Navy People: Meet Melanie Soares from Moulden, Darwin
14 July 2010
Moulden’s Melanie Soares has just completed five months of naval officer training, graduating from the Royal Australian Naval College located at HMAS Creswell, on Jervis Bay, NSW, with the rank of Midshipman.
Melanie graduated from Darwin High School just last year. She was also a keen member of the Palmerston Tennis Club.
The course Melanie has just completed gives all new Navy officers the basic qualifications and experience they will need to enter the fleet as junior leaders and managers.
“I have loved training at HMAS Creswell,” Melanie said. “I have met so many new friends from all different backgrounds. There are great facilities here too, such as the gym and tennis courts.
“Our training involved various types of leadership exercises. We were trained how to organise and manage teams of people and use our own leadership styles to achieve goals.
“My favourite area of training was damage control for ships, such as fire-fighting and leak stop and repair, where we fought fires and stopped floods in simulated containers. I also enjoyed practical classes on boat work and seamanship.
“I am looking forward to going to the Australian Defence Force Academy next year where I am going to study a Bachelor of Business,” said Melanie. “After completing my degree I will then start my training to become a Supply Officer.”
Supply Officers are employed at sea as the leaders of ships' logistic departments, and ashore in areas such as operational logistics, life support organisations, policy and training, as well as being Integrated Logistic Support Managers and financial managers.
“Supply Officers have varied roles apart from the logistics side of things. We also are trained to manage the Flight Deck and helicopter control requirements for navy vessels that can embark helicopters. Also, we have a lot to do with damage control,” Melanie said.
“I can’t wait until to get some sea time and to be able to travel around Australia and overseas. I am also looking forward to one day being the Head Supply Officer onboard one of the Royal Australian Navy ships.”
