Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2007/At Albatross: SNAPS captures students’ attention
Being winched from a pool, dressed in flight suit, life vest and helmet while being sprayed with water isn’t part of the usual work experience routine but it’s a definite highlight of an exciting and innovative workplace learning initiative developed by Training Authority Aviation (TAAVN) at HMAS Albatross.
Students involved in the Shoalhaven Naval Aviation Prospects Scheme (SNAPs) can participate in one of the three programs:
- the school visit scheme (SVS),
- school leadership scheme (SLS) and
- the adopt a school scheme (AASS).
SVS consists of an adventure filled day which includes piloting the Sea King simulator and sea survivability drills in the Helicopter Underwater Escape Centre.
AASS is a collaborative project with Shoalhaven Workplace Learning Program which includes 10 weeks of practical training in either aircrew or engineering streams.
And the SLS which provides training to local students who have been identified as having leadership potential. These students are also given a brief by Defence Force Recruiting that includes mock interviews.
SNAPS is coordinated by LEUT Richard Foster of TA AVN.
“The program has three key objectives,” he said, “- to ensure the students’ experience is as hands on and meaningful as possible, to encourage local students to consider a career in naval aviation, and finally to provide a service to the local community through leadership training and interview techniques.”
TA AVN critiques each student on the completion of the day’s activity to gauge the success of the respective program and finetune the program if required. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive with more than 90 per cent of attendees indicating they are considering a career in the RAN on completion of higher school education oruniversity.
Participants comments range from “I enjoyed interacting with the different schools and developing my leadership and communication skills” and “II was great going behind the scenes and getting to fly the Sea King simulator” to “I liked the pool”. Proud mums and dads have also contacted the coordinators and thanked them for providing “an amazing day”.
SNAPS relies on a close relationship with Defence Force Recruiting (DFR), in particular DFR Wollongong who support the SLS by providing the students with advice on the defence application process.
LCDR Adrian Lister of DFR NSW sees the SNAPS program as ‘An excellent opportunity for participating young adults to educate themselves about Defence careers, while developing service knowledge and leadership skills’. “The program will also develop and enhance the already strong relationships between the RAN Fleet Air Arm and local schools and careers advisors," He said.
More than 270 local students will participate in 2007 and the initiative has been so successful that demand exceeds places available. The Aircrew Training Continuum Coordinator at TA AVN, LCDR Daryl Robinson, intends to widen the scope of SNAPS considerably through the acquisition of a dedicated SNAPS van.
The van will be painted in ‘Fly Navy’ livery and equipped with two mobile basic flight simulators for used for dedicated school visits, careers expo’s, fetes, and air-shows. SNAPS is currently limited to the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands regions, however, with the SNAPS van, the ‘sky is the limit’ for such an innovative program.
Further details of the SNAPS program are available from LCDR Daryl Robinson on (02) 44241945 or LEUT Richard Foster on (02) 44242653.
