Raleigh together: Officer Cadets and Ratings to begin Royal Navy training side by side

For the first time, both Officer and Rating entry pathways will pack their bags and journey to the land of seagulls and pasties – Plymouth – to begin their journey into the Royal Navy.

Under what the service has coined a more modernised approach, all recruits will complete a 10-week Initial Naval Training course at HMS Raleigh. Officer Cadets will then continue to a newly redesigned 14-week commissioning course at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

This change reflects the way the Royal Navy operates today, with Officers and Ratings working side by side from the very start of their service on operations around the globe.

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Building leadership, character and competence

According to the Royal Navy, collating the foundation phase at HMS Raleigh enables more effective use of the training facilities and specialist equipment. 

Rear Admiral Andrew Rose, Director of People and Training, said: "The Royal Navy has always adapted to maintain advantage over emerging threats.  

"This modernised system strengthens our ability to generate capable, confident and mission‑ready leaders. It is the right change, at the right time, to ensure we remain ready to fight and win."

He stressed that Britannia Royal Naval College still remains an integral part of Officer Training and will continue to be the leadership training centre for the service. 

"Everyone completing all of our courses must meet the immovable high standard which the Royal Navy demands," he added. 

Warfighting ready

And those high standards will be under the watchful eye of Captain Andrew Bray, who serves as Commanding Officer of the prestigious naval academy. 

"My role is to ensure the Royal Navy continues to generate capable, confident and mission-ready leaders, which the introduction of the Initial Naval Training represents a move towards that," he explained. 

"This new system strengthens operational effectiveness and provides a sustainable model that supports the long‑term needs of the fleet. 

"This redesigned pathway supports the First Sea Lord's Warfighting Ready plan by ensuring new Officers are better prepared for leadership in a fast‑moving and contested environment. 

Though Captain Bray recognised the change could be unsettling for some, he emphasised that the approach had been carefully designed, informed by evidence and shaped by "those who deliver training every day". 

"There will be no redundancies, and we will support every individual affected by realignment. This is about investing in our people, improving our resilience and ensuring our training pipeline is ready for the challenges of the future," he added. 

The first officer cohort will begin the new initial training phase on Monday, 1 June.