Seven sailors lend their skills

Seven Australian sailors lent their specialist skills to the US and Royal Canadian navies during last month’s RIMPAC exercise in a move that proved interoperability and integration of personnel really work.

RAN personnel embarked in the aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis were LCDR Fraser Vergalis, CPO Lex Davison, PO David Connolly, LS Richard Prideaux, and PO Denham Carlyon, while LCDR Scott Craig joined the Austin class amphibious transport dock USS Dubuque.

The Canadian air defence destroyer HMCS Algonquin hosted LCDR Alison Norris during RIMPAC.

In addition, RAAF personnel were deployed in the Stennis (CPL Adrian Taylor and LAC Sean McLeod), the multipurpose amphibious ship USS Tarawa (FLTLT Jason Storey), the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (FLTLT Steven O’Hara) and HMCS Algonquin (SQNLDR Matthew Stuckless).

Aiming for efficiency in working as a coalition force, RAN, Australian Army and RAAF units were fully integrated into multinational forces for exercise warfare scenarios.

CPOCSM Lex Davison says the Stennis alone is impressive but her capability is awesome.

He joined USS John C Stennis as the ADF Tactical Data Link liaison officer in the Commander Carrier Group 7 Joint Interface Control Officer Cell.

“Flying operations, as well as just about all other operations, were conducted efficiently, safely and with a minimum of fuss,” he said.

“The entire crew on the Stennis were fantastic.

From the senior officers to the junior ratings, they all went out of their way to make me feel welcome.

“Everyone onboard the ship has their own sometimes small part to play in this gigantic organisation and they do so with continual good humour, quiet efficiency and an obvious sense of pride.”

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