Military Training

Other Ranks (Non Technical), Qualified

Duration: 11 weeks

Location: Crib Point, Victoria

The Recruit School at HMAS CERBERUS is situated on Western Port Bay, Victoria about 70 kilometres south east of Melbourne. The school has its own administration building, accommodation blocks and classrooms and operates as an independent unit within the greater training environment of HMAS CERBERUS.

The eleven-week Recruit Course is designed to give you sufficient knowledge and skills on which to base your Navy career. The course includes both classroom and practical activities. Most subjects are individually tested. Examinations are set to ensure Recruits are sufficiently prepared to undertake further specialist training at category schools. Private study areas are available in the school and a Duty Instructor is available for assistance during non-instructional hours.

When you are offered a General Entry job in the Navy, you will receive Joining Instructions for the Recruit Training Course. These instructions will provide you with a good indication of the daily routine while at the Recruit School and what will be expected of you during your training. This information is also available by accessing the Navy Recruit School web site.

Recruits who successfully complete the course, including the Navy Swimming Test, participate in a Graduation Parade, which is normally held on the Friday of the last week of training. Recruits will have the opportunity to invite family and friends to view the parade.

After Graduation personnel will be posted to category schools at HMAS CERBERUS or at other training establishments throughout Australia.

During Military (Initial Recruit) Training and (Initial) Employment Training, members may be required to pay a contribution towards meals, accommodation and utilities, depending on a number of factors.

Other Ranks (Non Technical) (Reserve)

Reserve Entry Recruit Course (RERC)

All Reserve Entry Recruits attend the Navy Recruit School, at HMAS CERBERUS in Victoria where they undertake the Reserve Entry Recruit Course.

The course consists of two separate Phases of in-house training: i.e. 1 x 3 week training block followed by a further 2 weeks undertaken at a later stage. The combining of the 2 phases into one continuous 5 Week block of training is also possible however guidelines exist – Please see below for these.

During Phase 1 of training, Reserve Entry Recruits will team up with their full time colleagues and undertake the first 3 weeks of enlistment. Lessons in Basic Naval Knowledge, Swimming, Physical Fitness and Parade Training will be covered. At the end of the 3rd week (19 days after enlistment), students will travel home having completed Phase 1 of their training. Reserve Entry Recruits will then be later required to return to HMAS CERBERUS to complete their 2nd and final Phase of training at a time that suits both the Recruit School’s program and themselves.

Phase 2 consists of a further 2 weeks (13 days) of in-house training at HMAS Cerberus where students are taught First Aid, Combat Survival and Survival at Sea skills. On the successful completion of Phase 2, students will graduate from the Reserve Entry Recruit Course and travel home. Depending on their chosen field, further category specific training or Qualified Reserve Employment can then be pursued.

If class sizes and the Recruit School Training Program allows, Reserve Applicants may request to conduct their 2 Phases of training in one continuous 5 week block of instruction. This method will require students to change classes at the end of their 3rd week to allow the ‘Phase 2’ proficiencies to be obtained. If this method is desired, applicants are required to first check with their Defence Force Recruiting Centre to ensure that a ‘5 Week Continuous Training program’ is available.