The Royal Naval School (ERN) in Casablanca held the graduation ceremony for its 56th class for the 2025-2026 academic year on June 29.
According to a Facebook post by the Royal Armed Forces, the ceremony brought together several senior Royal Armed Forces officers in Casablanca. Civilian officials also attended, alongside the families of the graduating officer cadets.
The Royal Naval School has trained Royal Navy officers since 1967. It prepares future navy commanding officers and maritime specialists for operational responsibilities within the Royal Armed Forces.
The institution admits new classes of officer cadets each year to join Morocco’s naval fleet. Operated by the Royal Armed Forces, it is one of the country’s principal military academies dedicated to training personnel for naval service.
“Since its establishment in 1967, the ERN has been committed to training generations of competent officers by combining solid professional qualifications with rigorous military training,” according to the 429th edition of the Royal Armed Forces Review.
During the graduation ceremony for the 56th class of the Royal Naval School.
A decree governing the reorganization of the Royal Naval School defines its missions. The decree states that “the ERN is a fully integrated unit within the Royal Armed Forces, with responsibilities that include the initial and continuing training of Royal Navy officers, the organization of advanced and specialized training programs for officers, and conducting research in engineering sciences and related fields.”
The curriculum is built around three components. Military training develops discipline, teamwork, respect for the chain of command, and physical fitness. Professional training focuses on naval skills, including navigation, ship handling, naval tactics, nautical calculations, and maritime safety. Academic training provides the scientific and technical foundations required to operate modern naval systems.
Officer cadets train on navigation simulators that replicate real-life ship operations at sea. These systems recreate different maritime scenarios, including changing weather conditions and complex navigation environments, to prepare future officers for operational analysis and decision-making.
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Naval tactical exercises complement this training. Cadets are placed in combat scenarios inspired by operational situations, where they must interpret available information, coordinate crew actions, and adapt their decisions as conditions evolve at sea.
Training also continues at sea, aboard Royal Navy frigates, where officer cadets put their classroom knowledge into practice through maneuvers and practical exercises.
The engineering program, open to students after high school, lasts five years. The first two years focus on scientific and military training, followed by three years of specialization. The school also offers a four-year bachelor’s degree program.
Upon graduation, officers join Royal Navy units. They take part in monitoring Morocco’s coastline and exclusive economic zone, securing strategic maritime areas, and carrying out operations to combat threats and illicit trafficking at sea.
