More than 220 junior leaders have completed their training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) in Dartmouth and are now ready to serve in the Royal Navy and its allied forces.
The officers were formally commissioned following a rigorous 29-week Initial Officer Training Course, which tested their leadership skills, fitness, and military bearing on both land and sea, according to a press release from the Royal Navy.
Friends and family gathered at BRNC to witness the passing out parade, where 148 cadets, including representatives from 14 nations, were formally commissioned.
Alongside them were 22 Senior Upper Yardmen and nine Warrant Officers who have been selected to commission to the rank of officer, as well as 22 Royal Navy Reserves and 22 Royal Fleet Auxiliary officers.
The Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Martin Connell, who attended the parade, was quoted in the press release saying, “The foundations of Naval leadership are forged and established here at BRNC, with generations having stood where you stand now. They have gone on to serve their country in peacetime and in war, now you follow in their footsteps.”
He mentioned the importance of leadership, advising the new officers to “take care of yourselves, but importantly, take care of those who you have the enormous privilege and responsibility to lead.”
Among the newly commissioned officers is Midshipman Regaina Crawley, a former physical training instructor who has served 21 years in the Navy. She described passing the maritime leadership exercise that concludes the training as the highlight of her time at BRNC.
The press release quotes her as saying that it is a “huge honour” to continue contributing to the Royal Navy.
Sub Lieutenant Joseph Doyle, an aspiring marine engineer submariner and the first in his family to join the military, reflected on his training experience, according to the press release, saying, “I have enjoyed everything, even the times of adversity, but the best part has been the friendships I have made with people from so many different backgrounds and countries.”
Captain Andy Bray, Captain of BRNC, also highlighted the commitment of the cadets in the press release, summarising it with two words: “Duty and service.” He noted that these values “define a naval officer, and the ethos of the wider armed services,” expressing pride in the cadets who are beginning their careers in the Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, or Reserves. He also extended his gratitude to the BRNC staff for guiding the cadets through the challenges of the training.
The newly commissioned officers will now proceed to professional training specific to their chosen branches or specialisations.
I didn’t realise RFA went through Dartmouth as well.
We didn’t in my day. The RFA is getting more ‘navalised’ now. I visited BRNC a couple of years ago and saw RFA cadets there. A bit of a change from my training regime.
Given the mission creep of the RFA as seen in Australia recently I don’t think that’s a bad thing, so long as they sailors are compensated as their peers in the RN
Perhaps time to consider a merger. If the logistics and supply role of the RFA is indeed becoming more navalised surely it would make sense for the RN to absorb the merchantmen into one unit?
Seems like a senisble move to me. How about tomorrow.
VSTOL capabilities like this combine with MALE UAV’s and F35B could be a real game changer for STOVL carrier configuration like the Queen Elizabeth class allowing them to offer all capability of a CATOBAR carrier with the flexibility of an LHD for a fraction of the cost.
Some how I don’t see the long term outlook for naval aviation being catapults chucking stuff off the front while expensive planes fly towards a ship at the same speed as a TGV to perform a a controlled crash.
Wrong article?
Great news but even better, would be to see recruiting levels for the RN (less RM). I don’t believe the lack of manpower or difficulty in recruiting lies at the Officer level. If I am wrong, I defer to those here who know better. Does the RN (MoD) conduct leaving interviews for all ranks and publish the results i.e. poor pay, poor housing etc etc.
Perhaps the reasons are well known. Perhaps we need better recruitment.
ADD – to my inquiry below. I was specifically referring to RN (other ranks).
With every wage rise as a percentage the gap widens more and more between Ratings and Officers. Far better to fix a set amount and then the gap would not widen which has happened. It works in other parts the work force, ie local government.
All this is great news , all we need now are some ships to put them on
Got the ships just most of them are broken or worn out. A constant build programme with ships being replaced before they need a major refit and sell them on to Allies, benefits all round, including the exchequer if managed correctly.