180 ‘New Leaders’ Join the Royal Navy

Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, the renowned training ground for the Royal Navy’s Officer Corps, celebrated the addition of nearly 180 new leaders to the Naval family last week.

The passing-out parade, held against the backdrop of the scenic Devon town, marked the culmination of weeks of rigorous training for these new officers.

The ceremony, attended by proud friends and family, showcased the graduates ready to begin their careers in the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. Of the graduates, 139 Officer Cadets completed the principal 29-week course, which is designed to transform civilians into junior naval officers.

This intensive training tested them across various scenarios including classroom learning, exercises on Dartmoor, training on the River Dart, and at sea aboard operational warships.

Joining the Officer Cadets on parade were seven officers from the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, 19 Senior Upper Yardmen (SUY), and 14 warrant officers, all newly commissioned.

One notable graduate, Midshipman Daisy Chambers, a psychology graduate from Cornwall, shared her experiences in a Royal Navy press release:

“I’ve enjoyed my time here tremendously—from the friendships I’ve made to the self-confidence and military bearing I’ve gained,” she said. Highlighting her initial sea training, she added, “But the highlight of my time was my Initial Sea Training aboard patrol ship HMS Tamar—we were fortunate enough to visit Tahiti, the Pitcairn Islands, Sydney, and New Zealand.”

The parade was overseen by Captain Andy Bray, Commanding Officer of BRNC