Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2008/Awarding the best trainers
By Annie Casey
Instilling the fundamentals of self-protection in explosive ordnance disposal was the most satisfying part of training at the diving school, the RAN’s Instructor of the Year, POCD Lane Patterson, said after learning of the award.
“Instructing the initial category students – that’s also where you see the most progress,” he said. “It’s so critical because you’re instilling the fundamentals of how to protect themselves and their buddies in the highly dangerous EOD environment.”
Thirty-five-year-old PO Patterson has been involved in an instructional role at the RANDS over the last two years. The award is $500 and a framed certificate from the Director-General Navy Personnel and Training.
Patterson’s first six months as an instructor was in mine counter measures (MCM) at HMAS Penguin’S Royal Australian Navy Diving School (RANDS) and, since January 2007, he has been instructing in the explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) at the school.
Chief Instructor in EOD, CPOCD Andrew Keitley, said of Patterson’s unique contribution in the instructional role: “He has an exceptional knowledge of underwater EOD and is constantly striving to improve his skill-sets.”
PO Patterson recognises his own skill-sets stem from Navy-provided training. He said the Navy IT and leadership courses are essential to enable instructors to impart experiences and knowledge effectively and efficiently. Looking back, he could see the relevance and immense value of these courses in shaping his own development as a competent instructor.
As well as the award to PO Lane in the formal instructional billet of the 2007 Navy Personnel and Training awards, WO Paul Fawbert was awarded IOTY in the on-the-job training category.
And LEUT Lana Tassotti from Training-Authority Submarines, at the Submarine Training and Systems Centre, HMAS Stirling, was named Training Developer of the Year (TDOTY).
IOTY in the on-the-job training category, WO Fawbert, 42, said he hadn’t decided yet how to spend the $500 cash prize but it would probably include “a few beers for my fellow sea trainers”.
“I get no greater buzz than watching a ship’s company achieve the aim, be it a duty watch certification, mariner skills, unit or mission readiness evaluation,” WO Fawbert said. “It is the culmination of a considerable and concerted effort from all members of the respective ships’ companies and it’s a joy to be part of it … although at times it can be a tough and heartbreaking journey.”
WO Fawbert added as one of 40 in the Sea Training Group he would have liked to see the group recognised rather than an individual.
Commander Sea Training Group CMDR Michael Rothwell said WO Fawbert had been consistently singled out by commanding officers as providing the most comprehensive and singularly effective CS training received in their units.
