Navy People: He Still Calls Narrabeen Home
02 December 2010
Isaac Janes is originally from Narrabeen, New South Wales. At only 22 years old, he has had an enviable life. He went from a young boy playing junior rugby union for the Dee Why Lions to a Navy globe trotter visiting 13 countries in four years… and being paid to do it.
Isaac joined the Navy as a boatswains mate in 2007, and in his four years service he has served onboard HMA Ships Sydney, Kanimbla, Newcastle and Success. Since joining, Issac has gained several qualifications including his helmsman and coxswain tickets, which means he can drive a small boat, right up to a warship.
Issac is also an expert in small arms and seamanship evolutions and is a qualified member of Success boarding party team, which includes learning and practising self defence and fast roping to deploy from helicopters. He has weapons qualifications in the F88 AUSTEYR, F89 MINIMI, 9MM pistol, shotgun and MAG 58.
Since joining Success, Issac has also become a member of the ship’s Replenishment at Sea Team, where he ensures that lines are passed safely from one moving ship to another support the safe transfer of fuel and stores.
The diversity of his career is one of the reasons Issac loves his job.
“Every day is an adventure, one day I could be driving the ship in company with other ships, the next day firing a 50 cal machine gun at targets,” said Issac.
“But that’s not the best part, I get the opportunity to travel and see places that you wouldn’t normally see. Since joining I have sailed around the world one and a half times and visited thirteen countries.”
Issac’s first deployment on HMAS Sydney took him to Samoa, Hawaii, Canada and the USA. Further to this Issac deployed on Northern Trident in 2009, where he sailed through the Panama Canal as well as visiting a further nine countries including Egypt and France. During this deployment, he was awarded a Commanding Officers Commendation for his achievements and leadership. More recently on HMAS Success he has visited Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Despite his somewhat glamorous life, Isaac is very down to earth, stating that above all he likes “having a good time with my mates”. He hopes to get on a Middle Eastern deployment in the future, and his career aspirations include becoming a ships diver and Military Fitness Leader.
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