Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2004/Patrol Boat postings
By WO Peter Whitehead
The Directorate of Sailors' Career Management is busy keeping personnel informed and involved regarding the transition of Fremantle Class Patrol Boats Paying Off Availability, Whole Ship Posting Plans and the Armidale Class Patrol Boats' commissioning schedule.
DSCM has created a database to ensure positive management of the transition process. The Officer in Charge of Cell One within DSCM is the Directorate's single point of contact for all Fremantle and Armidale Class Patrol Boat personnel issues.
The Fremantle Class Patrol Boats Paying Off Availability schedule was released by Chief of Navy in CN AUSTRALIA LAQ/Z4P 012130Z APR 04 (FCPB POA).
DSCM is developing Whole Ship Posting Plans for each Fremantle Class Patrol Boat. The draft of a Whole Ship Posting Plan for each boat is produced from the crew's preferences as shown on their latest AD148 (posting preference form).
About eight months before the Paying Off Availability date, a Whole Ship Posting Plan will be dispatched to the boat. Any posting issues or concerns raised by the ship's company will be worked through with the Ship's Commanding Officer and DSCM staff.
When all is resolved, personnel will be given six months notice of posting from a List of Sailors Posting.
DSCM is currently working on the Whole Ship Posting Plans for HMA Ships Warrnambool and Whyalla.
DSCM WHF/WHB 070145Z APR 04 called for expressions of interest from personnel who would like to serve in the Armidale Class Patrol Boats.
Selection of the Armidale Class Patrol Boat Training Transition Crew (TTC1) and Crew One (1st Red crew) personnel is nearly complete and will be finalised at the ACPB meeting in Darwin on July 5.
All of the initial Armidale Class Patrol Boat crews will be posted to a crew within a Division in the List of Sailors Posting six months before the start of training.
DSCM's point of contact is:
Peter Whitehead,
Warrant Officer, OICCMC1, DSCM,
Telephone (02) 6265 3308 Peter.Whitehead2@defence.gov.au
