Seaman Combat Specialist School
The Seaman Combat Specialist School is situated at the Devonport Naval Base. Skills taught at the school range from knot tying to boat driving; from weapon familiarisation to taking charge of a live weapons firing; from how to march to organising and managing a major military ceremonial event.
There are many fields that Seaman Combat Specialists are required to be specialists in. These include small arms and close range weapons, all forms of seamanship, parade and ceremonial, boarding operations, height safety equipment training, ship preservation, ship's security and protecting ships from terrorist attacks. The Seaman Combat Specialist School has experienced instructors who can take people with no knowledge in these fields and train them to a level where they can be employed anywhere a Seaman Combat Specialist is required in the Navy.
The image on the right shows the simulation of a helicopter fire during training.
After completing Basic Common Training, Seaman Combat Specialists begin their specialist training at the school. They are introduced to, and given training to, a basic level of all Seaman Combat Specialist duties. These include all responsibilities as a crewmember of the Navy's ships; a week sailing in a yacht learning how to crew a sailing vessel; an in-depth knowledge of weapons, including pistols, rifles and .50 calibre machine guns; taking control of a platoon of people and marching them as one; how to safely work at heights using safety equipment; and how to control a situation when confronted with an assailant.
After completing this training, Seaman Combat Specialists work in various areas of the Navy both ashore and at sea. They return to the Seaman Combat Specialist School at intervals to learn more skills and knowledge as their career progresses.
Read a Seaman Combat Specialist's job description.
