Boatswain's Mate: Additional Information
Boatswain's Mate: Additional Information
Boatswain's Mate: Additional Information
defencejobs.gov.au/navy/jobs/BoatswainsMate
Document generated on Friday, 21 October 2016 at 12:19:38 PM
Boatswain's Mate
Fancy an exciting career that will allow you to travel the world while performing a wide array of interesting seamanship
tasks?
Additional Information
IN BRIEF
In this classic Navy role you'll be trained in two key areas, both of which are critical to operational capability. You'll learn
seamanship skills such as rope and anchor work, small boat handling, berthing, towing, helmsmanship and refuelling at
sea. You will become a close range weapon specialist, proficient in pistols, rifles, shotguns and machine guns; and
operating remotely fired gun systems.
TRAINING
You never stop learning in the Navy. We will invest heavily in your personal, vocational and character development, and
many of the skills and attributes you acquire will benefit your whole career. As you expand your knowledge and progress to
Able Seaman and Leading Seaman, you will be given the opportunity to move into new areas of responsibility such as
navigation and watch keeping.
LIFESTYLE
Life in the Navy is varied and rewarding, and the experiences you'll share at home and overseas will cement friendships
that last a lifetime. At sea you'll enjoy travel, adventure, good food, and plenty of time off for rest, relaxation and exercise
in onboard gyms. Then when ashore, make the most of the excellent sports, social and entertainment facilities on base, or
head out and about with friends and family.
Job Details
Entry
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
General Entry (Non-Technical Trades) is the term used to describe the non-technical jobs available to people entering the
Navy as Sailors (non-Officer entry) and for which trade training is provided. Each Sailor job in the Navy is referred to as a
category; for example, Boatswain's Mate is a category.
Non-Technical Sailors perform a wide range of tasks in support of Navy operations.
General Entry (Non-Technical Trades) Sailors graduate from recruit training with the rank of Seaman Star and generally
progress to Able Seaman after 12 months of effective service following completion ofemployment training. Further
promotion to Leading Seaman, Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer and Warrant Officer is based on merit and takes into
consideration performance, time in rank, individual readiness (medical, dental, physical fitness)and vacancies. There is
considerable variation between categories. However, as a guide, the following minimum times are spent in each rank:
Recruit to Seaman Star (Unqualified) - 11 weeks (length of Military Training course);
Seaman Star (Unqualified) to Seaman - Length of Employment Training course;
Seaman to Able Seaman - 12 months after completion
of employment training course;
Able Seaman to Leading Seaman - minimum of 2 years;
Leading Seaman to Petty Officer - minimum of 4 years;
Petty Officer to Chief Petty Officer - minimum of 4 years; and
Chief Petty Officer to Warrant Officer - minimum of 4 years.
Leading Seamen are referred to as Junior Non-Commissioned Officers. Leading Seamen are the first line of supervisors in
the chain of command and as such have an important role in the maintenance of good order and discipline among their
subordinates. They are expected to provide an important role model for subordinates.
Petty Officers are members of the company of senior sailors. Petty Officers perform management and technical specialist
duties within their category. Their positions will involve personal accountability.
Chief Petty Officers are also members of the company of senior sailors and are required to demonstrate a well developed
capacity for self directed work and a high degree of applied professional theoretical knowledge and well developed
supervisory competence.
Warrant Officer is the most senior sailor rank. They are required to possess superior leadership and professional qualities.
Warrant Officers may undertake planning, creative research and problem solving activities. Their positions often involve a
significant degree of personal accountability.
The opportunity to transfer to commissioned officer is open to all sailors of Able Seaman rank and above who possess the
General Requirements
Age Requirement
Applicants must be aged between 17 and 54 years of ageinclusive on day of entry.
Applicants will notbe allowed to enter the ADF until they achieve a minimum of 17 years of age, however they may be able
to initiate the application process from 16 years and six months of age, depending upon the capacity of their local recruiting
centre.
Citizenship Requirement
Only Australian citizens are permitted to serve in the ADF.
If you are a Permanent Resident of Australia, the ADF may consider a temporary waiver of the citizenship requirement if
the position for which you are applying cannot be filled by an applicant who meets all the citizenship requirements, and
then only in exceptional circumstances. You will be required to obtain Australian citizenship as early as possible following
enlistment or appointment.
Find out more in our Recruitment Centre or ask your local Defence Force Recruiting Centre.
Security Requirement
The Department of Defence requires ADF entrants to attain a security clearance appropriate to their avenue of entry.
A process of background checks, collection of relevant information and, as required, interviews enables the Regional
Security Office to make an informed assessment of an applicant's suitability for a security clearance
Current policy requires applicants for this particular avenue of entry to have lived in Australia for the preceding 10 years, or
have a checkable background for this period.
Aptitude Requirement
The application process to join the Australian Defence Force requires you to complete a series of aptitude tests including
verbal, spatial and numerical ability and a general maths test. Some jobs may also require you to complete additional
testing at a later date.
Psychology support staff will explain what is involved with each test.
The aptitude tests provide information about your suitability for the Defence Force and for particular jobs. Defence Force
Recruiting can then help you identify jobs that best match your abilities.
Further information on the aptitude testing requirements can be found here.
Period of Service
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
You will be enlisted for an Initial Minimum Period of Service (IMPS) of four years.On enlistment if youelect to
serve an open ended enlistment, you will be able to serve until retirement age, subject to your continued
suitability for service.If you elect to serve for a fixedperiod of service, subsequent periods of servicemay be
offered subject to the requirements of the ADF and your suitability for further service.
Your Careers Counsellor can advise on how IMPS will relate to your chosen occupation.
Additional Requirements
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
Royal Australian Navy Swim Test (RANST)
The RANST is conducted to ensure the Navys duty of care to all serving personnel, with respect to rudimentary swimming
skills. The purpose of the RANST is to ensure fundamental water survival skills as a prerequisite to training such as survival
at sea training.
Individual components of the RANST are fundamentally related to the survival at sea scenario.
Competency in the RANST is achieved through successful completion of each component comprising: safety jump,
underwater front scull swim of 10 metres, continuous swim for 50 metres, and treading water to remain afloat for 15
minutes.
All personnel will undertake the RANST upon entry and competency is to be achieved within 15 weeks from commencement
of initial training. Failure of any one component will constitute failure of the entire RANST and no waivers will be granted.
It is therefore strongly advised that all candidates considering entry to the Royal Australian Navy are either proficient with
or are working towards gaining swimming skills.
Military Training
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
Duration: 11 weeks
Location: Crib Point, Victoria
The Recruit School at HMAS CERBERUS is situated on Western Port Bay, Victoria about 70 kilometres south east of
Melbourne. The school has its own administration building, accommodation blocks and classrooms and operates as an
independent unit within the greater training environment of HMAS CERBERUS.
The eleven week Recruit Course is designed to give you sufficient knowledge and skills on which to base your navy career.
The course includes both classroom and practical activities. Most subjects are individually tested. Examinations are set to
ensure Recruits are sufficiently prepared to undertake further specialist training at category schools. Private study areas are
available in the school and a Duty Instructor is available for assistance during non-instructional hours.
When you are offered a General Entry job in the Navy, you will receive Joining Instructions for the Recruit Training
Course. These instructions will provide you with a good indication of the daily routine while at the Recruit School and what
will be expected of you during your training. This information is also available by accessing the Navy Recruit School web
site.
Recruits who successfully complete the course, including the Navy Swimming Test, participate in a Graduation Parade,
which is normally held on the Friday of the last week of training. Recruits will have the opportunity to invite family and
friends to view the parade.
After Graduation personnel will be posted to category schools at HMAS CERBERUS or at other training establishments
throughout Australia.
During Military (Initial Recruit) Training and (Initial) Employment Training, members may be required to pay a contribution
towards meals, accommodation and utilities, depending on a number of factors.
Employment Training
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
Following the completion of Military (Recruit) Training which includes Sea Survival and a Ship Safety Course, you will
complete a Boatswain's Mate Course of 10 weeks and a Basic Seamanship Course of3 weeks, both conducted at the
Boatswain Faculty, HMAS Cerberus.
Boatswain's Mate Course
Duration: 10 weeks
Submariners work and live in very close proximity to each other and personal privacy is extremely limited, except when
ashore. Submarine personnel work long hours and are constantly subjected to emotional and physical pressures not found
in surface ships.
Many a new recruit to the Submarine Arm of the Royal Australian Navy believes that he /she has what it takes to become a
good submariner. However, until you have been tested and have experienced the arduous conditions and life inside a
submarine, you won't fully appreciate the difficulties.
Today's Submariner is a unique breed of sailor/officer. They have met the challenges, been tested to the limits of their
endurance and abilities and found to have what it takes to be members of a very demanding arm of the Royal Australian
Navy.
If you think you have what it takes, then you must be prepared for some very demanding personal challenges throughout
your training and employment. If you come through these you will be willingly accepted into the Submarine Arm of the
Royal Australian Navy and welcome to wear 'The Dolphins' (the submariner's badge of distinction).
Note: Submarine Service is not a sub-specialisation of this category. Transfer of category is necessary to become a
submariner.
Employment Location
Other Ranks (Non Technical)
All sailorswill serve in fleet units and shore establishments on a rotational basis.
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