Categories open to civvies

Qualified civilians can now apply to become cooks in the Naval Reserves.

Another milestone for the Naval Reserve (NR) was the recent opening of the traditional Permanent Navy (PN) categories to qualified civilians.

Entry to the Reserves in the past has been limited to Musicians and Divers for sailor categories, but now includes Cooks, Stewards, Dental Assistants, Stores Naval, Electronic Technicians, Aviation Technicians and Naval Police Coxswains (NPC).

The catch is that civilians must hold recognised qualifications that can be readily adapted to meet Naval requirements.

A short bridging course of two to three weeks duration may be all that is required, although, for the technical categories; specific application to equipment will add to the training requirement.

Qualified entry for the PN is not new and, currently, cooks and electricians are eligible under the scheme.

The arrangements for cooks has been in place the longer of the two and the bridging course is well proven, lending itself readily to the Reserves.

The possible recruitment of civilian police officers as NPC will be exciting and challenging.

A recruiting target of nearly 100 sailors has been set, with the first intake scheduled for March 7, 2005 to coincide with General Recruit Entry 223.

Officer entry has also been opened to Seaman Officers targeting civilian mariners who hold formally recognised deck watchkeeping certificates for vessels over 500 tonnes.

The conversion training, after initial entry training, will include watchkeeping duties in minor war vessels, working towards a Navy bridge warfare certificate.

The utility of this scheme will be determined in time, and several other primary qualifications are being considered to be offered in the very near future.

Officer targets for the financial year 04/05 are just under 50 which is a marked increase from previous years.

Through this new initiative, Chief of Navy’s intention, to open the Reserve to the average person on the street, is being met.

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