Publication:Navy Annual 2005/Excellence in Training at Training Authority-Subs

BY LIEUTENANT JOANNE MACKINTOSH RAN

Commodore Shalders, CSC, RAN, Lieutenant Commander Hussey, RAN, Lieutenant Mackenzie, RAN, Lieutenant Forbes,RAN, Lieutenant Dunn, RAN, Lieutenant Mitchell, RAN, Lieutenant Hoffman, RAN, Lieutenant Stagg, RAN, Captain Sander, RAN and the then Commodore Tripovich, AM, CSC, RAN. Photograph by Able Seaman Quentin Mushins.

Six Submarine Officers were welcomed into the 'Brotherhood of Warfare Officers' by the then Director-General Navy Personnel and training, Commodore Matt Tripovich, AM, CSC, RAN as they graduated from the submarine Warfare Officers Course at training Authority submarines (TA-SM) in June 2005.

Lieutenant Dunn, RAN under instruction from Lieutenant Commander Hussey, RAN, Head of Submarine Warfare Training during the 48 hour coordinated operations exercise in the Combat Systems Trainer.

According to now rear ADML Tripovich, AM, CSC, RAN, the biggest challenge faced by the new Warfare Officers was to gain the trust of the crew of the submarines they were about to join.

"Each of you will need to convince your crew that if something goes wrong whilst you are on watch you have the confidence and knowledge to do what is needed. This trust can take a long time to earn but can be lost in an instant."

The twenty-week submarine warfare course was conducted in two phases. The first theory phase involves instruction in underwater warfare, dived navigation, weapon employment, oceanography and sonar theory. The second practical phase involves a forty-eight hour coordinated operations exercise in the submarine Combat systems trainer followed by two weeks at sea in an operational submarine.

Lieutenant Dunn, RAN receives the Raytheon Sword of Excellence for Dux from Mr Richard Drain, Raytheon Director of Operations in Western Australia.

LCDR Stephen Hussey RAN, having recently joined TA-SM (from command of HMAS Rankin) as Head of submarine Warfare training, was pleased with the high performance of the officers whilst they were on course. "The members of this course have worked well together, supported each other and shared their experiences to ensure that their level of achievement was of a very high standard."

During the final sea-phase the officers were placed under a great deal of pressure. The submarine was taken into a hostile exercise environment with a complex scenario to ensure that the course officers could operate safely and tactically under guidance from the command team. According to lieutenant CMDR Hussey, RAN, the fact that all six students successfully completed the course is a reflection of the both quality of the training and the high calibre of each officer.

The submarine Warfare Officers Course graduation ceremony was attended by the wives and friends of the course members and CDRE Rick Shalders, CSC, RAN, Commander submarine Force Element Group, the Commanding Officer of HMAS Stirling, CMDR Paul Bartlett, RAN, CAPT Mark Sander, RAN, Deputy Commander submarine Force Element Group and Mr Richard Drain, Raytheon Director of Operations - Western Australia. Richard also presented the Raytheon sword of Excellence to the Dux of the course. The recipient of the 2005 dux prize was LEUT Matthew Dunn, RAN, who will be joining HMAS Collins in the near future.