Chris Groves – Brutal sudden departure for those who don’t pass Perisher

There’s always that bit of doubt and you only need to have a bad safety error, and you can find yourself leaving the Course. Leaving the Course is pretty brutal from sea.

You get to the end of your Command Run where Teacher’s made his decision, and the next thing you know is the submarine is told to stand by the surface, you go through the surfacing routine, you’re as an individual are told to get usually to the Captain’s Cabin, Teacher comes straight in, turns round and says, “I’m sorry, you’ve not made the grade”, either for a safety piece or whatever it happens to be, you’re told you’ve not made the grade and the next thing that happens is one of the students on the Course with you, comes up with your grip full of all your clothes and bits and pieces which he’s packed for you, and Teacher provides you with a bottle of whisky which is a tradition, always hands you a bottle of whisky and says, “Cheerio” and usually a boat is called in from one of the Frigates or a Helicopter will come and do a Helicopter transfer, or some form of transfer of personnel and you’re off.

Simon: So, that’s within a couple of minutes of being called.

Well certainly … yeah it is. As soon a Teacher can arrange a transfer to get you off, you’re off. The effect on the ship’s company is quite impressive. You know, everybody goes, “Oh, wow, that was pretty brutal.”