Navy People: After 23 years I still love this job
18 November 2010
During his schooldays at Forest High, Darryn Jose was never sure how his life would turn out. But one of the joys of getting older is that you do find out what happens.
These days Forestville’s Darryn, 47, is the Executive Officer of HMAS Albatross, the Navy’s giant air station at Nowra just south of Wollongong. It’s the home of the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.
“After basic training I got tapped on the shoulder and my life changed again — I’d been picked out for officer training.
“I specialised as a ‘birdie’ — naval aviation. I qualified as an observer and, after 23 years, I still love the excitement of the job.”
One of Darryn’s stand-out moments was the assault on suspected drug-vessel Pong Su in 2003.
“Dropping SAS troopers onto the decks of an unknown ship was a good way to keep your heart going!” said Darryn.
In his time Darryn has flown Wessex helicopters, Iroquois (better known as Hueys from their Vietnam connection), and Squirrels, a tiny two-man reconnaissance helicopter.
Aboard frigates, Naval helicopters extend the reach of their ship, whether on reconnaissance, search and rescue, medical evacuations or hunting hostile submarines.
Darryn has certainly done his part, with 10 deployments to south-east Asia and two to the Middle East, where he was awarded his Australian Active Service Medal.
“Socially it’s been great too,” said Darryn. “I’ve still got friends I made in my first year. Wherever I go I run into old shipmates.
“But being Executive Officer at Albatross means a whole lot of new challenges. There’s 24 different units and 2000 people to look after. It’s different from chasing a submarine contact around the ocean, but it still keeps me excited!”
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