The Canadian Navy and the Marine Institute will celebrate tomorrow as 13 new naval combat technicians will be welcomed into the ranks as they graduate from the Marine Engineering Technician Training Plan (METTP) program. The graduation will take place at 10:30 a.m., Sept. 19, at the Canadian Forces Station St. John’s Drill Hall in Pleasantville. 

Commander Simon Page will be the guest of honour for the graduation ceremony. The graduating class comes from Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. This province continues its strong representation in the Navy with seven Newfoundlanders and Labradorians heading to the fleet. The graduates will be moving to Halifax, N.S., or Esquimalt, B.C., for further naval training prior to being assigned to naval ships sometime later this year. 

The two-year METTP program trains naval recruits to operate, monitor, and maintain advanced propulsion systems in Canada's Navy. The Marine Institute will award technician diplomas to the graduates in marine 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 naval trainees complete their technical training at the institute and continue on to successful careers in the Navy. On average, roughly 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, (709) 778-0677 or Stephanie.barrett@mi.mun.