Te Puna's Kevin Duncan and Katikati's Liam Forsyth have this month brought home two of the top accolades from the Royal New Zealand Navy's recent graduation ceremony in Auckland.

The 23-year-olds are among 89 junior officers and sailors who graduated from the RNZN's Junior Officer Common Training and Basic Common Training Course.

Kevin Duncan receiving the Minister of Defence Sword of Honour from Minister of Defence Gerry Brownlee.

OCWS Liam Forsyth with his two brothers, Leading Seaman Combat Specialist Boyd Forsyth (left), and Able Electronic Warfare Specialist Taylor Forsyth.

Kevin was awarded the prestigious Minister of Defence Sword of Honour for being the Junior Officer who has displayed the most potential to achieve peak performance as a future leader in the Navy.

The top honour, the sword is awarded only to an exemplary candidate in recognition of excellence and distinguished performance as a midshipman.

Liam received the Spencer Tewsley Cup, awarded to the best all round Basic Common Trainee.

Kevin, a former Otumoetai College student, joined the Navy to apply his mechanical engineering degree to something more meaningful than a job 'just computer modelling components or increasing profit for a company”.

Midshipman Duncan's most enjoyable moment from training was being put to the test in the Damage Control module, fighting fires and floods.

'You're in the field all week and I enjoyed the variation.”

Hours after graduating Kevin was promoted to sub lieutenant at an award ceremony at the officer training headquarters. Next year he's off to the United Kingdom for six months' specific naval engineering training before joining a ship.

Liam, an Ordinary Communications Warfare Specialist, followed two brothers into the Navy.

'I've gained good friends, self-discipline, enjoyed great food; now I have the ability to travel the world for work. What more could anyone ask for?”

From Katikati, Liam completed a carpentry apprenticeship before joining the Navy.

'My older brother Boyd was always pressuring me to join, as he thought it was great career option.”

Liam commences branch training early-2015.