Navy team covers Ex Long Look

L-R: WOMTE Mick Nixon posted to HMS Drake, PONPC Barb Reid posted to HMS Raleigh, LSATA Chad Summers posted to HMS Sultan.

By CPL Sean Burton
After an absence of several years a Naval Police Coxwain is filling the Navy ranks of participants on Exercise Long Look, the annual British Forces exchange exercise.

PONPC Barb Reid, HMAS Cerberus said participating on Ex Long Look was going to be a unique experience seeing the workings of the Royal Navy and the way her opposite numbers work with their recruits at HMS Raleigh.

She said she was also looking forward to travelling through Europe when not at the RNs Recruit Depot.

“I went over there when I was 19, so I think my perspective might be a bit different this time round. I’m going to visit friends in Vienna and have a look round southern Ireland. I’m definitely going to try and see a bit more countryside.”

Prior to her departure PO Reid said she has had regular contact with her opposite number CPO Laura Tindal who will be taking over her billet at HMAS Cerberus.

As a member of the Ex Long Look admin contingent, WO Robert Barb will be posted to Australia House in central London and said he was looking forward to being part of a tri-service exercise.

“For me as a WO I’ve always been working in single service activities so it will be interesting to see how the other services work; also to see how the RN works.

“Part of my job over there will be to see that our personnel get the most out of the trip both professionally and personally.

“We’ve got ABs, LS, POs, Chiefs, WOs and a Chaplain on this trip so we’ve got a good representation of ranks and rates.”

A total of 110 ADF personnel are deploying as part of Ex Long Look, which will see them swap work places with their British opposite numbers.

Army makes up the largest component of the contingent with 78 soldiers of all ranks and trades. The RAAF is exchanging 19 and Navy 13.

Contingent commander MAJ Gregory Walker said Ex Long Look’s objectives were to develop a rapport between the two nations and to expose personnel to the equipment and expertise of their host nation.

“We hope they can bring back fresh ideas from their experiences, which will be of great benefit to their units.”

MAJ Walker said a personal highlight of the trip would be to visit his ancestral home in Whitby, Yorkshire, where his ancestors, the Walkers, taught a young CAPT James Cook how to sail and the rest, as they say, is history.

.