Sailors benefit from realistic training
29 July 2010
More than 1,200 sailors passed through the RAN School of Ship Survivability and Safety – West (RAN SSSS-W) at HMAS Stirling last year, where they enhanced their skill and confidence to fight fires and flooding in warships and submarines.
Such is the Navy’s focus on ship safety and care for its personnel that Stirling’s RAN SSSS-W expects to set a new milestone by the end of this year.
CPOMT John Bywater, Senior Instructor, RAN SSSS-W, told Navy News that their training calendar is booked out for the remainder of 2010.
“The training we provide on a regular basis to sailors and submariners is absolutely vital for their safety and Fleet operations,” he said.
“We strive to provide the most realistic training we can in the event that if a real incident occurs the sailors will be well equipped to deal with it.”
Stirling’s School of SSS is one of three such facilities located around the country which is dedicated to teaching students to work in teams to attack and fight onboard fires and also how to combat floodwaters in compartments and ruptures in the hull caused by attacks from missiles or torpedoes.
CPO Bywater said a staff of about ten work almost around the clock to facilitate training for the Navy, Army, Transfield fireman and other customers who use the facility to progress their training.
“Last year our main focus was to implement the new RAN fire-fighting procedures; even though the ships were sent DVDs and Powerpoint presentations the sailors still needed to come here to practice the procedures,” he said.
CPO Bywater said taking charge in a crisis situation such as a fire or flooding in a ship or submarine was the ultimate test of junior leadership.
“The combat survivability course for sailors at the Leading Seaman level is designed to enable them to stand up and to take charge at various stages of combat survivability,” he said.
“This is an important growth into leadership for the rank and responsibilities of Petty Officer.”
The RAN SSSS-W also conducts a damage control instructors’ course which is a train-the-trainer type course that allows them to take their new knowledge and training back to the ship for crew exercises.
“At sea they can use smoke simulators and alarms to create the similar fire or flood emergency,” he said.
“It is important that the ship’s company is continually training by using the latest procedures for flooding or fire-fighting.”
CPO Bywater said the School has many different customers, including the Army who use the facility to conduct CBR (Chemical-Biological and Radiological) training for their operational requirements.
