HMS Sultan: New Training Course Begins (UK)

Staff and students from the Defence School of Marine Engineering (DSMarE), HMS Sultan have welcomed a new dawn in the Royal UK Navy’s training capability with the recent commencement of the new Engineering Technician Initial Career Course (ETICC).

The NVQ Level 2 accredited ETICC, which takes new recruits fresh from 10 weeks basic Phase 1 training at HMS Raleigh, on to their Phase 2 specialisation training, will see the trainees complete 30 weeks of Engineering Training designed to prepare them for life at sea within the Marine Engineering branch.

In a significant change from previous courses, trainees will now receive an additional 11 weeks “hands-on” practical engineering training to complement the original technical training. This is designed to equip the trainee technicians with the necessary skills to diagnose maintain and repair equipment.
Alongside the syllabus a significant number of improvements have been made to the training equipment available within the DSMarE; the recent upgrade of refrigeration training, the addition of the CAT32 Diesel coupled with established training aids which include the Type 45 Destroyer Simulators, Gas Turbines and Diesel Engines, all put the School in a strong position to introduce students to equipment they would have otherwise only experienced once they were serving out at sea.

In addition to the core technical training, all students will receive similar instruction to other Phase 2 trainees across the fleet within educational skills, Basic Sea Survival (BSSC), Operational visits, physical education and ceremonial training.

Captain Trevor Gulley RN, Commanding Officer of HMS Sultan & Commandant DSMarE said: “The new ETICC is a fantastic example of how the Royal Navy continues to evolve to remain at the cutting edge of engineering training and technology. The opportunities that are open to our future engineers and technicians are very exciting, especially with HMS Queen Elizabeth’s launch just a few weeks away.

“The additional time that the trainees spend on the new course within HMS Sultan will see them wrapped up with the latest in practical training. Our recent additions within training equipment, whether in refrigeration training or within diesel engines, show that we are investing everything we can into making the Royal Navy and its people, the best they can be.”

The trainee technicians will complete their Phase 2 training, passing out to join their first ships on 23 January 2015.
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Press Release, May 30, 2014