Serving aboard a Coast Guard unit demands rigorous preparation. Every sailor follows an instruction path combining military training, seamanship and technical specialisation, supplemented throughout their career by advanced courses.

01Initial training

Basic military instruction, maritime regulations, safety on board and first aid.

02Seamanship

Navigation, ship handling, watchkeeping, radio communications and reading nautical documents.

03Specialisations

Marine engineering, diving, vessel inspection, sea rescue, surveillance and intelligence.

04Continuous development

Courses with international partners, joint exercises and periodic refresher training.

Supervision and progression

Progression follows the institution's four personnel categories: ratings, petty officers, officers and civilian contract staff. Internal competitions open the way to supervisory responsibilities over the course of a career.

Detailed competition procedures and session schedules are published on the Careers page.