A senior project engineer, two surgeons, a security analyst and a vicar were among the latest Royal Naval Reservists to complete training at Britannia Royal Naval College.

Seven Officer Cadets spent two weeks at the world-renowned college as they prepare for a role within the Royal Naval Reservists.

The intense course includes ceremonial training, weapons training, strategic studies, theoretical and practical leadership development, as well as gruelling physical sessions.

Three days were spent refining boat skills on the River Dart followed by assessments on Dartmoor and within the grounds of BRNC to determine the fate of pass or fail.

Newly promoted Surg Lt Rupert Wharton said: “The past couple of weeks were tough but very enjoyable, and the course really manages to pack a huge amount into only 16 days.”

At the end of their course the cadets were formally commissioned as officers during a ceremony attended by Commodore Martin Quinn, Commodore Maritime Reserves.

BRNC Instructor Chief Petty Officer Justin Blackford said: “The passing-out-parade was an extremely fulfilling moment to see the proud faces of both Young Officers and their families alike.

“The Young Officers will return to BRNC in the future to complete the second part of their initial training and finally consolidate all that they have achieved so far at their Fleet Board.”

The Maritime Reserves is made of the RNR and the Royal Marines Reserves. In many cases reservists are indistinguishable from their regular counterparts.

In recent years the Maritime Reserves has been involved in a range of operations including counter-terrorism and anti-piracy work in the Gulf.