HMAS Creswell

HMAS "Creswell" is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy, a part of the Australian Defence Force, and consists of the Royal Australian Naval College (RANC), The RAN School of Survivability and Ship's Safety, Kalkara Flight, the Beecroft Weapons Range and an administrative support department.

The Commanding Officer of Creswell is the Superintendent of Naval Waters for Jervis Bay , and also lead authority for the conduct and management of Navy's initial entry, leadership and management training around Australia.

Location

HMAS "Creswell" is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch on the shores of Jervis Bay in the Jervis Bay Territory.

History

Parliament selected the site of Captain's Point in the Jervis Bay Territory on the south coast of New South Wales, near Nowra, for the Royal Australian Naval College on 7 November 1911. While the new college was built, the RANC was temporarily located at Osborne House, Geelong.

Construction of the main college buildings was completed in 1915. The senior staff bungalows were designed by John Smith Murdoch, later the Chief Architect of the Commonwealth of Australia and designer of Old Parliament House, Canberra.

The RANC, then consisting of the first two entries of cadet midshipmen, moved to Jervis Bay on 10 February 1915; however, it was moved to Flinders Naval Depot in 1930 to reduce costs during the Great Depression. To reduce overcrowding at the depot, the college moved once again to Captain's Point in 1958.

The establishment at Captain's Point was renamed HMAS "Creswell" in honour of Sir William Rooke Creswell, a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy who was an important colonial naval officer, was instrumental to the formation of an independent Australian navy, and served as the First Naval Member of the Naval Board from 1911 to 1919.

Royal Australian Naval College

The Royal Australian Naval College is Australia's authority for the basic and leadership training of officers for service in the Royal Australian Navy.

Courses

The main course run at HMAS "Creswell" is the New Entry Officers Course (NEOC) which provides initial entry training for most of the RAN's officers. Generally, trainees who have no university education or a three year degree enter the college as Midshipmen, while trainees with significant experience or more university education enter as Sub-Lieutenants, Lieutenants and Chaplains. After completing training at the college, officers proceed to other establishments for primary qualification training. Locations include HMAS "Watson", for Junior Warfare Officers (formerly known as Seamen Officers), and HMAS "Cerberus", for Weapons Electrical and Marine Engineers and Supply officers.

Further training is also undertaken at the RANC: courses such as the Junior Officers Leadership Course and Junior Officers Management and Staff Course also take place there.

Notable graduates

*Commodore Sir James Maxwell Ramsay, KCMG, KCVO, CBE, DSC
*Vice Admiral Sir John Augustine Collins, KBE, CB, RAN
*Captain Hector Waller, DSO and bar, RAN
*Rear Admiral Harold B. Farncomb CB, DSO, MVO, RAN
*Lieutenant Commander Robert William "Oscar" Rankin, RAN
*Captain Emile Frank Verlaine Dechaineux, DSC, LM, RAN
*Captain Joseph Burnett, RAN

Alternative Entry Routes

*Sailor initial entry training is conducted through HMAS "Cerberus"
*Under the Naval Officer Year One (NOYO) scheme, introduced in 2000, Midshipmen attending the Australian Defence Force Academy spend their first year on NEOC and, for Junior Warfare and Supply Officers, on initial phases of their respective application courses before progressing to the Academy. Midshipmen attempting to become pilots or observers are not part of the NOYO scheme and proceed directly to ADFA on initial entry.

Kalkara Flight

The Kalkara Flight provides a remotely controlled jet target for anti-aircraft training exercises conducted in the East Australian Exercise Area (EAXA).

RAN School of Ship Survivability and Safety

The RAN School Of Ship Survivability and Safety, also known as the School of Many Ss, is the primary NBC and damage control training facility for the RAN in eastern Australia and is responsible for running courses in these skills.

Beecroft Weapons Range

Beecroft Weapons Range, located on Beecroft Head, is a live fire range for conducting Naval Gunfire Support (NGS) exercises.

References

* [http://www.navy.gov.au/HMAS_Creswell Official Royal Australian Naval College website]
* [http://www.defencejobs.gov.au/mediaUpload/mediaUpload/NavyJoiningInstructions-OE.pdf| NEOC Joining Instructions]