Ordinary Diver Ryan (27) is one of 53 trainee sailors who graduated from 10 weeks of basic training on Friday at the Devonport Naval Base, Auckland.
At the graduation, the former Dunedin man was given the Commander Leadership and Development Award for Academic Achievement, which is awarded to the trainee who attains maximum double credits in all academic modules during basic training.
"It's been awesome," he said.
"It was tough, but I expected that. I really enjoyed the competition."
Basic training involved facing physical and mental challenges as well as learning professional skills, teamwork and naval traditions and values.
The academic award was "worth getting" as it took two weeks off the time he must serve before becoming an Able Diver.
After doing his secondary schooling at Kavanagh College, he spent several years overseas travelling and working as a scaffolder before returning to New Zealand to pursue his goal of becoming a Navy diver.
He is spending several days in Dunedin "catching up with mates" before returning to Devonport to start the next phase of training - specialising as a diver.
"I'm looking forward to the next stage when we get in the water," he said.