First passing out parade of 2018 at HMS Raleigh

The Commanding Officer of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines has taken the salute at HMS Raleigh’s first passing-out-parade of the year.

Brigadier Gwyn Jenkins was the guest of honour for the parade, which marked the successful completion of training for 47 Royal Navy ratings, comprising of 23 budding engineers, 11 warfare specialists, three naval airmen, one chef and one medical assistant.

They were watched by their families and friends and are now ready to progress on to their professional branch training in preparation for taking their place at sea.

Commander Tony Stevens, Commander Training at HMS Raleigh, said:  “Our initial naval training course is a 10-week programme.  These recruits began their training in October and then had to hit the ground running this week to complete the course after spending two weeks at home with their families for Christmas leave.

"As can be seen by their success, they really rose to this challenge and are now rightly looking forward to the next stage in their training for service in the Fleet.”

During a day at the base in Torpoint, Brigadier Jenkins was briefed on the role Raleigh plays in preparing recruits and more experience sailors for service at sea.

He was shown the extensive facilities available for training on the River Lynher and within the establishment itself, with a tour taking in the Royal Navy Submarine School, an accommodation block used by recruits, the Royal Marines Band Complex and the multi-million pound replenishment-at-sea training rig.

Brigadier Jenkins assumed Command of 3 Commando Brigade in April 2017.  He was commissioned into the Royal Marines in 1990 and has had a wide variety of regimental and staff appointments.