About
The Royal Australian Navy Recruit School (RANRS) is where all sailors of the RAN begin their careers with over 1000 recruits graduating as sailors each year.
During Recruit School training, sailors are instilled with the core values and behaviours of the Australian Defence Force upon which their service career will be built. They are taught to understand their sea service obligation as members of a combat force. This training gets them ready, both physically and mentally, to undertake their duty in defending Australia and its national interests.
Mission
The mission of RANRS is to cultivate the values and behaviours essential for next generation Navy sailors, equipping them to face the challenges of the future.
Training
Training is held at HMAS Cerberus where recruits are allocated to four divisions named after distinguished sailors of the RAN who have exemplified service values.
- Shipp Division
- Rogers Division
- Taylor Division
- Emms Division.
RAN recruits undertake in the New Entry Sailor Course (NESC), a 10-week intensive training program that consists of 4 blocks. The Initial Training phase lasts 4 weeks and presents challenges as recruits adapt from civilian to military life.
Course outcomes include:
- Acquiring fundamental skills in drill and respect protocols, while initiating a physical conditioning program, which includes the high ropes and swim test.
- Successfully completing the first 2 milestone events: the shakedown and unit readiness evaluation, which evaluate recruits' mental and physical endurance, teamwork capabilities, and preparedness to advance in the training program.
- The Block Training phase, lasting 4 weeks, this involves recruits moving on to outdoor instruction where they will learn weapons handling and how to survive at sea.
- The final 2 weeks consist of an assessment week followed by graduation week. During assessment week, recruits complete the NESC exam, a physical fitness evaluation, the final milestone event, and a mission readiness assessment.