Navy People: Sights set on becoming a Maritime Warfare Officer
15 December 2010
Mitchell Vines is about to embark on a new career which could take him to all around the world. He has just completed five months of officer training at the Royal Australian Naval College with his sights set on becoming a Maritime Warfare Officer in the Royal Australian Navy.
The former Highbury local has spent the best part of his 22 years living and working in Highbury. He attended Modbury High School and then spent three years working as a plumber in the area.
Mitchell graduated from initial training at HMAS Creswell on 2 December in front of the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Russ Crane, AO, CSM, RAN as well as proud family members and friends.
“I have really enjoyed the training here at HMAS Creswell and making new friends. The fitness side of training has been really good. My fitness has improved a lot since I have been training in the navy. It is great doing something different and learning something new every day.
“I didn’t have much to do with anything that was naval or maritime before I joined the navy. It was something that I was interested in but never really got an opportunity to participate in. It has been a steep learning curve, but it has been really good. I have enjoyed the challenge,” Mitchell said.
The New Entry Officer Course Mitchell has just graduated from, gives all new officers in the navy the fundamental qualifications and experience they will need to enter the fleet as junior leaders and managers.
“Our training involved various types of leadership exercises varying in length from a few hours to days. We were trained how to manage teams of people using our own leadership styles to achieve goals.
“We also learnt about damage control on ships, such as fire fighting and leak stop and repair, naval history, boat work and seamanship. The best thing was that we were always learning something different.”
Mitchell will begin his training as a Maritime Warfare Officer at HMAS Watson, Watsons Bay, Sydney, at the beginning of 2011. As a trainee Maritime Warfare Officer, Mitchell will learn how to navigate a ship and manage the bridge team as the Commanding Officer’s representative.
Mitchell is looking forward heading home to Highbury for the Christmas period to spend time with his father, Geraint, mother Janet, and brothers Lachlan and Damian and friends.
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