In what is believed to be an ADF first, an Australian Army officer has topped the class in the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) officer-of-the-watch course.

Captain Pascal-Walter Price was awarded the Student of Merit during the RAN maritime warfare officers course graduation ceremony at HMAS Watson in Sydney late last year.

He was one of five Army officers who graduated, after completing a two-year program designed to train RAN’s surface warfare officers as officers of the watch.

“It has been a privilege to be the first Army officer awarded a limited navigation watchkeeping certificate and obtain my bridge warfare certificate,” Captain Price said.

Specialist Army personnel are training with Navy to build skills in support of Army’s littoral manoeuvre program.

Captain Price, who is from Angle Vale, South Australia, said he gained a range of experiences at sea in support of Operation Resolute during the course.

Two warrant officers completed chief engineer and deck watchkeeper training with the United States Army as part of the littoral manoeuvre program, and four ECN (Employment Category Number) 218 marine specialists and six ECN 222 marine technicians completed training through Newcastle TAFE, graduating with diplomas in maritime operations and marine engineering respectively.

Head of the Royal Australian Corps of Transport Brigadier Colin Bassett said it was an important milestone in the history of the corps, and provided a career path for its officers.

All members will be posting to the newly formed Littoral Manoeuvre Group Headquarters in south-east Queensland.

For more information on the littoral manoeuvre program and employment opportunities, contact littoralmanoeuvreprogram@resources.defence.gov.au