Navy People: Mount Carbine sailor says “Aloha”
18 July 2008
Mount Carbine to Pearl Harbour in Hawaii is a long way, and local sailor Khristy Jensen travelled further than most to get there. Khristy, a Seaman Marine Technician in the Royal Australian Navy, was recently in Hawaii to participate in ExerciseRim of the Pacific (RIMPAC).
Her ship, HMAS Tobruk is an amphibious craft that can carry troops and a range of vehicles, including up to 40 Armoured Personnel Carriers or 40 Australian Light Armoured Vehicles.
“I’m mostly involved in maintaining marine technical systems, mechanical defect rectification, fault finding in electrical systems and watchkeeping,” Khristy said. “During RIMPAC, watchkeeping meant we worked up to two shifts totalling twelve hours a day. That meant we had just twelve hours a day to ourselves to sleep and take care of personal stuff like laundry and a bit of socialising in the junior sailors’ mess,” she said.
“But I wouldn’t have it any other way,” the Saint Monica’s College old girl said.
The Navy has taken Khristy to some pretty interesting places in the eighteen months since she enlisted.
“Hawaii is obviously a highlight, but I have also been to Noumea in New Caledonia for Exercise Croix du Sud,” she said. “I really enjoy my work. Learning on the job allows me to improve myself while travelling and see such interesting places.”
For a girl who likes shopping, Pearl Harbour was a great place to visit on a Navy ship. Military personnel who were involved in RIMPAC were able to shop at the Navy Exchange, the US equivalent of a large department store run for the benefit of military members. The prices are great and the range of merchandise leaves experienced shoppers’ heads spinning.
“It’s all part of the adventure and I’m glad we had a few days to see Hawaii before the sea phase of the exercise commenced,” said Khristy.
“After a sixteen day transit from Australia, I was ready to spend some time ashore,” she said.
“While we were alongside in Pearl Harbour, we had the chance to tour some of the ships from other nations which were participating in RIMPAC, as well as take a trip to Waikiki Beach. Many of the sailors also visited the Arizona memorial and saw some of the historic Pearl Harbour sights.
“I just love what I do, meeting people and working on such a variety of different jobs,” she said.
RIMPAC is a biennial multilateral exercise held in the Hawaiian Islands Operating Area. Countries participating with their navies included Australia, Canada, Chile, Netherlands, Japan, Peru, Singapore, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom and the USA. The exercise is intended to enhance the tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of combined operations at sea, on land and in the air. RIMPAC is the largest maritime exercise in the world. By enhancing interoperability between participating countries, RIMPAC promotes stability in the Pacific Rim region to the benefit of all.
The Royal Australian Navy’s contribution to Exercise RIMPAC 08 included HMA Ships Anzac, Tobruk, Success and Waller, Australian Clearance Diving Team 4, Fleet Battle Staff and a Headquarters element. RIMPAC 08 was conducted from 27 June to 31 July 2008 and was the 21st in the RIMPAC series.
