Six Cadets from the French Naval Academy have spent over a week at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) undergoing leadership training.
The group from the Ecole Navale joined the latest entry of Royal Navy cadets for their week-long basic leadership development (BLD) exercise.
Starting on Dartmoor, the Cadets were taught how to live and operate in the field, before taking part in 10 kilometre navigation exercise across the moors carrying their full-kit.
On returning to the College, they were each given the chance to practise their leadership skills during a series of tasks carried out in the grounds.
The tasks were based on real-life scenarios from setting up communications to evacuating casualties and protecting vital equipment dropped from a helicopter. Each cadet was given the chance to lead a challenge assessed by College staff.
BRNC has developed a close relationship with the Ecole Navale. Officer Cadets from the Royal Navy and French Navy interact on a regular basis to promote mutual understanding.
A twinning agreement between the Colleges was re-affirmed by the Commanding Officers of both establishments in 2017.
Lieutenant Commander Cyril Chabrier, BRNC’s French Navy Liaision Officer, said: “The exchange programmes such as the BLD exercise represents a fantastic opportunity for cadets from both sides of the Channel to interact, understand each other and bond together.
“This week enabled them to genuinely work as a team, as every French Cadet was fully embedded in a BRNC team, overcoming the language barrier and strengthening the links between our training establishments.
“This will undoubtedly become invaluable for both our navies, when they work together in combined operations.
“It has also been a great opportunity to socialize through the week-end with the French Cadets being well integrated in the BRNC intake.
“No doubt the Cadets from both BRNC and Ecole Navale will keep amazing memories of this week.”
