Jake Moores
The Britannia Royal Naval College has a new Commodore. In an interview with By The Dart, he outlines his background and plans for the College:
You took command of BRNC on 9th September but what have been the highlights of your career to-date?
I have enjoyed my career enormously, 32 years in the Royal Navy, and I suppose the highlights must be my three commands in HMS Odin in 1990, HMS Sovereign 1998 to 2000 and HMS Vanguard 2004 to 2006 but I think the most rewarding job I have done is when I was a Senior Divisional Officer here at the College 1995 to 1996. To turn new entrant civilians into Young Officers passing out of the College in 2 or 3 terms is a most fantastic job and you do see them change and I really really enjoyed it.
As a submariner specialist can you give a taste of what life is like living for such long periods underwater?
I think that when you are underwater, ‘routine’ is paramount. You have to maintain a routine so that life is ordered because you are misplaced from day and night. You can try to simulate that by turning lights on and off and meals become very important as social congregations. You immerse yourself in work and you throw yourself into that completely because you have to do something to pass the time. Most people on a submarine, certainly those forward of the reactor, work a six hours on, six hours off routine. So you’ll do your job for six hours and then stop, have a meal, perhaps read a book or watch a film and then have perhaps three hours sleep before starting again. Filling the time becomes most important so various events such as ‘Horse Racing Nights’ are organised and keeping fit by using the fitness suites is encouraged.
During your 2 year posting with the United States Naval Atlantic Fleet what did you discern to be the main differences, if any, between our two navies?
Well, that posting was fourteen to sixteen years ago but I would say our two navies are very similar. We are similar in our ethos and the way we operate, particularly in the Atlantic Fleet where I was working. This is because in NATO the operating procedures are much the same. I think probably the main differences are in equipment, resources and investment. The US Navy, if they have a problem, throw money at it and find a technical solution. We can’t always do that and have to work around to find another solution for any problems. But in most respects we are basically the same.
Why did you originally choose a naval career – was it a family tradition?
No, not a family tradition at all. My father was very briefly in the navy at the end of the war but there is no real tradition. I decided I wanted an exciting career away from a desk and I was in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) naval section at school and at thirteen or fourteen decided that a career in the navy was what I wanted.
This is your second posting to BRNC. What do you see as being the main changes?
The fabric of the buildings and grounds and the ethos are all still basically the same but the training has changed. We presently have six entries a year and do things slightly differently. The exercises, though much the same, have different emphases. We are looking at Initial Officer Training again presently and are planning to go back to three entries a year in 2009 and are taking that opportunity to look at the whole training programme and how best it is carried out. I’ve got one or two areas that I would like to look at and adapt.
Are you here to instigate any major changes?
No, this review into the Initial Officer Training was started before I knew I was coming here and what I want to do is just massage things at the edges, maybe putting some emphasis on different areas to what has applied in the past – but I don’t see myself as coming here to change everything.
When you found out you were coming back to Dartmouth was there anything that you were particularly looking forward to?
I think what struck me last time and what I’ve been looking forward to coming back to is working with young officers. Both the staff and cadets are somewhat younger than me and I find the whole environment here invigorating and vibrant, and it helps to keep me young. I’m looking forward to getting out and playing sport and having a few beers with them. Also the interaction with the town has already meant I’ve either been out or had visitors in the Commodore’s House everyday since I arrived and that’s great as I enjoy meeting people being a fairly gregarious sort of person. In fact I’d rather be out than sat on my own in the House which is presently the case until Christmas when my wife, who is a Deputy Head in Dorset, will have completed her contract. We have two sons both away at university in Oxford.
What do you do with your free time?
As I’ve previously mentioned, sport is one of my main interests. I like to watch and coach rugby although I don’t play competitively any more. I do play cricket, squash, golf and bridge. I also enjoy tasting fine wines and we do have a family dog, a cross labrador/lurcher, which needs walking.
And finally……
What I’d really like to say is that it is an honour and a privilege to come back to BRNC and Dartmouth. It is a job that I love; training young people, and also the wider role for which I’m responsible which includes training at HMS Raleigh, the Admiralty Interview Board, the Leadership Academies and all the young officer cadets and bursaries at universities around the country. This makes the job much bigger than just here at Dartmouth and is one that I am looking forward to immensely.
First Published November 2008 By The Dart