This military ceremony, placed under the presidency of Vice-Admiral Jean-Pierre LABONNE, commanding the Atlantic maritime area, was the occasion to award the trainees their Officers' epaulettes.
SAGEMA (Saudi Grandes Ecoles Marine) training that is entrusted to DCI-NAVFCO is a program intended to train future Saudi Arabian naval engineering officers. It lasts for seven years in France and is divided into three phases:
- Phase 1: French language courses and scientific refresher course at the Cherbourg Store Keepers School, duration 2 years.
- Phase 2: Technical training at IUT Brest. Preparation phase for admittance to engineering schools, duration 2 years.
- Phase 3: Engineering training at the Naval Academy or ENSTA Bretagne, ENSICA Toulouse, Ecole polytechnique, Télécom Bretagne, duration 3 years.
“This ceremony, specific to Saudi Arabian tradition, marks a special moment in the cadets' courses. It took place in the presence of Saudi Arabian naval authorities, local French military authorities and DCI authorities as well as families who had come especially for the occasion”, said Admiral François DUPONT, Executive Vice-President of DCI-NAVFCO.
“DCI, acting under Ministry of Defense tutelage, has acquired 30 years of unique experience in pedagogical and technical assistance for foreign navies. The Royal Saudi Naval Forces trust us to train their future officers, for which we are extremely pleased and we are striving to make this fruitful partnership last”, he added.
