Last spring, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) embarked on a new initiative, the Naval Experience Program (NEP), aimed at reimagining how we attract, recruit, and train new sailors, and the first cohort of the program enrolled in June. The program has now reached the end of its first year. As the RCN moves into the second year of NEP, RCN leadership is hopeful that the program will continue to attract enthusiastic new recruits to the Navy.
The initial response to NEP from aspiring recruits has been positive. To date, the enrollment target of 144 participants was surpassed, with 179 successful enrollees, demonstrating a promising start for NEP. Furthermore, there are currently more than 500 applicants remaining in the recruiting process.
NEP has three main objectives: Attract and enroll, provide training and occupation exposure, and retain as many participants as possible into full-time naval service. Over the past year, NEP sailors have delved into life in the navy, experiencing both the challenges and rewards of a naval career. Now, they stand at the threshold of their decision, contemplating whether to embark on a long-term naval career with the RCN.
Preliminary data indicates that 74% of the inaugural cohort of NEP participants have opted to stay in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) after their one-year engagement. A more comprehensive analysis of retention data will be available in the fall of 2024, following the completion of a larger cohort's one-year engagement. Encouraged by these findings, the RCN will continue enrolling sailors in the program to address personnel shortages within regular force navy non-commissioned member occupations.
