An Cosantóir

13 THE 58TH CADET CLASS A NAVY DELIVERING SERVICES Service by spending time on board the LÉ William Butler Yeats before moving to the Cadet School in the Military College in the DFTC, Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. Here, the Cadets were trained as infantry soldiers, focusing on drill, marksmanship, military discipline, fitness and land navigation. At Christmas 2018, the 58th Cadet Class moved back to Haulbowline to begin Phase 2 of their training, which commenced in January 2019 with a busy schedule ahead. This 'Marinisation' phase ran from January to May with the Cadets studying navigation while also completing a range of courses such as: • Engineering • Communications • Fisheries • Gunnery This phase also saw the 58th Cadet Class take part in the LÉ James Joyce's 2-week patrol to London as part of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. The Royal Navy also hosted the 58th Cadet Class on their P2000 class vessel for a week of Navigation Training in Dublin Bay. Phase 2 concluded with exams in General Navigation, Chartwork, Rules of the Road, Leadership and Communications. The 58th Cadet Class then travelled to Lourdes for the annual tradition of the International Military Pilgrimage. On returning from Lourdes, Phase 3 saw them prepare to go to sea. After a patrol on the LÉ George Bernard Shaw, including fisheries boardings and fleet exercises, the Cadets took part in Sea Week 2019 in Cork City. Phase 3 continued with the Cadets being split among the LÉ James Joyce for an additional 4 week patrol and to the US Naval Academy for a 4-week navigation course and patrol. Phase 4 commenced in September with the class studying in the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) in Ringaskiddy. Alongside civilian students, the Cadets learned various maritime subjects such as astro-navigation, seamanship, maths, science and stability. Even though the Cadets were studying in NMCI, their duties as Naval Cadets were not forgotten, especially during PLX (Personal Leadership Exercise), a four day ground exercise in all things leadership and robustness. Every day in college, the Cadets also trained and practised their pilotage skills with their Class Officer LT Paul Kavanagh in the simulators, with the target of becoming competent enough to navigate a ship for the first time. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the day to day routine as the class were required to do a number of their lectures and exams in a remote location. The Cadets navigated the LÉ Eithne to Cork City in support of the HSE in the fight against COVID-19. After 22 months of training, on 3rd July 2020, the 58th Cadet Class took the next step in their careers by becoming commissioned officers of the Irish Naval Service. The Commissioning Ceremony 58 th Cadet Class The Commissioning Ceremony is the formal presentation to the Cadet Class of their Commissions from An tUachtarain upon completion of their training as Cadets, marking their graduation to the officer body of the Service. The Commission is the direction from the President and Commander in Chief to exercise and train in arms and maintain in good order and discipline the men and women serving under them. The Commissioning scroll, presented by the Minster appointing each new officer, is signed by An tUachtarain on behalf of the state and also by An Taoiseach on behalf of the Government. The ceremony began with the marching on Parade of the The Cadets assist each other, making the final adjustments to their swords Lt Commander Alan O'Regan salutes the colour party as they make their way on parade

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