Navy People: From Cook To Coxswain

19 April 2010

Underdale’s Kristian Mitchell, 31, joined the Navy 10 years ago as a complete beginner to the sea. When he sails back to Adelaide on 22 April aboard HMAS Arunta, he’ll be steering one of the Navy’s most modern warships.

“I’m hoping to catch-up with family,” said Kristian, who is now a Leading Seaman. “My father now lives in Henley Beach South, and my mother in the country town of Laura.

“When I first joined the Navy I specialised as a cook, but after seven years I felt like a change so I became a Coxswain — a Navy policeman. It means I’ve got a mixed bag of qualifications in computing, cooking and policing — and now I’m looking at a degree in criminal psychology.”

At sea Kristian steers the ship during special evolutions such as coming alongside or entering a harbour. If he was aboard a smaller war vessel like a patrol boat he could also take navigational command of the boat.

Other jobs aboard include organising where his 170 shipmates go during ‘Action Stations’ and peace-time exercises.

“Managing the discipline of sailors at sea and ashore, or at domestic and international ports is another major role,” said Kristian.

Kristian has already deployed to the Persian Gulf three times, along with trips to south-east Asia and exotic ocean islands like the Maldives and Seychelles.

This time he’s on his way back from New Zealand. “The best part was around Nelson because the countryside was so beautiful, and so was the salmon fishing in Golden Bay,” he said.

“When I get back to our home-port at HMAS Stirling [near Perth] I’ll be fishing again —I’ll be grabbing my kayak and heading for the Sound for some snapper.”

“I mean, what other job is there that you can see the world, get paid, and fish!”