Twenty-eight Naval Combat Systems Technicians will be welcomed into the ranks of the Canadian Navy on Friday. The Marine Institute and the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School (St. John’s) will hold its Naval Combat Systems Technical Training Plan (NCSTTP) graduation at 10:30 am, Jan. 18, at the Canadian Forces Station St. John’s Drill Hall in Pleasantville.

Commander Robert Hovey will be the guest of honour for the graduation ceremony. The graduating class comes from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. This province continues its strong representation in the Navy with 13 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians heading to the fleet. 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. 

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 Marine Institute will award technician diplomas to the graduates in electronic engineering and electro-mechanical engineering. 

The relationship between the Department of National Defence and the Marine Institute has been an enormous success for both organizations since its establishment in 1992. With each passing year, more and more naval trainees complete their technical training at the Institute and continue on to successful careers in the Navy. On average, approximately 100 naval trainees are studying at the Marine Institute throughout the year.

The media is invited to attend the ceremony and speak with navy representatives and graduates.

For more information, please contact Stephanie Barrett, public relations and communications officer, Marine Institute, at 778-0677 or Stephanie.barrett@mi.mun.ca.