A young Forres man has passed a significant watershed on his voyage towards a career in the Royal Navy.
Aspiring submariner Connor Cleall has completed the first phase of his training at HMS Raleigh in Cornwall, and is now determined to follow a future in the force.
The 20-year-old recruit arrived at the base in July, and has undergone a rigorous 10-week programme to convert him from a civilian to a sailor.
Mr Cleall, a former Forres Academy pupil, recently graduated and marched in a passing-out parade before his proud family and friends.
The former call centre worker said: “I joined the Royal Navy to gain qualifications, as the amount you can achieve so early in your career is second to none.
“The course has definitely been a case of long days and short weeks, the time has flown by incredibly quickly.
“I didn’t expect so much to be compacted into just 10 weeks and the highlight for me was the seamanship training week, learning how to drive the small boats.”
Mr Cleall will now journey to HMS Sultan, in Hampshire, to continue training for military life.
Over the next four months he will learn how to maintain the machinery on board submarines, and once he is fully qualified he will receive training in how to operate beneath the waves at the Royal Navy Submarine School based at HMS Raleigh.