As a graduate or professionally qualified man or woman you will enter naval service as a Commissioned Officer in any one of our main branches. And whatever branch you're in, you will have plenty of scope to prove yourself in new roles.

Throughout your career there will be regular opportunities to discuss your progress with your Commanding Officer. Wherever possible, your personal preferences will be considered before you are given a new appointment.

Warfare Officer
To give an example of how your career could progress, let's imagine you're a Warfare Officer. By the time you are 29 you may have your own command - a minehunter perhaps - with responsibility for an entire ship's company. Or you could be following a particular sub-specialisation, or taking advantage of an exchange appointment overseas.

Sub Lieutenant

Lieutenant
By your early 20s you can expect to reach the rank of Lieutenant - a junior management role that'll prepare you for greater responsibilities.

Lieutenant Commander
It is possible to reach the rank of Lieutenant Commander by about the age of 29.

Commander
Promotion to Commander and Captain is by further selection - by this stage you'll be running the equivalent of a small or medium-sized business.

Captain
The rank of Captain is reached by people who are usually in their mid-40s, although exceptional Officers can make it in their late 30s.