The 56th Naval Service Cadet Class are to be awarded their commissions tomorrow (Friday, June 22nd) at the Naval Service Officer Commissioning Ceremony in Haulbowline Naval Base, Cork.

This represents the successful completion of two years intensive military and nautical training for 11 cadets.

The ceremony is to kick off at 12pm with Defence Minister Paul Kehoe and the Defence Forces’ Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM in attendance.

A spokesperson for the Irish Defence Forces said:

“The 11 cadets have completed a very demanding, challenging and rewarding course of basic officer training, including diverse subjects such as navigation, seamanship, leadership, communications, marine engineering and naval warfare, while a strategic studies course was completed at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.

“The cadets also completed sea time experience across the Naval Service fleet and commenced their first year of academic study for a Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science at the National Maritime College of Ireland.”