r/TheRFA

I went to a well known high-street pharmacy today in the hope of getting a yellow fever vaccination.

However, the pharmacist refused to give me the vaccine because I didn't have a trip planned to a country at risk of Yellow Fever. The "Recruitment letter for GP" which explains what the RFA is and why RFA recruits need these vaccinations did not change his mind.

He straight up told me to come back and tell him that I will be visiting a country with yellow fever and then he can give me the vaccine. He mentioned that I don't need to provide proof of the "trip" to a yellow fever country - I literally just have to tell him the dates I will be visiting.

Bit of a surprising and weird situation lol.

I’m thinking about joining as a qualified officer and have a few questions I couldn’t find that clear answers to before. What I have found so far is very useful.

I currently work on chemical tankers as a 2^(nd) officer holding my Chief Officer ticket with chemical and oil endorsements. I have 2 years sea time as 2/O and around 1.5 years sea time as 3/O. Current company cutting pay this year and giving very poor pay increases per year since I joined (0-2%) and I don’t think they want British people much longer.

1.       For joining would I start as a 3/O or is there chance of joining as 2/O. Would this also be the lowest pay band or can it be higher?

2.       What are the promotion prospects like?

3.       For pay I’ve found this https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/rfa_pay_scale_as_of_2025/response/2964080/attach/html/4/RFA%20Pay%20Rates.pdf.html  Is there a more updated version or how much it’s risen since then.

4.       With leave how many courses are normally needed to be completed with these on top of the normal STCW courses and can they be organized at the start or end of the leave.

5.       Are sign on and sign off dates quite reliable or can they vary. If you are asked to come back early are you then given extra leave the next time to compensate for this?

6.       Guessing this one can vary a lot but was is the approximate time from applying to joining. I currently do 3 months on 3 months off so would like to work it so I can keep getting paid.

7.       For anyone who moved across from cargo ships how did you find it as a culture change and what were the biggest differences good ones and bad ones.

was wondering what my odds would be of getting an eng1 with episodes of depression over the past few years if I can explain it was linked to clear factors that are not present anymore? My last bad episode was during 2025 where i started taking meds from April to september. I started again in December and stopped again in February. I know that I can be stable and have heard other people with depression also being in the RFA but there’s not much info on it. am being hopeful right now but still want to know if anyone has any experience or info?

Hello all,

I was hoping to get a bit of info on BRNC as a qualified deck officer.

I have an interview coming up shortly and I’d rather be fully prepared so I can answer any questions that may come my way.

How long is the BRNC phase when joining directly as a qualified OOW?

Are there any steps before and after that too?

I have tried to find information on the website but it’s rather scarce.

Thanks

Posted an earlier thread about being declined for RFA ETO/LSO officer cadetship despite having a British degree, purely due to the GCSE English equivalent issue.

I have been doing my research and messaging RFA recruitment. Here is what they confirmed in writing:

If I join as C&S Trainee and obtain my GCSE English Language within 3 years, I can apply externally for SE Cadet or LSO Trainee while remaining in my C&S role throughout the recruitment process, and transition directly without ever having to leave the RFA. If the application is unsuccessful I keep my C&S role.

For SE Cadet specifically, the application is always external regardless of service length as it is a different branch, so no waiting 3 years for the RTO scheme.

So the plan is: join C&S, sit GCSE in November, results in January, apply for SE Cadet externally while still employed by RFA.

Not the route I wanted but honestly it works out. Has anyone had experience changing branches within the RFA?

Evening

Just wondering if anyone on here has any experience of former RM’s coming across to the RFA to do a cadetship.

I’m in the corps and looking at commercial maritime after I’m done, so was just curious if anyone had any experience or knows of anyone who has done similar.

Cheers for the help!

Had my interview yesterday was very nervous! Thought i had blundered because I couldn't answer a few of the questions with regards to the running of the RFA.

Got a call back 5 minutes after offering me the position of assistant chef (band A).

Thank you to everyone who gave advice and answered questions over the last few months.

Applied for an ETO/LSO officer cadetship with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. I was really keen on RFA specifically so this has been a tough one to take. Got through the process, passed the DAA, submitted all my documents including a UK ENIC Statement of Comparability for my Polish high school leaving certificate and got declined purely because the ENIC statement flags that English was studied as a second language in Poland and therefore doesn't count as a GCSE English equivalent.

The thing is, I have a BA (Hons) from the University of Brighton. Three years, full time, taught entirely in English. Apparently that doesn't count. I also asked whether Functional Skills Level 2 English would be accepted and was told no.

They've offered me a Catering and Support Trainee role as an alternative. I've done years of hospitality and I'm done with it, so that's not really an option for me.

This was genuinely my dream and it's pretty upsetting to be blocked by something like this when I've clearly demonstrated I can operate in English at degree level. The earliest I could sit GCSEs now is May next year which feels like a long way away.

Is there any way in here that I'm missing? Has anyone with a UK degree but no formal GCSE English managed to get onto an ETO or LSO officer cadetship either with RFA or another operator? Wondering if any companies are more flexible on this or if there's a faster route I haven't thought of.

What uniform is issued at training? (rig, boots, any headwear etc)

Are the RFA transitioned to Rig22 now?

As the title says, I have passed my DAA test!

Just wanna thank everyone on here, whether you have commented on one of my previous posts, commented on someone else’s or even made your own post!

Everything on here has helped me out so much, th information and discussion on here has been vital and I just wanted to say thank you everyone!

Good Morning, I've recently been thinking about applying for the RFA and I have a few questions regarding the recruitment process.

A bit about me, Plymouth based so hoping on staying either in Plymouth or at the least South West England, I have a few mechanical engineering qualifications and about 8 years of maritime firefighting experience as well as understanding the majority of systems onboard the warship HMS Bulwark.

My desired branch would be Mechanical Engineering, passing the psychometric exams when applying for the role in the RN.

I believe I am in relative good health and when training good fitness levels.

Of the many questions I want to ask is how long is the recruitment process, including for my branch? And, is there a PJFT to pass and what are the fitness requirements to pass?

On ship it's touch and go for hoodies and anything outside coins or polo shirts and I have been on the Military Store UK website but some photos of the garments look suspicious on quality.

Anyone know anywhere else that sells RFA merch?

Has anybody bought stuff from the military store online? Is that the supplier for on ship merchandise?

Cheers

hi i’m just wondering what’s the best to take down with me as i don’t want to underpack or overpack just looking for a heads if anyone can help

Hey all, I have been offered two routes with the RFA, LSO trainee and Systems Engineer cadet, and I love the idea of the RFA so really keen to make the right call before committing. The offer came after the Defence Aptitude Assessment though I still have AIB and interview to go.

I am more drawn to Systems but the academic side is making me nervous as I have zero background in electrical or electronics and the HND feels pretty daunting from the outside.

Four things I would love to hear from people with experience:

1. For anyone who has done the Systems Engineer cadet programme, how hard is the academic side? Did anyone else start from scratch and manage to get through it okay?

2. For anyone who has completed either route and moved on from RFA, what are the career prospects like both onshore and offshore? Interested in how both LSO and Systems Engineer compare when it comes to finding work and earning potential after leaving.

3. During the cadetship do you get any decent blocks of time off, talking a couple of weeks or more rather than just weekends?

4. After completing the Systems Engineer cadetship what rank do you come out as, do you start as 3rd Officer?

5. Once qualified is it possible to transfer from LSO to Systems Engineer or the other way around?

Thank you for your time and hopefully see you onboard!

Whats a typical trip on proteus like. From my understanding it sounds pretty boring but im sure there must be somthing exciting like maybe being at difrent ports ?

Hi all I’m looking at applying for the RFA in December I’m worrying about getting an ENG1 I took an overdose back in 2023 on paracetamol. This is on my medical records I’m just wondering has anyone been in the same situation as me and still got a ENG1 ?

I’ve heard that some people have had mental health issues on there record and has still got an ENG1 and are in serving.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)