HMAS Creswell HMAS " Creswell " is a shore establishment of the Royal Australian Navy , a part of the Australian Defence Force , and consists of the Royal Australian Naval College ( RANC ) , The RAN School of Survivability and Ship ' s Safety , Kalkara Flight , the Beecroft Weapons Range and an administrative support department . The Commanding Officer of Creswell is the Superintendent of Naval Waters for Jervis Bay , and also lead authority for the conduct and management of Navy ' s initial entry , leadership and management training around Australia . Location . HMAS " Creswell " is located between Jervis Bay Village and Greenpatch on the shores of Jervis Bay in the Jervis Bay Territory . History . Parliament selected the site of Captain ' s Point in the Australian Capital Territory ( Jervis Bay Territory ) on the south coast of New South Wales , near Nowra , for the Royal Australian Naval College on 7 November 1911 . While the new college was built , the RANC was temporarily located at Osborne House , Geelong . Osborne House had been considered as a permanent location for the College . Construction of the main college buildings was completed in 1915 . The senior staff bungalows were designed by John Smith Murdoch , later the Chief Architect of the Commonwealth of Australia and designer of Old Parliament House , Canberra . The RANC , then consisting of the first two entries of cadet midshipmen , moved to Jervis Bay on 10 February 1915 ; however , it was moved to Flinders Naval Depot in 1930 to reduce costs during the Great Depression . To reduce overcrowding at the depot , the college moved once again to Captain ' s Point in 1958 . The establishment at Captain ' s Point was renamed HMAS " Creswell " in honour of Sir William Rooke Creswell , a former Lieutenant in the Royal Navy who was an important colonial naval officer , was instrumental to the formation of an independent Australian navy , and served as the First Naval Member of the Naval Board from 1911 to 1919 . Royal Australian Naval College . The Royal Australian Naval College is Australia ' s authority for the basic and leadership training of officers for service in the Royal Australian Navy . The main course run at HMAS " Creswell " is the 22 week New Entry Officers Course ( NEOC ) which provides initial entry training for most of the RAN ' s officers . Also conducted at the RANC is the residential component of the Reserve Entry Officers Course ( REOC ) . Further training for officers such as the Junior Officers Leadership Course and Junior Officers Management and Staff Course also take place at the RANC . NEOC . NEOC is undertaken by direct entry officers , graduate entry officers , and candidates who intend to proceed to ADFA to gain their degree . Generally , trainees who have no university education or a three year degree enter the college as Midshipmen , whilst trainees with significant experience or more university education enter as Sub - Lieutenants , Lieutenants and Chaplains . After completing training at the college , officers proceed to other establishments for primary qualification training . Locations include HMAS " Watson " , for Junior Warfare Officers ( formerly known as Seamen Officers ) , and HMAS " Cerberus " , for Weapons Electrical Engineer , Marine Engineer and Supply officers . Subjects studied at NEOC include : The course includes two periods of sea training : RAN School of Ship Survivability and Safety . The RAN School of Ship Survivability and Safety , colloquially known as the " school of many S ' s " , is the primary CBRN and damage control training facility for the RAN in eastern Australia and is located about 3 kilometres south of HMAS Creswell . Its facilities include two firefighting training units and a floodable mock - up of ships compartments , known as " Counter - Sink " . Beecroft Weapons Range . Beecroft Weapons Range , located on Beecroft Head , is a live fire range for conducting Naval Gunfire Support ( NGS ) exercises .