The rain did not dampen spirits as the Royal Marines Band provided some Christmas cheer to mark the final passing-out-parade at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) this year.
Vice Admiral Keith Blount, the Commander of NATO’s Allied Maritime Command, was the inspecting officer as 147 Officer Cadets marked the end of their training and their formal commissioning as Naval Officers.
As he inspected the platoons the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Plymouth played some festive tunes.
The passing-out platoons included 29 newly qualified Officers promoted from the ranks, 17 doctors, two dentists and two new members of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service.
In addition, the parade marked the completion of training for 12 Officers for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service and 26 cadets from 14 different countries who had trained alongside those destined for a career in the Royal Navy.
Captain Roger Readwin, the Commanding Officer of BRNC, said. “The men and women passing out today have worked hard to achieve the stringent standards we expect of them in the classroom, on Dartmoor, the River Dart and at sea.
“It’s an exciting time for the Royal Navy, with new ships, submarines and aircraft coming into service, and it is these men and women who will take this equipment forward.
“This is the first passing-out-parade of my tenure in Command and as well as congratulating the newly commissioned Officers, I’d like to pay tribute to my staff who have worked hard to help them achieve their goal.
“It’s time now for some well-deserved leave with families and friends before we return in the New Year ready to deliver more training as our contribution to operational capability.”
This latest passing-out-parade brings the total number of Cadets that have completed training at BRNC this year to 472. The College has also provided training for over 270 members of the Royal Naval Reserve.
The passing-out platoons were joined on the parade ground by Cadets at varying stages of their training.
