§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 19 December 2001,Official Report, column 337W, on submarine officers, how long the training period for general naval duties is; and if he will make a statement. [33858]
§ Mr. IngramIn my previous answer to the hon. Member, I explained that all Royal Navy officers undergo a period of general naval training prior to discipline-specific training.
Naval general training is undertaken at Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth over a period of 27 weeks and includes six weeks of initial sea training. It is followed by a four month period of common fleet training and specialist fleet training of between two and six months, depending on specialisation. Officers then proceed to the appropriate professional training for periods between three and 28 months, before commencing their first complement appointment on the Royal Navy's trained strength.