Navy People: Tweed Heads Navy Sportsman

14 August 2009

Tweed Heads Seaman Coby Smith joined the Navy in late 2007 and has already been overseas on duty.

But Coby's best moves are on the rugby field at the moment. He is on the stand-by list of selections for the Navy Rugby squad and he’s a hair's breadth away from touring the United Kingdom and France next year.

"To be honest, the boys who have been chosen deserve to be there in front of me, so I can't hope for someone to become injured or pull out so I can go," said Coby.

"But it would be an awesome trip."

These days Coby is normally based aboard amphibious assault ship HMAS Kanimbla, Coby is advancing his trade training.

"Currently I am responsible for maintenance of medium calibre weapon systems," Coby said.

In just six months aboard Kanimbla, Coby has sailed to New Zealand, now he’s just off the North Queensland coast for the current Exercise Talisman Saber 2009.

" Kanimbla's normally based in Sydney so it's a great time of year to head north for a few weeks!" said Coby.

During this year’s Talisman Saber, joint exercises will involve more than 8,000 Australian and 16,500 US personnel from Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine and Special Operations units.

The aim of the exercise is to train Australian and US Forces in the planning and conduct of Combined Task Force operations, helping to maintain and improve both nations’ military combat readiness and inter-operability.