ROYAL SAUDI NAVAL FORCES (RSNF) TRAINEES JOIN FIRST TRAINING SQUADRON (1TS) FOR AFLOAT ATTACHMENT

Seventy-six trainees from the King Fahad Naval Academy of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) joined the First Training Squadron (1TS) of the Indian Navy at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi on 24 June 2024. This marks the second batch of trainees participating in this program, with the first batch having completed similar training in May – June 2023.

The trainees were warmly welcomed by Senior Officer 1TS, Captain Anshul Kishore, who outlined the four-week training programme during the inaugural address. The training curriculum includes a range of activities from basic seamanship to simulator-based training during the harbour phase. The sea phase will focus on practical exposure to the nuances of life at sea.

Additionally, the trainees will be familiarised with sail training onboard the sail training ship of 1TS.

The afloat attachment of RSNF trainees is being conducted alongside Indian Naval trainees of the 107 Integrated Officers Training Course (IOTC), fostering camaraderie and mutual understanding between the trainees of both maritime nations. It is worth noting that Admiral Fahad Abdullah S Al-Ghofaily, Chief of Staff of the RSNF, visited the Southern Naval Command in January 2024 during his official visit to India. The bilateral training cooperation between the two navies stands as a testament to the longstanding friendship and shared commitment between India and Saudi Arabia.