Pictures: Dave Sherfield, HMS Raleigh

TOSSING their caps in the air in delight these are the first of 1,200 new ratings to pass into the Royal Navy in 2012.

Some 45 able seamen – destined for careers in all branches of the Senior Service – completed their basic training at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint at a ceremony presided over by Capt Mike McCartain, Flag Officer Sea Training Director South.

They completed ten weeks of ‘initial naval training’ which teaches the basics of Service life – from drill and looking after uniforms to basic military skills, such as weapon handling, living in the field and teamwork – and now go on to their specialist instruction as engineers, airmen, seamen, warfare experts, medics, chefs and submariners.

As they filed out of Raleigh to begin their careers in earnest, 64 rookies were filing through the gates, the first recruits of the year to start their ten-week stint.

Among them budding medical assistant Laura Thurlow, from Wembury, and trainee writer Hazel Brittain from Torpoint.

Laura is a former Royal Navy Reservist previously attached to the Plymouth=based unit, HMS Vivid.

“Being in the reserves made me want to join the regulars and also coming from a military family, I wanted to be part of the club,” said 24-year-old Laura.

“I'm looking forward to the challenge of becoming a medic and finding out where I will be posted.

“I'm also keen to experience the sporting opportunities open to us, and the camaraderie with new friends.  For the next ten weeks I will be focussing on the passing-out-parade before my family.  It's daunting, but I think it's going to be an exciting time.”

Trainee MA Laura Thurlow tries on a cap for size in the stores office with the help of storekeeper Susannah Hyslop, watched by budding Writer Hazel Brittain

Hazel, aged 26, is following in the footsteps of her father Steve, who is an ex-Royal Navy physical training instructor.

“Since leaving school I've done a lot of travelling and a number of jobs, including a wedding event planner,” she said.

“I lived in South Africa for a while and in Ireland, but now I want to settle down to a career.  I'm looking forward to the challenges of the next ten weeks, facing everything the instructors throw at us, while my fitness progresses.

“I'm quite headstrong and determined when I put my mind to something, so I'm going take each day as it comes. I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends again when I'm on parade at the end of the course.”