Navy People: Meet Morgan Rush from Blackman's Bay, Tasmania

15 July 2010

Until recently, Blackman’s Bay’s Morgan Rush, 19, had lived in Tasmania his whole life. Now he’s got a job that could take him anywhere.

Morgan is beginning a career as a Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer with the Royal Australian Navy.

Morgan completed year 12 at Guilford Young College last year. This January, and with the backing of parents, Matt and Julie, and sister Lyndall, Morgan headed across Bass Strait for HMAS Creswell, Jervis Bay, where he has just graduated after five months of officer training.

The course gives all new officers in the navy the fundamental qualifications and experience they will need to enter the fleet as junior leaders and managers.

“I have enjoyed the challenge of learning new skills and using them,” said Morgan.

“Our training involved various types of leadership. I particularly enjoyed exercises where we learnt how to lead teams of people and develop our own leadership style to complete goals. Problem solving and teamwork is a big part of these exercises.

“I also really enjoyed boat work and seamanship, as well as weapons training,” Morgan said.

In his future role, Morgan’s responsibilities will include management and maintenance of warships’ electrical combat systems including weapons systems, communications, fire control and combat data systems.

Next stop for Morgan is the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra. “After completing my degree I will be working toward becoming a ship’s Deputy Weapons Electrical Engineering Officer and in the long term becoming head of the department.

“I am looking forward to serving in the fleet and continuing my training. Each day in the navy is different and I have learnt so much in five months. I am really excited about what I can achieve in my career.”