The Royal Navy - Survival Equipment Technician Apprenticeship in Portsmouth

As a Survival Equipment Technician, you’ll make sure your crewmates and passengers are fully equipped and know what to do in an emergency on board a Royal Navy aircraft. You’ll look after the crew’s protective gear, such as:

• Immersion suits
• Flying helmets
• Oxygen masks
• Parachutes
• Emergency breathing equipment

Duties will involve but are not limited to:

• Maintaining the aircraft’s survival packs, radio beacons, distress flares, life jackets and life rafts.
• Training people to use them in an emergency.
• Instructing on how to escape underwater from a ditched helicopter and conducting survival drills.

You will have the opportunity to serve on the world's most advanced aircraft carriers and with new and exciting aircraft forces, including the F35B Lightning Stealth fighter at RAF Marham, the Merlin Mk2 Submarine Hunter at RNAS Culdrose, the Merlin Mk4 Helicopter and the Wildcat Maritime Attack Helicopter at RNAS Yeovilton.

Training

Once you have completed your training you will be a qualified Survival Equipment Technician - Survival Equipment Fitter. Functional Skills in English and maths if required. Training and development continues throughout your career with the Royal Navy. It takes place in two distinct environments: at onshore training facilities and on-board operational ships.

When you join, you complete 10 weeks of basic naval training, followed by seven months at the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering in Gosport. There you’ll learn survival drills and how to maintain, repair and pack parachutes, life rafts and survival packs, with regular tests to check your progress. You will also carry out a basic survival course and learn how to help with survival training, so you will need a good level of fitness and be a competent swimmer. You’ll then spend time at a Royal Naval Air Station, working closely with experienced aircrew to develop real-world knowledge and skills, before you qualify to sign off servicing work as complete.

You will also gain the following qualifications during your training:

• Level 2 Aerospace and Aviation
• Level 3 Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering Survival Equipment Maintenance

After a further period of skills and technical knowledge development, all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualification (working title - currently in development): Level 3 Aerospace and Aviation.

What happens at the end

If you show the right commitment, skills and academic ability, you could become a Commissioned Officer. Members of the Royal Navy are promoted on merit. Work hard and you can rise through the ranks.

Skills

• Communication skills
• IT skills
• Attention to detail
• Organisation skills
• Customer care skills
• Problem solving skills
• Administrative skills
• Analytical skills
• Logical
• Team working
• Creative
• Initiative
• Non-judgemental
• Patience

Qualifications

GCSE Math and English (grade GCSE Level C/4) - desired.

Key details

• Wage: £20,400 a year
• Working week: Shifts to be confirmed, Total hours per week: 40.00
• Hours: 40 hours per week
• Duration: 3 Years
• Start date: 2030-08-02
• Closing date: 2030-08-01
• Apprenticeship standard: Survival equipment fitter (level 3)
• Training provider: ROYAL NAVY

About the employer

The Royal Navy (RN) is responsible for the protection of British interests at home and around the World. 95% of all world trade passes through the high seas and every year Britain imports £524 billion worth of goods. The RN takes an active part in the protection of British Shipping. Around the United Kingdom, the RN protects vital fishing stocks by monitoring fishing activities in our waters. We recruit throughout the year.