14 NAVY NEWS, JUNE 2009
Leader-shipshape
B
RITANNIA Royal Naval College – the most famous
training establishment for young naval offi cers in
the world – celebrated its centenary in 2005.
A good time to look forward to As head of the Naval Core
the next successful century, one Training Stream, the commodore
might think – except that a sword is responsible for HMS Raleigh;
of Damocles cast its shadow over the Admiralty Interview Board;
the college for the following three the Leadership Academies at
years. Dartmouth and Collingwood, the
In 2004 there was a gloomy University Royal Naval Units; and
expectation that Dartmouth would the 180 or so bursary students at
close and offi cer training would be universities across the country.
moved elsewhere. He is also a governor of Welbeck
The college was expensive College, where about a third of the
to maintain and geographically pupils are RN.
remote, so the argument went. His responsibilities are not
Perhaps also it was a victim of its unlike being a university vice-
own magnifi cence. With its world- chancellor – appropriately
famous façade (designed by Sir for a training college which is
Aston Webb, who also designed competing for its young talent
“
My interest in the Navy
all happened when I
the east front of Buckingham with the country’s universities,
joined the Royal Marine
Palace) it is a piece of breath- and which now offers its cadets
cadets. The great thing
taking Edwardian self-confi dence, degree-equivalent qualifi cations.
was that I saw plenty of the
built for a Navy of another age. It represents a massive change
Sea Cadet side and I really
Great was the relief when the in attitude on the part of the Navy
enjoyed the sea part of
Second Sea Lord announced over the last 40 years. Perhaps
training. I am training to be
in 2008 after a review of Naval the Navy at the time mistrusted
a warfare offi cer.
Estates that BRNC Dartmouth ‘intellectuals,’ but it wasn’t until
I had an uncle in the RN
would be retained. the 1970s that it was even possible
and did work experience
Now that the threat has been to enter Dartmouth with a degree.
with him when I was 15,
removed for the foreseeable Initial offi cer training started at
playing in the ops room in
future, the college is celebrating 18, and only a tiny number of
Dryad. I also went on the
a new lease of life and a generous
engineers could go on to study –
training ship Royalist. I
investment in its facilities.
and then only at Cambridge. Now
went to the careers offi ce
“I think having this Sword of
80 per cent of the cadets have a
at 16 because I knew then I
Damocles lifted has given us the
degree.
wanted to join the Navy.
ability to plan ahead, which hasn’t
“When I came here in 1976, the
I didn’t go to university
been there in the past,” confi rmed
average age was 19. It’s now risen
because the opportunity
Cdre Jake Moores, Commodore
to 23½. On the plus side today’s
of getting a degree in the
BRNC. “Now we can look ahead
cadets are more mature, and they
service really appealed. I
and make the changes we need.”
have more life-experience. Most
knew I was going to join the
The challenge for BRNC is to
have had a gap year, or worked
RN anyway and I can top up
keep the best of the old, in both
somewhere,” Cdre Moores said.
my foundation degree with
fabric and ethos, while turning
“They are more articulate,
a full degree from the Open
it into a college fi t for the 21st
more mature, and more ready to
University. I think I was the
century.
speak their minds. We were too
youngest in the June entry,
The commodore said: “We
afraid to do that, at 18 or 19. It
but there was such a range
have a great building here. We
makes it more of a challenge, and
of ages, from 19 to 26, I
need to hang on to the traditions
more fun.”
didn’t feel much different
and ethos of the Royal Navy, but
But there are disadvantages to
from the others.
behind that famous façade and
being an older cadet. One of the
The training has been
quarterdeck I want a modern
most obvious, particularly for the
challenging at times but
learning environment, with
warfare offi cers, is that the pattern
on the whole it’s good to
supporting facilities.
of their career can be out of kilter
look back and see what we
with their personal lives.
achieved.
If a cadet joins at 23 they likely
to be reaching the most challengt ing
– Midshipman Sam N
”
olan
point of their career ap t about 30 –
the vt ery time many are looking to
settle dos wn domestically, whereas
whalers will be replaced.
if they join ai t 18 or 19, they will
“We’re confi dent the outcome
spend most of their time as t sea in
will be a modern, 21st Century
their early 20st .
college using the latest teaching
The commodore would like to
techniques,” said Cdr Graham. He
Keep up to date
see the as verage age come down.
added: “Wherever you go around
He explained:H “What I would like
the college there are plans to
to do is get people before they go t
replace the existing facilities over
with news from
to univt ersity. Then not only do
the next fi ve to seven years.
they get paid for being here,t but
There are also plans to provide
they don’t t leave university with big
coffee lounges as an alternative
RNA branches
debtsd .
to the traditional bars for
“If someone joins without a
relaxation periods. But while the
degd ree we get them a foundation
accommodation and facilities may
around the world
degd ree, then we start adding to
be akin to a university, there is no
that t with honours, and master,
relaxation of standards. Dartmouth
“
I worked in industry
depending whad t specialisations
is a military establishment and its
for two years after
they dot .”
cadets will be sent on their way
graduating in mechanical
He added: “Some young people
if they lack that essential Navy
Available at your local newsagent
engineering from Liverpool
are fra ightened of joining the Navy,
quality – grit.
and selected supermarkets,
University. I had no naval
because they think they are signing b
“Grit is a willingness to go on
or subscribe with us and r
A
eceive
background at all, but I
on for 22 yo ears. In fact the return
when things are diffi cult,” said the
joined the Reserves in
of sero vice could be just fi ve years,
commodore.
your copy b
vailable a
y post ‘hot off the pr
t
ess’
2005. I don’t know how or
ddepending what career they go
“What we do here is
why – it just happened.
ffor.”
make things diffi cult and
Tyakour Newe advantage of sagent
I loved my weekends with
If the college aims to attract
see how people respond –
them so much it got to the
mmore people who would otherwise
and if they don’t respond,
our off
stage where I didn’t want
ggo to university it needs to meet
and selec
er exclusiv
ted
ely for
we get rid of them. It’s as
to go back to my job on ttheir expectations in terms of
simple as that.
new RNA subscribers
Monday morning. I thought facilities.
I’d try to get into the RN as “Our accommodation is still
“Our current wastage rate is
Supermarkets
an Air Engineer, although sstuck somewhere in the 1950s,”
between 15 and 20 per cent and
I thought my chances were cconfi rmed Cdr David Graham,
I think that’s about right. If it goes
slim as they only take CCommander of BRNC.
too low, we’re not setting the bar
One Year’s Subscription
14 a year – but I got in. I He said: “University graduates
high enough.”
took a pay cut to come to eexpect a certain standard, from
A recurring theme among the
£17.50
Dartmouth. ccoffee bars to accommodation to
instructors is that most of the
The training has been ggyms. That’s why we’ve embarked
cadets have been brought up to be
To receive a c
uk
very tough. Phase One oon a long-term programme to
risk-averse in today’s health and
£21.50
opy
and Two were very, very bbring ours fi rmly into the 21st
safety-conscious society. Many
Overseas
hard but Phase Three CCentury.
have been to schools where there
was great. I don’t think “We’re going to improve the
is no Combined Cadet Force and
subscribe t
(Normal price £20.50 UK & £24.50 Ov
oda
erseas)
everyone realises what iinfrastructure and reinvigorate the
very little physical or leadership
Please phone for details of Airmail prices
y
good opportunities the aaccommodation. We’re hoping to
training.
RN offers, especially for kkick this off with a complete rework
Lt Cdr Tim Wright, Offi cer
using the f
023 9273 4448
orm
graduates – certainly I was oof Hardy Block (the old Hawke
Commanding Initial Offi cer
never approached by any BBuilding) to provide 168 beds for
Training, said: “Sometimes we
subscriptions@navynews.co.uk of the Services during my
nnew entry cadets with purpose-
will set them a task and when they
on page 29
time at university, and yet built, 24-man mess-decks, so we
brief us on how they’re going to do
When ordering
this is a fantastic career for hhave better team-building.
it they will tell us ‘my fi rst priority
engineers. “We’re building a new gym with
here is safety.’ We tell them it’s not
please quote RNA06 I don’t expect to be ccardio-vascular suites and weight – their priority is to achieve the
spending much time ttraining facilities and squash task.
at sea because of my ccourts, we’re also upgrading our “We cannot compromise
specialisation, but there is lleadership assessment stances, training because of the fear that
no doubt I will be deploying oobstacle course and running trail if someone jumps over a wall on
to theatre, and I’m looking aaround the college.” Dartmoor they might break a leg.
forward to it. The ageing picket boats on the An offi cer has to be able to work
river are to be swapped for twin- with risk, not avoid it.”
– S/Lt Sarah Simmons
”
sscrew training craft, with the fi rst The training package, which
ddue to arrive in 2010. Then the old is delivered to 450 young RN
014-015_NN_June.indd 1 19/5/09 10:51:44
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