(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations make provision as to terms of service for ratings in the Royal Navy.
Regulation 3 provides for a term of service to be of 18 years’ duration from the date of entry to the Royal Navy or until the recruit’s 40th birthday, whichever date is later. Alternatively, recruits to the Royal Navy may enter for terms of between 6 months’ and 17 years’ duration.
Regulations 4, 5 and 6 enable persons in the Royal Navy to transfer to the reserve. Such rights can be restricted by agreement.
Regulation 7 confers the right on recruits to claim discharge from the Royal Navy in the first 6 months from the date of entry to the Service.
Regulation 8 enables persons who have completed periods of service in the Royal Navy to remain in the Service for further periods of at least 12 months but not exceeding 15 years in total.
Regulation 10 is a saving provision the effect of which is that a person who entered the Royal Navy before the commencement of these Regulations is not affected by them, except that he may be continued in service in the Royal Navy under regulation 8.
Regulation 11 revokes the Royal Navy Terms of Service (Ratings) Regulations 1982 and the subsequent amending Regulations set out in Schedule 2.