There are 165 junior officers ready to serve the Royal Navy and its allies and partners around the world after completing up to 29 gruelling weeks of training.
The spiritual home of the Officer Corps - Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth – bade farewell to the latest Officer Cadets and trainees who passed out before leaders and loved ones.
On parade were 96 Officer Cadets who had completed a 29-week intensive course designed to test them in a variety of scenarios: in the classroom, on Dartmoor, the River Dart and at sea on board an operational warship.
They were joined by a dozen officers each from the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, 12 former Royal Navy ratings selected for promotion to the Officer Corps, and 12 former Warrant Officers who received commissions.
And 21 International Cadets (from Bahrain, Bahamas, Egypt, Germany, Jordan, Kuwait, Malta, Montenegro, Nigeria, Pakistan, Thailand, UAE and for the first time ever Peru) will now be returning to their native lands to begin their officer careers having completed their training.
“This is the proudest day of my life so far and I am really pleased to Pass Out in front of my loved ones,” said Midshipman Katelyn Robinson, from Portsmouth, who’s now joining HMS Scott to begin her professional training as a hydrographic/ meteorological officer.
“I am looking forward to the travel opportunities with the Royal Navy and especially getting down to Antarctica, as a picture of HMS Protector was one of the reasons I was inspired to join.”
Vice Admiral Guy Robinson, Chief of Staff at Headquarters Allied Command Transformation in Norfolk, Virginia, was the Guest of Honour and Inspecting Officer. Joined by his wife Commodore Mel, who has recently stood down as head of the Maritime Reserves, they saw their son Midshipman Max among those passing out.
Admiral Robinson told the new officers that they would face the challenges of dealing with the latest threats and new technologies.
“We are going to need leaders who can navigate these complexities and have the vision to chart a course to a future Navy – a future where we continue to blend our traditions and our fighting spirit with the cutting edge of technology,” he told the sailors assembled before him.
Turning to the families and friends, he added: “You too are now part of our Naval family, and you too will get to experience the pride and emotion that goes with life in the Naval service. With your support, understanding and love please continue to help your Naval officer as they move forward to the next stage of their careers and beyond.”
The college’s Captain, Captain Sarah Oakley, said everyone on parade had given “100 per cent to meet the stringent standards.
“Passing out at BRNC is a great achievement and a proud moment for all those involved.”
Families were treated to a fly-past by the historic Supermarine Seafire Mk XVII aircraft, courtesy of the charity Navy Wings, while Rear Admiral Steve Moorhouse, the Royal Navy’s Director of Force Generation, presented awards to a handful of stand-out cadets.
Sub Lieutenant Daniel Palmer was awarded the Herbert Lott Sword as the Cadet who had championed the College the most, chiefly through a rugby tour to France.
Sub Lieutenant Tim Harding collected the Officers’ Association ‘Spirit of the Royal Navy’ Sword for demonstrating Naval Service core values and ethos.
The Cochrane Sword, provided by the Chilean Navy to mark its recent 200th anniversary, was presented to Sub Lieutenant Lewis Appleton-Jones for mentoring others in his class, while also finding the time to represent the College at hockey.
Sub Lieutenant Ben Streeter received the Armada de Chile Prize as the Officer Cadet who contributed most to life in the college – in his case setting up a BRNC choir as well as supporting the Chaplaincy department.
And Sub Lieutenant Sophie Nashford took the MacRoberts Trust Award as best Reserve cadet.
