The navy is preparing to train the next generation of submarine commanders at home as Australia seeks to bolster its military prowess ahead of the arrival of the nuclear vessels.
Australia is set to acquire nuclear-propelled submarines from either the US or UK under the trilateral AUKUS security arrangement.
The subs are expected to arrive in the late 2030s, with reports Washington could expedite some for the middle of that decade.
The federal government is working to train up sovereign domestic nuclear and naval industries so Australia is ready to handle the coveted nuclear secrets of our allies.
Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh said the inaugural submarine command course met international standards after vigorous undersea and special warfare tests.
"Our navy can't wait until new capabilities are ready to train the next generation of leaders," he said.
"These commanders must be fully equipped for when the submarines enter into service."
Australian submarine commanders have been training with the UK and Dutch navies.
Defence Minister Richard Marles recently announced that Australian personnel would train on British nuclear submarines as part of an effort to upskill the nation's defence force.
Mr Marles is set to make the decision about which submarine Australia will go with by March 2023.
Standing alongside his US counterpart Lloyd Austin in Hawaii on Sunday, he told reporters the timeline for the first submarine was pertinent in the decision.
Mr Marles said the pair also discussed closer defence industry cooperation to make sharing information "seamless" between the two nations.
