Navy People: Seeing the world with Navy
14 October 2010
Southern Cross Catholic College graduate Ben Hicks joined the Navy to see the world. Now he’s being seeing parts he’d never even heard of before.
The former College captain and his shipmates aboard HMAS Tarakan are now heading home from Indonesia’s North Maluku Island where they have been part of Pacific Partnership 2010, an annual U.S. led humanitarian assistance mission.
The regions’ abundance of warm weather, palm trees and spices, like mace and nutmeg, drew merchant adventurers to its shores, but Pacific Partnership’s ships were there bringing medical and dental care.
It’s just the latest part of Ben’s Navy career, which has also included full-time study for a Bachelor of Science at the Australian Defence Force Academy.
“It was such a proud moment to stand on the graduation parade and receive my degree,” said Ben.
“Aboard HMAS Tarakan it is my job to execute the navigation plan and keep the ship safe during my watch,” Ben said. “It’s a job which involves quick-thinking and leadership, but I’ve been training for a long time — since Sea Scouts at TS Moreton Bay.”
“The travel opportunities in the Navy are great. I have circumnavigated Australia, sailed to Fiji and Indonesia and spent time in East Timor,” he said.
“I love being at sea but I always look forward to visiting my family and friends at home.”
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