The Flag Officer Sea Training

“A World Class Navy trained to fight and Win”

“Haven’t you heard it’s all been changed,” is a well known naval expression which
can justifiably be applied to the current activities of The Flag Officer Sea
Training, known throughout the Navy as FOST. FOST exists to provide Operational
Sea Training (OST) to all ships of the Royal Navy from patrol craft to aircraft
carriers as well as training the submarine service (including the Submarine
Command Course – known as The Perisher) and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The
training conducted at FOST is “Tier 1” training, with the object of achieving a
state of efficiency which enables ships’ crews to operate safely and fight
effectively as a cohesive unit. Tier 2 training, conducted during Fleet Exercise
“Neptune Warrior” off the West coast of Scotland is designed to enable the units
to operate effectively as a Task Group and is also supported by FOST staff. FOST
training begins the moment a ship comes out of build or long refit and FOST staff
are responsible for the training of that unit from “cradle-to-grave”. Once
assessed as safe to go to sea, the ship will be programmed to conduct Basic
Operational Sea Training, (the Tier 1 programme), which is split into three
phases. If required, this will be followed by Tier 2 operational sea training and,
once core training is completed, the operational units will be further supported
with continuation training world-wide, using mobile teams. Training is not
confined solely to the Royal Navy 14 NATO partners and 12 non NATO organisations
also train with FOST and there are contacts with at least 27 other foreign navies
showing an interest. Training foreign navies can generate as much as £6m annually.
Permanent Dutch and German staffs have been part of the FOST training team since
Portland days.

Following World War 2, operational sea training was carried out by local flag
officers using whatever staff and facilities were available on station. However,
changes in ships’ equipment and rapidly changing doctrines meant that these ad-hoc
arrangements were unable to cope and standards varied considerably. Thus in 1958
the OST of almost all cruisers, destroyers and frigates was conducted by FOST, a
new organisation, established at Portland. Since then 28 Rear Admirals have held
the post of FOST with the 29th taking up his appointment in May 2007. Initially
the training was called Work Up and lasted 7 ½ weeks. Later the term Operational
Sea Training (OST) was adopted. FOST operated from Portland until September 1995
when the organisation moved its headquarters to Grenville Block in HMS DRAKE at
Devonport from where they operate for 48 weeks of the year. In addition to the
Devonport staff, FOST Faslane in Scotland trains Minewarfare, Patrol and Fishery
Protection vessels as well as submarines including the Trident force. At
Northwood, JMOTS (Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff) conduct higher level
(Tier 2) open ocean training during exercise “Neptune Warrior,” a two week
exercise held three times a year off Cape Wrath in Scotland. Since September 1995
around 1,100 warships from more than 25 nations have been trained for the front-
line.

At Devonport FOST’s deputy is a naval Captain. He is supported by Commander Sea

Training (CST) the senior sea rider and four other Commanders who are the heads of
departments (Weapons Electrical, Marine Engineering and Logistics) and the Staff
Operations Officer. Practical training on board is the responsibility of some 270
experienced sea riders. These are mainly Lieutenant Commanders, Warrant Officers
and senior Chief Petty Officers. They are selected for their knowledge in their
specialisation and personal communications skills. They must also understand how
foreign navies conduct their operations. Their task on board is to conduct a pre-
planned sequence of events (to achieve maximum benefit from the training) and to
oversee, advise and evaluate the performance of the ship’s company. They
emphasise that the T in FOST stands for training not testing. The test is the
final war training period (at the end of Phase three). There has been a move away
from the idea that sea riders stood back, observed, assessed and then told
everyone how they should have done it. Now ships' companies understand they can
ask FOST staff for assistance and, while assessment is part of the job, teaching
and training is the main activity. Previously FOST staff wore green foul weather
clothing but now everybody wears blue Gore-Tex clothing the same as the ship’s
company but distinguished by the letters FOST on their left breast. However, they
continue to wear berets to identify themselves to the ships company.

At Devonport FOST’s training classroom consists of approximately 12,500 square

miles of sea and airspace exercise areas stretching from Selsey Bill to west of
the Scillies. Falcon 20 aircraft from Bournemouth carry radar and communications-
jamming equipment and can also simulate threat radar transmissions. Hawk aircraft
from Culdrose simulate aircraft and missile targets. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary
provides a permanent station tanker which can also act as the high value target
during convoy escort exercises. For diesel-electric submarines FOST has to rely
on contributions from NATO and other European navies. These include Germany,
Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Turkey, Spain, and Sweden. Under the
training agreements, FOST provides training for contributing countries units in
return for the use of their diesel electric submarines. This is a cost-effective
way for ships to encounter and engage the sort of threat they might be faced with
in any future crisis. The Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopter squadrons at
Culdrose and Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft from Lossiemouth also use them for
training. Dauphin helicopters from Roborough (an airfield north of Plymouth) ferry
staff to the ships and collect them after serials. Each morning at 0720 and often
even earlier catamarans leave the dockyard to ferry staff to Plymouth Sound where
they rendezvous with the ships under training. Dockyard transport is available, on
call, to transport staff from the HQ to ships alongside.
Basic Operational Sea Training (BOST) is an eight week training package that is
normally undertaken by new build ships that have just commissioned or ships that
have completed long refits and been newly commissioned. Before arrival at
Plymouth the ship’s Commanding Officer (CO) together with other key officers such
as the Operations Officer (responsible for the ship’s programme) will visit FOST
for pre-training briefing, familiarise themselves with the programme and meet
their nominated FOST liaison officer. Detailed guidance for the forthcoming
training is outlined in the Operational Sea Training guide (OST Guide). This
contains 35 chapters and over 900 pages that advises ships on what to expect
during various phases of training, preparations to be made, equipment to be
checked, points to note, lessons leant from previous serials and provides a
glossary and decode for the many (perhaps new and unfamiliar) acronyms and
abbreviations used to describe the training serials. For example: RASON (remain at
sea overnight) or RHOC (return to harbour on completion). The Navy could not
survive without the use of acronyms.
In the week before arrival, the ship will receive several copies of an extremely
detailed exercise programme known by its acronym as the WPP. This is the weekly
practise programme which advises ships of forthcoming exercise serials. It is
issued every Thursday afternoon to give ships time to highlight their training
serials and begin preparations.
BOST begins with a two week familiarisation and shakedown period (Phase One).
During the first week in harbour the ships company are given particular FOST
briefings to explain what to expect and allow them to make final preparations. It
is also an opportunity to identify and rectify any major operational defects which
might hinder the training. During the second week at sea between 50 and 70 FOST
sea riders (armed with detailed questionnaires) together with the ship’s company
carry out a Material and Safety Check (MASC). Safety is vital; thus every aspect
of the ship’s organisation is checked with a fine toothcomb with the emphasis on
its material state and readiness to conduct the training safely. The FOST staff
want to check that departmental Standing Orders are in place and followed. They
need to ensure that vital safety checks are carried out. For example: Who carries
out the daily checks of air pressure in damage control breathing apparatus and
where is this recorded? It is too late to start filling gas bottles when a fire
breaks out and compartments begin to fill with smoke. Does the ship have a
procedure for controlling watertight openings below the waterline? To ensure that
the ship’s company react with the required speed exercise emergencies (for example
fire or man overboard) are not prefixed with the announcement “For exercise” but
broadcast as if they were actual emergencies. However, should a real emergency
occur then the broadcast is prefixed with the word “Safeguard”.

Also during this sea week FOST staff conduct serials (pre-arranged with the CO)
that aim to address any identified weak areas. The ship also partakes in a major
tactical exercise known as “The Thursday War” The aim is to try and ensure all
ships start core training at roughly the same level. At the end of this two week
shakedown period both the ship and training staff have a clear and detailed
picture of the state of the ship’s organisation and know what points need urgent
attention and action before moving to the next phase of training.

One feature of FOST training that has remained constant throughout the Portland
and Devonport years (weather permitting) is the Thursday War. This is a major
tactical exercise where ships sail in company normally at 0800 with crews closed
up at action stations. One ship’s CO is the Officer in Tactical Command (OTC)
responsible for controlling the ships as a fighting formation in a multi-threat
environment. Ships’ companies must be ready to cope with anything that the FOST
staff might throw at them including convoy escort, low-level air and missile
attack, submarine attack, attack by fast patrol boats (if available), providing
assistance to stricken merchantmen, replenishment at sea, dealing with battle
damage, casualties, flooding or fires during damage control exercises etc, etc .
It tests the ship’s overall fighting capability by practising tactics and
procedures in the most realistic manner possible.

After shakedown the ship now spends the next four weeks following a pre-arranged
programme where the intensity of training increases gradually. Every possible
imaginable scenario in a ship’s life can be exercised: man overboard, steering
gear failure, machinery breakdowns, blind pilotage, navigational safety exercises
and helicopter operations. Days can be long with the ship sailing at 0730 and
perhaps anchoring at midnight which means preparations continue for the next
morning’s serials before sleep. Resilience, stamina and a sense of humour are
vital. Ships may operate independently for certain serials such as replenishment
and towing and various gunnery exercises or in company with other ships when
conducting anti-submarine serials. After every serial a hot wash-up is given by
the staff to highlight the good points but more relevant are the areas which need
immediate attention and correction. The staff then write detailed reports. These
are given both to the Commanding Officer and the Commander Sea Training as well as
to the Ship’s personnel. When the staff return for the next serial, usually the
next day, they expect to see that the ship has acted to correct the reported
deficiencies. Certain serials are unannounced such as visits by the Executive
Warrant Officer who checks cleanliness, ship safety and organisation and security
checks. Every Friday afternoon Commander Sea Training gives the ship’s Commanding
Officer a frank, over-all statement of the progress of all departments. A
synopsis of the reports forms the basis for a meeting held each Friday morning by
FOST and all senior staff officers. The ship’s progress in every department is
discussed in detail, and staff effort is allocated where it is most needed.

Another major exercise in the FOST training programme is the Disaster Relief
exercise or DISTEX. Nobody can predict disasters such as the Boxing Day tsunami or
conflict such as the need to evacuate UK nationals from Beirut. Usually the first
means of rendering assistance is a ship. Thus it is vital that the ship’s
organisation for coping with disasters is exercised. Bull Point in Devonport
Dockyard is the Disaster Relief Exercise Area. The ship has to decide priorities
and land rescue parties and stores both by boat and helicopter. During the day,
the ship's company have to react to all manner of emergencies: restoring fresh
water supplies, crossing a chasm in the road, lowering casualties by light
jackstay down a steep hillside, extinguishing a large oil fire, shoring up
collapsing buildings, providing emergency lighting, restoring law and order,
searching for casualties, treating the sick and injured, setting up centres for
clothing and hot food. Problems abound on every side: deaths, pregnant women just
about to produce, hysterical next-of-kin, looters, political subversives, and the
media asking what may be considered as awkward questions.

Other serials that may be tested during this period are the Major Harbour Fire
Exercise and Ship Protection Exercise previously known as Operation Awkward.
“Showing the Flag” or “Defence Diplomacy” means the ship has to exercise the
procedure for entering a foreign port on an official visit, firing gun salutes,
welcoming VIP’s, parading guards, dressing overall, illuminating ship and hosting
an official cocktail party can all be exercised.

On completion of Phase 2, the ship begins Phase Three, the final two weeks of
training when she can expect the unexpected. This is a free play period with
serials based on the ship’s anticipated operational deployment. No longer can she
rely on the WPP to advise her. The FOST staff know the script but the ship has to
be prepared for anything. All the lessons learnt in the previous six weeks must
now be applied. At the end of Phase 3, the ship undergoes her final test, the
“Final War”; if she successfully passes the final assessment she will be allowed
to proceed and join the fleet as an operational unit. If however, she does not
meet the required standard she will continue to train until she is assessed as
satisfactory to be allowed to leave FOST.

Once basic sea training has been completed, the ship may proceed to exercise
Neptune Warrior for Tier 2 training. Prior to proceeding on deployment she will
undergo two weeks “continuation training” before her operational deployment. This
is a training package incorporating selected elements, based on lessons learnt by
other ships who have undertaken particular tasking.

Ships' crews that have undergone the FOST experience join the Fleet capable of
carrying out their assigned operational tasks and confident in the knowledge that
they are ready to conduct any contingent tasking they are given, whether providing
relief to victims of the tsunami, intercepting drug smugglers in the West Indies
or evacuating British nationals from the Lebanon. That confidence is underpinned
by the knowledge that they have been trained by and are supported by what is
recognised by more than 27 other navies as "The World Leaders in Operational Sea
Training."

(I would like to express my thanks to Lt Cdr Mike Dineen of FOST staff for his
invaluable help in writing this article)