TNAG-0538-FCO40-633-Strength-of-garrison-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 171

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posts ashore; a small number of Principal Warfare

Officers are also given advanced training in navigation.

Introduction of an Operations Branch

4.

3RD DRAFT

Following the introduction of the Principal Warfare Officer,

a review was made of the rating structure in the Seaman 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 it into

line with the rest of the Service in terms of structure,

training and advancement.

ARMY

Officer Cadet and Young Officer Training

5. The new pattern of training for the officer entry, introduced

at Sandhurst in 1972, 18 proving successful and only minor refinements

have had to be made to the syllabus.

Degree Training

6. 169 serving officers (170 in 1973) and 11 University Cadets

(13 in 1973) are reading for degrees in Engineering and Applied

Science at the Royal Military College of Science. In addition,

88 serving officers (79 in 1973) and 126 University Cadets (101 in

1973) are at universities.

Officer Training Review

7. The Committee on Army Regular Officer Training has produced a

preliminary report and is expected to make its final recommendations

shortly.

VI-2

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