By
MIDN Diane McArthur
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Sisters
in Arms: MIDN Diane McArthur and SBLT Mayumii Kurata share
the con aboard JDS Kashima during the recent JMSDF training
cruise betwen Bangkok and Singapore.
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Photo
courtesy the JMSDF
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MIDN
Diane McArthur recently spent a week aboard the Japanese training
ship JDS Kashima. She takes up the story.
“Recently I attended the first Western Pacific Naval Symposium
(WPNS).
I travelled to South East Asia and spent a week with the Japanese
Navy and nine men from the Canadian, Chilean, French, Indonesian,
Malaysian and Singaporean navies aboard the Japanese Maritime
Self Defence Force (JMSDF) training ship JDS Kashima.
I joined Kashima in Bangkok on the morning of August 9, 2003.
We sailed from Bangkok to Singapore, arriving on the 13th.
The training squadron, commanded by RADM Mashahiko Sugimoto, comprised
JDS Kashima and two destroyers, JD Ships Sawagiri and Hamagiri.
A total of 180 trainee officers were embarked for the cruise.
Our day commenced each day at 7am when we went to the bridge to
perform different activities, including OOW Manoeuvres. We had
to give the orders for these in Japanese!
None of us spoke Japanese, so we would study standard conning
commands in Japanese each night to ensure we did not embarrass
ourselves, or our respective navies.
I did astro navigation, exercises with the Royal Thai Navy and
DC exercises.
In addition, we gave a presentation on our respective navies to
the Japanese trainees. My presentation compared the RAN’s
training system to the Japanese one.
I told them that in the RAN we choose our own career paths. I
had been accepted as a Supply Officer.
JMSDF trainees undertake general Seamanship training, then after
one year apply for their preference.
Depending on their academic and practical performance, they may
or may not be selected. There is no recourse, they accept what
they are given. As the only female representative I was somewhat
of an anomaly.
The JMSDF does have female officers and sailors, however, they
are not permitted to serve in warships. Out of a complement of
450 in Kashima, 15 were female (9 trainee officers, two officers
and 4 sailors).
In fact, most of the Navies represented do not permit women in
their navies. Those that do, permit them to serve in supply or
training ships only.
While aboard Kashima I shared a cabin with seven Japanese female
officers, all SBLT equivalents ranging in age from 24 to 27.
Their cabin incorporates living quarters, a bath, shower, toilet
and laundry.
Males are not permitted enter a female’s quarters. Our bunks
had a telephone/intercom by our heads, so that we could be woken
during the night.
If you’re used to junk food, then you’re out of luck
in a Japanese ship. There is no canteen and the only thing available
is a vending machine containing a range of iced teas, iced coffee
and warm Coke.
I had the honour of lunching with RADM Sugimoto and presented
him with a book of photographs of Australia and we discussed my
career progression within the RAN.
He was fascinated by the fact that my husband was a Petty Officer
who was happy to stay at home and look after our children while
I was away.
I would highly recommend this exchange to any trainee officer.”
