Marine Institute Graduation Honours Royal Canadian Navy Students

The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland held a graduation ceremony for the Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Plan (NCSTTP) on Friday, January 13 at the Drill Hall in Pleasantville

Friday, January 13, 2012

Forty-five sailors earned Marine Institute diplomas in electronics engineering and electro-mechanical engineering, including ten graduates from Newfoundland and Labrador. The graduating class comes from across Canada as well as Scotland.

"We are proud to educate and graduate these innovative men and women whose knowledge and dedication energize our oceans sector, whether that be in the areas of marine transportation, ocean technology or maritime defence," said Glenn Blackwood, vice-president, Memorial University (Marine Institute). We thank each of these graduates for having entrusted us with their education. And we thank the Royal Canadian Navy for having the confidence in us to help contribute to the Navy's greatest asset - its people."

The Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Plan is a joint venture between the Royal Canadian Navy and the Marine Institute. The two-year NSCTTP program trains naval recruits to operate and maintain the wide range of shipboard electronic and combat equipment found on Canada's Navy ships. The graduates will be moving to Halifax, NS or Esquimalt, BC for further naval training prior to being assigned to naval ships sometime later this year.

"It is our pleasure to offer quality programs and instruction to the future leaders of the Royal Canadian Navy," Blackwood said. "We are also very proud of the fact we can call these men and women Marine Institute alumni. They are wonderful ambassadors of the Canadian Navy and the Marine Institute."

This joint venture between the Marine Institute and the Royal Canadian Navy has been in place since 1992. The Marine Institute is the only post-secondary institution in Canada to have such an agreement with the Canadian Navy. More than 900 sailors have graduated from MI since the partnership began.

"Our partnership with the Navy is exceptional and one which we highly value as we enter into our third decade of working together," said Blackwood.

The graduation ceremony was attended by their Honours John Crosbie and Jane Crosbie, Rear Admiral Andrew Smith, Chief of Military Personnel and Stewart Hughes, Lieutenant-Commander, Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School St. John's.