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Officers are also given advanced training in navigation.
Introduction of an Operations Branch
4. Following the introduction of the Principal Warfare Officer,
a review was made of the structure of the Seaman rating branch,
which took into account the greater responsibility delegated to
Seaman ratings in the Operations Room and the growing area of common
ground between the tasks of Seamen and ratings of the Communications
Branch within the Operations Room. As a result, the former Seaman and
Communications Branches were combined to form the Operations Branch
on 1 January 1975. This re-organisation has entailed important
structural changes in the former Seaman Branch, bringing them into
line with the rest of the Service in terms of Branch structure, train-
ing and advancement.
National Recognition of Royal Naval Technical Training
5.
Progress has been made in the negotiations to ensure that all
Artificers and Mechanicians achieve a nationally recognised qualifi-
cation on completion of Naval training. These awards embrace
Ordinary National Certificates in Engineering and various City and
Guilds of London Institute Technicians Certificates in Mechanical
and Electrical Engineering at Part 2 level. Ratings of other special-
isations are also able to qualify for awards of City and Guilds Craft
Certificates in appropriate subjects. The Engineers Registration
Board of the Council of Engineering Institutions (CEI) has recognised:
a.
all Special Duties List officers in the Engineering Branch
and all Artificer and Mechanician Chief Petty Officers in
the Submarine Service who have successfully completed the Long Nuclear Training Course, and who have four years' experience in the First Class rate, as being eligible for registration as Technician Engineers (CEI);
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