The first group of enlisted sailors from the Royal Australian Navy has graduated from the U.S. Navy's Nuclear Power Training Unit (NPTU) in Charleston. This training is part of the AUKUS trilateral security partnership, which consists of Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Alongside eight enlisted sailors, five officers also completed the intensive program.
The training that began in October 2024 included subjects such as mathematics, nuclear physics, reactor principles, and nuclear reactor technology. This graduation is a significant milestone in Australia's efforts to build a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet. "This graduation marks a significant step forward for our Navy," stated Royal Australian Navy Commodore Daniel Sutherland, Commander Submarine Force.
NPTU prepares officers, enlisted sailors, and civilians for nuclear-powered ship operations in the U.S. Navy's fleet. Commander of NPTU Charleston, Capt. Robert Rose, noted, "I remain impressed with the quality of Australian submariners who come through the naval nuclear propulsion training pipeline."
The program also allows U.S. and Australian Navy students to train together, a beneficial experience for both parties, according to Master Chief Ed Jackson, Engineering Department Master Chief for Naval Reactors. The newly graduated Australian sailors will join U.S. submarines for further training in naval nuclear propulsion operations.
The AUKUS partnership, formalized in March 2023, aims to reinforce security in the Indo-Pacific region. The U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, collaborating with the Department of Energy, oversees all aspects of naval nuclear propulsion, noted for its history of safe operations and extensive reactor years.
More information can be found at the Department of Energy's website.