Canadian Navy graduates receive Marine Institute technician diplomas

The Marine Institute participated in a graduation ceremony for the Department of National Defence's Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Plan (NCSTTP) today at the Drill Hall in Pleasantville. Graduates received Marine Institute technician diplomas in Electronics Engineering and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, while two Marine Institute Bronze Medals for Academic Achievement were also handed out

Friday, January 14, 2011

The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University of Newfoundland participated in a graduation ceremony for the Department of National Defence’s Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Plan (NCSTTP) on Friday, Jan. 14 at the Drill Hall in Pleasantville. Graduates received Marine Institute technician diplomas in Electronics Engineering and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, while two Marine Institute Bronze Medals for Academic Achievement were also handed out.

Rebecca A.M. Mason of Fredericton, NB and Dan O’Hare of Whitby, ON won the Bronze Medals for Electronics Engineering and Electro-Mechanical Engineering respectively.

“This was an important and memorable day for these students. Since coming to the Marine Institute two years ago, they have displayed commitment, discipline and passion for their programs and the Canadian Navy. I am pleased to call them MI alumni,” said Glenn Blackwood, executive director, MI. “I want to congratulate the graduates and their families for making it this far and I wish them good luck in their new careers.”

Twenty-two graduates were honoured at the ceremony, including four from Newfoundland and Labrador. Ontario, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and British Columbia were also represented at the graduation.

“Marine Institute graduates come from all over Canada and from across the world, as was evident by the NCSTTP class of 2011. I find this appropriate considering several of these sailors will go on to patrol all three of Canada’s oceans as productive combat systems technicians in the Canadian Navy,” Blackwood said.

Fridays’ graduation ceremony included remarks from Blackwood; Commander Stewart Hughes, Detachment Commander, Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School-St. John’s detachment; and Captain (Navy) Richard Gravel, Commander, Fleet Maintenance Cape Scott, Halifax. Captain Gravel provided the reviewing officer’s remarks at the ceremony.

“Captain Gravel’s was a fine choice for the reviewing officer’s remarks. He has had a distinguished career and can easily relate to the young sailors who have just graduated from the Marine Institute,” said Blackwood. “I am sure Captain Gravel’s remarks were taken to heart by the graduates, who were eager to learn from such a renowned and experienced sailor.”

The Naval Combat Systems Technical Training Plan trains technicians in the fields of electronics engineering and electro-mechanical engineering and is a cooperative venture between the Marine Institute and the Canadian Navy. Graduates taking part in the Jan. 14 ceremony began the NCSTTP program at MI’s Ridge Rd. campus in St. John’s in January, 2009.

The sailors will now be employed as naval combat systems technicians in the Canadian Navy, and will be stationed in Halifax, N.S. or Esquimalt, B.C. for further training. The Marine Institute is the only post-secondary institution in Canada to have such a training agreement with the Canadian Navy. This partnership between MI and the Canadian Navy has been in place since 1992.