Selling the benefits of submarines

Submarine Enhanced Selection Process organisers (from left) Dave Whiteside, LS Rodney Murakami and CPO Jamie Robinson.

By SBLT Tim Slater

More sailors and officers are considering a career in Australia’s submarines following a renewed campaign to highlight the benefits and attractions of being part of the Navy’s elite Silent Service.

A team comprising CPOETSM Jamie Robinson, LEUT Robert Ratkovic and WOAWASM Paul Woodhams is giving people throughout the fleet, in other services and in civilian
life a better idea of what life is like beneath the waves.

The team has refined a two-pronged strategy of setting up a submarine presentation team that tours the country and also runs regular Enhanced Selection Process (ESP) courses for people eager to “try before they buy”.

CPO Robinson said the main factors that attract people to submarines are the camaraderie or esprit de corps and the opportunity to assume a high level of responsibility at a relatively young age and rank.

“They can see that we are a small community of about 500 personnel and they can see the way we integrate is just something that is unseen within the actual naval organisation and everyone notices it,” CPO Robinson said.

Other factors that contribute to the attraction of submarine service, according to CPO Robinson, are posting stability and the WA lifestyle.

And the pay isn’t bad either, although CPO Robinson said most people regarded the higher pay as a bonus to the other benefits of submarine service.

Able seamen serving at sea on a submarine get a starting pay rate of $62,000, compared to ABs serving on a surface ship who get a starting pay rate of about $50,000. Junior lieutenants on submarines get $74,000 compared to $62,000.

The submarine presentation team was given a new lease of life this year after the number of people taking part in ESPs had declined.

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