Along with 64 other boys Cunningham joined the Royal Navy as a cadet aboard the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth on 15 January 1897.
One of his classmates was future Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville.
Cunningham was known for his lack of enthusiasm for field sports, although he did enjoy golf and spent most of his spare time "messing around in boats".
He said in his memoirs that by the end of his course he was "anxious to seek adventure at sea".
Although he committed numerous minor misdemeanours, he still obtained a very good for conduct.
He passed out tenth in April 1898, with first class marks for mathematics and seamanship.

His first service was as a midshipman on HMS Doris in 1899, serving at the Cape of Good Hope Station when the Second Boer War began.
By February 1900, he had transferred into the Naval Brigade as he believed "this promised opportunities for bravery and distinction in action."
Cunningham then saw action at Pretoria and Diamond Hill as part of the Naval Brigade.
He then went back to sea, as midshipman in HMS Hannibal in December 1901.
The following November he joined the protected cruiser Diadem.
Beginning in 1902, Cunningham took sub-lieutenant courses at Portsmouth and Greenwich; he served as sub-lieutenant on the battleship Implacable, in the Mediterranean, for six months in 1903.
In September 1903, he was transferred to HMS Locust to serve as second-in-command.
He was promoted to lieutenant in 1904, and served on several vessels during the next four years.
In 1908, he was awarded his first command, HM Torpedo Boat No.
14.
Along with 64 other boys Cunningham joined the Royal Navy as a cadet aboard the training ship Britannia at Dartmouth on 15 January 1897. One of his classmates was future Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Somerville. Cunningham was known for his lack of enthusiasm for field sports, although he did enjoy golf and spent most of his spare time "messing around in boats". He said in his memoirs that by the end of his course he was "anxious to seek adventure at sea". Although he committed numerous minor misdemeanours, he still obtained a very good for conduct. He passed out tenth in April 1898, with first class marks for mathematics and seamanship.
His first service was as a midshipman on HMS Doris in 1899, serving at the Cape of Good Hope Station when the Second Boer War began. By February 1900, he had transferred into the Naval Brigade as he believed "this promised opportunities for bravery and distinction in action." Cunningham then saw action at Pretoria and Diamond Hill as part of the Naval Brigade. He then went back to sea, as midshipman in HMS Hannibal in December 1901. The following November he joined the protected cruiser Diadem. Beginning in 1902, Cunningham took sub-lieutenant courses at Portsmouth and Greenwich; he served as sub-lieutenant on the battleship Implacable, in the Mediterranean, for six months in 1903. In September 1903, he was transferred to HMS Locust to serve as second-in-command. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1904, and served on several vessels during the next four years. In 1908, he was awarded his first command, HM Torpedo Boat No. 14.
Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope