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FIMA
youth works
Parade
ground a real buzz for FIMA kids
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Youth
program member Anthony Brotherton with ABMT ‘Truck’
Lawrence aboard HMAS Canberra. Anthony is taking part in
the current youth program at Fleet Base West, HMAS Stirling
(CMDR Peter Higgins).
According to the course facilitator CPOSY Dave Pluck, “You
can see the difference in the group from day one to now
and predominantly they all want to join or are certainly
talking of joining.” A new course at Fleet Base West
begins in October.
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The
shortage of technical sailors could soon be a thing of the past,
if the success of the first FIMA Navy Youth Program held at Fleet
Base West is any guide.
A total of 19 young men and women are in the final stages of the
first program to be run in the west and they are all pretty keen
to sign on the dotted line.
The participants, aged 16 and-a-half to 21, all from the Rockingham
area, responded to an advertisement in the local press to participate
in the eight-week course that started in July.
Facilitator CPOSY Dave Pluck said the participants had been involved
in a range of activities, from the hard work in warships and workshops
to having some fun on boats, abseiling and sport.
“They’ve ammunitioned HMAS Warramunga and HMAS Darwin
and de-ammunitioned HMAS Canberra as well,” CPO Pluck said.
He said the course had been a good eye-opener on navy life for the
participants.
“It’s given everyone the insight to see what the Navy
is all about, both the good and the bad side and hopefully they
will pick up the good side and join.” he said.
Other activities have included removing deck plates from HMAS Canberra
in preparation for the ship’s refit and other general maintenance
tasks.
Workshop work has involved making their own personal items as well
as receiving lessons on electrical systems, equity and diversity
and occupational health and safety.
The participants have also had a taste of the more formal side of
navy life with some parade ground training, which pleasantly surprised
CPO Pluck.
“I didn’t think they would enjoy it but they did, they
got screamed at and it was a real buzz .” he said.
CPO Pluck said the course had removed any pre-conceived ideas the
participants might have had about navy life and had been a good
‘try-before-you-buy’ initiative.
“From my perspective, having been so involved, it is certainly
giving them a good exposure to navy life,” he said.
“You can see the difference in the group from day one to now
and predominantly they all want to join or are certainly talking
of joining.”
“Navy life is not what they thought it would be, but then again
its not as hard as they though it would be either,” CPO Pluck
said.
The current program is the first of four to be held at Fleet Base
West, with another four being held in Sydney. The next course in
the west starts on October 21.
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