Canadian Navy modernizes and upgrades its training system

DND Press Release

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), in the midst of modernizing and upgrading its training, held a ceremony today in Esquimalt to officially mark the creation of the reconfigured Naval Training Development Centre (Pacific) and Naval Fleet School (Pacific) as a part of its Future Naval Training System (FNTS) initiative.

The FNTS will assist in developing RCN sailors, allowing them to operate Canada’s current and future warships. Over the last three years, all naval training elements have been brought together in order to provide the RCN with coherent, sustainable, and well-supported means of generating naval forces into the next decades. The new Technology Enabled Learning Strategy will increase the effectiveness and flexibility of the Naval Training System, while reducing the demand for infrastructure.

“We built this training system knowing future operations will be dynamic and complex," said Captain (N) Mike Knippel, Commander Naval Personnel and Training Group. "Using the latest technologies, we are preparing our sailors to effectively operate the new warships and deliver excellence at sea. The new training system is more cost effective, relevant, and capable of meeting the demands of the 21st century.”

Similar ceremonies were held on June 29, 2016, at Naval Fleet School (Quebec) and will be held on July 15, 2016, at the new Campus Atlantic in Halifax.

The mission of the RCN is to generate combat-capable, multipurpose maritime forces that support Canada’s efforts to participate in security operations anywhere in the world. Our training system is key to achieving a maritime force that is capable of effectively accomplishing this mission.

The Technology Enabled Learning Strategy is based on four design principles: distance and distributed learning technology, Multi-Purpose Reconfigurable Trainers, persistent access to learning and training devices, and networked training. This approach enables the use of universal classrooms and the campus model, resulting in reduced demand for single purpose training facilities.

The application of Multi-Purpose Reconfigurable Trainers, supported by reconfigurable training spaces at training campuses, is expected to reduce the overall costs of trainers, simulators, and training tools by enabling the re-use of hardware, software, and infrastructure to meet different training objectives. Through efficiencies gained from reconfigurable and mobile equipment, the physical footprint of the training system can be reduced.

As a part the modernization efforts, the Commandant of Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt, Commander S.E. Hooper, relinquished command of his former school and immediately assumed command of the newly named Naval Training Development Center (Pacific). Simultaneously, the Commandant of the formerly named Naval Officer Training Center VENTURE, Commander Todd Bonnar, relinquished command and promptly assumed command of newly named Naval Fleet School (Pacific).

Campus Pacific (Esquimalt) reconfigured the Fleet School Esquimalt and the Naval Officer Training Center VENTURE into Naval Fleet School (Pacific) and the Naval Training Development Center (Pacific). Naval Fleet School (Pacific) will deliver individual and career courses, while the Naval Training Development Center (Pacific) will be the RCN’s Center of Excellence for engineering, damage control, command, leadership, and professional development curriculum and courseware development.

Campus Atlantic (Halifax) will reconfigure the Canadian Forces Naval Operations School and Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School into Naval Fleet School (Atlantic) and Naval Training Development Center (Atlantic). Naval Fleet School (Atlantic) will deliver individual training, with the addition of Submarine Training, while the Naval Training Development Center (Atlantic) will focus on combat, operations, and seamanship training curriculum and courseware development.

Naval Fleet School (Quebec), formerly Canadian Forces Fleet School Quebec, will continue its role as a training site, delivering various courses to the Naval Reserve.

For the complete version of the Future Naval Training System Strategy, please contact MARPAC Public Affairs.