chief Radio Supervisor {WO1}, later to be a Warrant Officer Radio Supervisor {WORS} when the navy did not have a WO2, and later still a WO1 CIS, one of todays titles.
Note that there were 325 separate male rating job titles back then, and that women, not then in the RN, are not listed. In a moment, we will compare like for like comparing the ratings of today with the ratings of those times.
First, I intend to touch upon general terms used today many of which were used back then, and then to look at the composition of today's navy, moving to look at officer titles and jobs.
The navy today [like the Army and the Air Force] now relies upon reservists unlike in the 1970's when reservists rarely served in combat zones, and is still formed into three descriptions namely the Surface Fleet, the Submarine Fleet and the Fleet Air Arm which as of then, are still referred to as GS, SM and FAA with GS standing for General Service. The expressions RNR and RMR are still used but added to which are a few new and important titles. These are FTRS = Full Time Reserve Service, FTRS Regular = FTRS Personnel Counted Against the Regular Liability, Transfer Trainees = People who are trained but are undergoing further training in an alternative discipline. The expression CS = Careers Service is still extant.
The navy today is, in figures released in March 2013, as follows:-
Total Naval Service = 31560 of which 24680 are Royal Navy and 6880 are Royal Marines
There are 6240 officers serving, 5240 in the navy and 780 in the marines. There are 25320 ratings, 19220 in the navy with 6100 Royal Marines other ranks.
In the three descriptions mentioned above, the Surface Fleet [GS] has 22010 {RN 15220 and 6780 marines}. The Submarine Service 4300 all Royal Navy. The Fleet Air Arm 5260 {RN 5160 and RM 90}.
Now to 2013 officer branches and job titles.
Essentially there are eight separate branches which are Warfare, Engineering, Logistic, Medical, Chaplain, No Specialisation, Other and Royal Marines. Within these Branches are the following jobs.
a. Warfare. Air Traffic Control
Aviation
Communications
Electronic Warfare
Fighter Controller
General Service Warfare
HM = Hydrographic and Meteorological
Mine Clearance Diver
Mine Warfare
Observer
Pilot
PWO = Principal Warfare Officer
PWO[A] = Principal Warfare Officer [Air]
PWO[C] = Principal Warfare Officer [[Communications]
PWO[N] = Principal Warfare Officer [Navigation]
RN Police
Submariner
Other and No Value
b. Engineering. Air Engineer
E[IS] = Engineer Information Service
E[IS SM] = Engineer Information Service Submarine
E[TM] = Engineering Training Manager
E[TM SM] = Engineering Training Manager Submarine
Marine Engineer
Marine Engineer [Submariner]
Weapon Engineer
Weapon Engineer [Submariner]
Logistics. Barrister
CMA = Chartered Management Accountant
Logistics
Logistics Family Services
Medical. Medical.
Dental Services
QARNNS = Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
Medical Services
Chaplain.
No Spec.
Other. Includes Careers Service
Royal Marines. Band Service.
General Service = All RM's excluding Aviation, Career and Band
Finally, to the ratings of 2013:-
Here there are nine branches far far fewer than in 1970.
They are XR, XSM, XAV, Eng GS [EGS], Eng SM [ESM], Air Eng [EAE], Logistics, Medical, Royal Marines.
Under each title comes:_
XR = Warfare General Service:-
WS. Warfare Specialist
WS[AWT].
Warfare Specialist Above Water Tactical
WS[AWW].
Warfare Specialist Above Water Warfare
WS[UW].
Warfare Specialist Underwater Warfare
WS[EW].
Warfare Specialist Electronic Warfare
CIS.
Communications Information Systems
HM.
Hydrographical Meteorological
HM[H]. Survey
Recorders - Now part of the Hydrographical and Meteorological Specialisation
HM[M]. Naval
Meteorological - Now part of the Hydrographical and Meteorological
Specialisation
MW. Mine
Warfare
Diver.
SEA. Seaman
Specialist
WPNA. Weapon
Analyst
PT. Physical
Training Instructor
RN Police
Telephonist
CT.
Communications Technician
XSM = Warfare Submarine:-
Coxswain [SM].
WS[SSM]. Warfare Specialist Sensors Submarine
WS[STM]. Warfare Specialist Tactical Submarine
CISSM.
Communications Information Systems Submarine
XAV = Warfare Aviation and Royal Marine Aircrew:-
Aircrewmen. Royal Naval Aircrew
NA['AC]. Naval Airman Air Controller
NA[AH].
Naval Airman Aircraft Handler
NA[PHOT]. Naval Airman Photographer
RM
Aircrew. Royal Marines Aircrew
Eng GS[EGS] = General Service Engineers:-
MEM. Marine Engineering Mechanic
WEM.
Weapons Engineering Mechanic
ET[ME].
Engineering Technician Marine Engineer
ET[WE].
Engineering Technician Weapon Engineer
ETS.
Education Training and Support
Eng SM[ESM] = Submarine Engineers:-
ET[MESM]. Engineering Technician Marine Engineer Submarine
ET[WESM].
Engineering Technician Weapon Engineer Submarine
MEM.
Marine Engineering Mechanic
WEM.
Weapon Engineering Mechanic
Air Eng [EA] = Air Engineering:-
AEA. Air Engineer Artificer
AEM.
Air Engineer Mechanic
AET.
Air Engineering Technician
NA[SE].
Naval Airman Survival Equipment
Logistics [LOGS] = Logistics:-
Caterer. Logistics Catering Service.
Chef. Logistics Catering Service Preparation.
Family Services.
Steward. Logistics Catering Service Delivery
Supply Chain. Logistics Supply Chain.
Writer. Logistics Personnel
Medical
Dental Hyg. Dental Hygienist
Dental SA. Dental Surgery Assistant
Med Asst. Medical Assistant
NN. Naval Nurse
RM Med Asst. Royal Marines Medical Assistant
Med Tech. Medical Technician
Royal Marines.
RM GS. Royal Marines General Service
RM BS. Royal Marines Band Service
Careers:
Careers RN
Careers RM
Since the time of the 1970 DCI mentioned above,
the lower deck rates have remained buoyant except that the Ordinary Rate has
gone but the WO2 is an addition.