Four groups of students from Devon, Cornwall and further afield have been given an insight into life in the Royal Navy during visits to HMS Raleigh.
Students on work-experience, others taking part in an enrichment week and under-graduates signed up to a leadership programme with the Royal Navy have all spent time at HMS Raleigh over the last two weeks.
In total 32 students from schools in Plymouth, Cornwall, Somerset and the Midlands have been given the chance to undertake elements of the initial naval training course for recruits.
During the week-long work experience programme they have been taught how to march and undergone physical training sessions.
Highlights of the week have also included a tour of the Training Ship Brecon, the decommissioned minesweeper used for training, an opportunity to get out on the river in small boats and a visit to HMS Courgeous in Devonport Naval Base.
Jack Wheeler was among a number of students from Looe Community College who applied to do their work experience at HMS Raleigh. He said, “I wanted to see what the Navy was all about. I was surprised to see how organised the recruits have to be. I’d like to be an Air Engineering Technician.”
Niall Howles from Woverley, near Worcester, was one of the students that travelled from the Midlands. He said, “I wanted to get an insight into what the Navy is like and follow in my uncle’s footsteps. Before I came I wanted to be part of the Surface Fleet, but since I went on HMS Courageous, I now looking to go on submarines. It’s been a brilliant week.”
The week-long programme has also been designed to show the students the diverse range of training carried out at HMS Raleigh. They have spent time at the Royal Navy Submarine School and worked with the chefs instructors at the Defence Maritime Logistics School.
HMS Raleigh’s Work Experience Officer, Warrant Officer 1 Paul Bell, said, “Our work experience programme has been operating for a few years now. We encourage those who are members of the Cadet Forces to wear their uniforms and the whole group march from area to area as a platoon.
“The main aim is to show the young people what it’s really like to be in the military as they make important decisions about their future. Ultimately we hope that everyone will take something away from the week regardless of their final career choice. ”
In addition HMS Raleigh has welcomed 16 students from Stoke Damerel Community College who were taking part in their curriculum enhancement week. The group, aged between 11 and 16 years, had all shown an interest in joining the Armed Forces. Their day of activities included a look around the Royal Navy Submarine School and an opportunity to take part in some knot-tying lessons in the Seamanship School.
Sam Payne, a member of staff at Stoke Damerel Community College, said: “All the students who took part in the HMS Raleigh visit had expressed an interest in a career in the Armed Forces. Our visit was very informative with many students asking questions. Staff and students agreed it was a fantastic day.”
Finally 12 science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) students who are taking part in the six-week summer internship run by the Royal Navy, have spent their fifth week in the South West, based at HMS Raleigh. During the week they have taken part in core physical training with a stretcher run and assault course, spent a day at the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose as well as visiting ships and submarines at Devonport Naval Base.
The six-week internship is the final element of the Undergraduate Leadership Programme (ULP) run throughout the year at Universities across the country. It provides the unique opportunity to work across the different engineering disciplines and branches of the Naval Service: air, marine and weapons.
The ULP gives STEM students, at all levels, an in-depth understanding of the leadership skills required for an engineering career in the Royal Navy – and how these skills give you the edge in industry. The programme includes three events which take place at selected UK campuses, outside of lecture timetables.
These lead into a two day event in Portsmouth and will provide a brief insight into leadership and engineering in the Royal Navy. It builds student’s leadership and management skills, and allows them to experience a unique working environment first-hand.
You can find out more about it here: www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/levels-of-entry/graduates/ulp
