Publication:Sea Talk Spring 2006/Warrant Officer of the Navy
I would like to take this opportunity to give you an insight to our peoples' contribution and my impressions of our Navy at work from my perspective as I encounter our people steadfastly doing their job throughout the world.
The Chief of Navy's Senior Advisory Committee recently met in HMAS Cerberus and I took the opportunity to visit a number of the training schools and accommodation areas onboard. I was interested to find trainees of all ranks and categories, not just Seamen on category course, relishing the training environment. The training provided by Navy is often not appreciated as a professional development opportunity. While it is important to Navy that you continue to be skilled, it is also important as an individual to continually enhance your capabilities. These trainees were well supported by dedicated staff, consisting of both uniformed and civilian personnel.
I also accompanied the Chief of Navy on a visit to Recruit School to touch base with the future Navy and the people who train them. It is an inspirational environment that epitomises our Navy's value-based culture. Our Recruit School turns civilians into sailors. The Recruit School staff are consummate professionals that pride themselves on their ability to positively influence individual recruits to achieve beyond their personal expectations. These uniformed positions are not for the faint hearted, and only the very best volunteers are selected to be on staff.
Ship visits during Exercise SINGAROO included HMA Ships Darwin, Arunta and Adelaide and it is always great to see our people doing what they are trained to do. Whilst in Darwin, several new Recruits were sworn in by Chief of Navy before they headed down to Cerberus to be met by the Recruit School training staff.
The Patrol Boat FEG is currently very busy de-commissioning the Fremantle class and bringing the Armidale class into Service. Most recently HMAS Pirie was commissioned into the Fleet at Port Pirie, bringing regional Australia closer to our Navy. The excitement generated in Port Pirie was significant. It was great to see many current serving members originally from Port Pirie in attendance for the ceremony.
A common theme that is hard not to notice when visiting our people is their commitment to our Navy and their obvious enthusiasm. Our Senior Sailors and Leading Seaman play an important role as their mentoring and leadership help to keep our more junior people focused and on track. Your support for command and your support for your peers and subordinates are instrumental in this area. It becomes very obvious, very quickly when this is not happening in any area and I would ask each of our Senior Sailors and Leading Seamen to maintain our efforts in this important role.
On another note, the Australian Defence Medal is currently being issued at an astonishing rate. Commands throughout Navy are holding ceremonies to appropriately present these medals. I congratulate the Directorate of Honours and Awards in the management of the continued issuing of this award to eligible Defence members and former Defence members. This is a huge logistical project that has been managed in an efficient and commendable manner.
James Levay
Warrant Officer of the Navy
Email: james.levay@defence.gov.au
Tel: 02 6265 4905
