Civvy Street Second Best for Soldier Turned Sailor
9 March 2010
As New Generation Navy initiatives assist former sailors and officers return to the navy, one sailor aboard HMAS Anzac (CAPT Peter Quinn, CSC) knows the value of returning ‘home’ to defence service after time in ‘Civvy Street’.
When Leading Seaman Boatswains Mate Dave Ryan joined the Navy in 2004 he had already served five years as a soldier in the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment and had deployed to Somalia for Operation Solace peacekeeping duties.
But, eight years after venturing out into the private sector Dave just knew he wasn’t happy.
“I feel that I fit into the defence lifestyle; the travel, the camaraderie. I just feel at home,” he said.
LSBM Ryan’s family heritage was another factor. His father was a Warrant Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force and his grandfather was Master-At-Arms in HMAS Australia (II) during World War II.
“I was born into a defence family and I’ve decided to stay,” he said.
Dave weighed up his options when considering his return to military service and opted for Navy.
“You get to travel with Army and RAAF, but the Navy’s travel opportunities are far better.”
And on this front, Navy has not disappointed.
LSBM Ryan has done two Arabian Gulf deployments in HMAS Ballarat, experienced life in the tropics serving with the Patrol Boats and is now participating in the Fleet Concentration Period in HMAS Anzac where his skills and those of thousands of other Navy and RAAF personnel are being honed and tested.
LSBM Ryan says his son Connor, 12 and daughter Paris, 10 miss him, but remain supportive of a father obviously happy in the service.
“It is hard at times, but they understand that Dad’s a sailor,” he said.
And the adventure continues. LSBM Ryan is looking forward to joining the Federation Guard in July for ceremonial duties and then looking for further opportunities.
“If I am promoted to Petty Officer, I plan to remain a Boatswains Mate, but there are other opportunities I can follow and becoming a Naval Police Coxswain is something that interests me.”
Whatever happens, LSBM Ryan plans to remain in the service for the rest of his working life.
“I’m here to stay. I’ve done my time in Civvy Street.”
