Young Officers’ Training Officer BRd 2

CHAPTER 32

YOUNG OFFICERS' TRAINING OFFICER

(MOD Sponsor: CINCFLEET-ACOS(P & R))

CONTENTS

Para
3201. General
3202. Task
3203. Training Programme
3204. Task Book
3205. Training Record
3206. Reports
3207. Retention of Form E190
3208. Training Guidance

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CHAPTER 32

YOUNG OFFICERS' TRAINING OFFICER

3201. General

The Young Officers’ Training Officer (YOTO) is the most important of an officer’s
secondary duties and it must be undertaken by an experienced officer, preferably at Head
of Department (HOD) level. In a minor war vessel the YOTO is to be the Captain or the
First Lieutenant.

3202. Task

The YOTO is responsible to the Commanding Officer for the welfare and training of all
Young Officers (YO) appointed or loaned to the ship for Common Fleet Training (CFT) and
Fleet Board. The YOTO retains responsibility for the YO until his next phase of training
post Fleet Board. The YOTO should be the ship’s focus for the overall YO training pipeline
advice and should attend a YOTO’s Seminar. Responsibility for YO’s on Specialist Fleet
Time (SFT) is borne by the appropriate ship’s HOD.

3203. Training Programme

1. The time for sea training in the Fleet is very short and therefore the YOTO is to ensure
that each YO receives a structured and supervised training programme which:

a. Builds up confidence, leadership ability and officer-like qualities.

b. Prepares him to perform the general duties of a naval officer at sea.

c. Develops a basic understanding of the way a ship achieves its operational

task and how its departments are organised.

3204. Task Book

In order to assist in this task, BRNC provides each YO with Fleet Training Task Books. A
Defence Writing Workbook is also provided, however, this is under review as part of a DTR
initiative for common (joint) DW training and standards. The YOTO (or ship’s HOD for SFT)
is to ensure that the guidance in each of these publications is followed, and that sufficient
progress is achieved.

3205. Training Record

The YOTO is to maintain a record of the training performance of each YO under his
charge, during CFT, liaising with ship’s HODs as appropriate. This record must include
details of all formal interviews, career counselling, requests, complaints and Warnings,
together with any advice given at the time. He is to ensure that each YO receives regular
and comprehensive appraisals of his performance, together with early and formally
recorded warnings if this falls below that to be expected at that stage of training, taking into
account the age and background of the individual. It will not normally be necessary to
maintain a training record during Specialist Fleet Training although it will be appropriate to
do so in some circumstances (eg. where a warning has been imposed or complaint made).

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3206. Reports

The YOTO is to prepare formal reports for inclusion in the Training Record (Form E190)
for the Captain’s signature on the occasions listed in BR 8374 Officers’ Training
Regulations, using the contemporaneous record described in Para 3205 as the basis. For
SFT, Fleet SO1N7TSURF will offer guidance to the Navigating Officer, the Logistics Officer
or the Weapon Engineer Officer who will be responsible for the drafting of the report for
their respective YOs.

3207. Retention of Form E190

In certain circumstances DCinC Fleet or the MOD may require the personal record to be
forwarded for examination and therefore it should be retained on board for one year after
the YO has left the ship, after which it may be destroyed. If a Young Officer has left the ship
under recommendation for Admiralty Board Warning or withdrawal from training, either
voluntarily or compulsorily, or the ship is due to pay off, the personal record is to be
forwarded to the Office of the Second Sea Lord and Director General Human Resources
(Naval), DPS(N)1, Victory Building, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LS, on the YO’s
departure from the ship for temporary retention with the officer’s personal papers.

3208. Training Guidance

Guidance on the training of Young Officers is contained in BR 8374 and further advice can
be obtained from Fleet W7SO1TSURF if required. YOTO seminars are arranged by Fleet
SO2N7TSURF on a termly basis and YOTOs are to attend one either before or shortly
after taking up their appointment. If this is precluded for any reason, the YOTO should
alternatively arrange a briefing with Fleet, SO2N7TSURF and with MoD DPS(N) YOTOS1
and the Young Officers’ Appointer SO2NCMXUT.

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