Navy People: Bradley Guthridge

18 August 2010

Geelong’s Bradley Guthridge, 19, began his life in the Navy only last year. Now he’s heading home from Hawaii where he has been part of Exercise RIMPAC for the last month. It’s been the largest maritime exercise in the Pacific, conducted around Pearl Harbor.

The Newcomb Secondary College graduate joined the Navy just 18 months ago at the Navy’s recruit school HMAS Cerberus near Melbourne. Now he’s specialised as an electronics technician.

“My job involves maintaining all electronic and electrical systems on board the ship, such as combat systems, weapons systems and communications equipment,” Bradley said.

“This can range from basic transmitters to complex cryptographic or distribution systems.”

RIMPAC is Bradley’s first overseas deployment.

“We have visited Tonga, Tapu and Hawaii so far. I love that I get to see the world and get paid good dollars while doing it!”

“When I get home I am looking forward to celebrating the holidays with my family, and catching up with my mates!”

The Seaman has no intention of stopping there.

“My goal is to complete as many courses as the Navy has to offer, and to achieve an advanced diploma of engineering,” said Bradley.

Exercise RIMPAC tests interoperability with 14 Pacific Rim nations, including the United States, South Korea, Indonesia and Canada. Some 1200 Australian Defence Force personnel participated in the exercise which ran through to 1st August 2010.