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ALL
EARS: Sailors from HMAS Tobruk talk with GEN Cosgrove.
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Photo:
ABPH Justin Brown
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By
Michael Brooke
The future is bright for the Navy and the other services given
the quality and experience of the new leadership that is now in
place to guide the ADF, GEN Peter Cosgrove said to the RAN during
his last address as CDF at HMAS Kuttabul on June 30.
GEN Cosgrove told a gathering of 600 sailors at FBE that he was
delighted with the quality of the new leadership team, headed
by AIRMSHL Angus Houston as the CDF, VADM Russ Shalders as the
Chief of Navy and RADM Davyd Thomas, as the Maritime Commander
– Australia.
The gathering was headed by RADM Rowan Moffitt, the outgoing Maritime
Commander – Australia, who is the new Deputy Chief of Joint Operations,
and included crews from HMA Ships Kanimbla, Manoora, Tobruk and
Melbourne.
GEN Cosgrove said Navy personnel should be confident that the
new CDF well understood triservice and Navy operations.
“AIRMSHL Houston is absolutely jumping out of his skin with enthusiasm
to do the job of CDF to the best of his capability and I am confident
he will be an incredibly effective leader.”
“AIRMSHL Houston has served as the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations
and because of this experience is someone who knows quite a lot
about the RAN,” he said.
GEN Cosgrove said that the new leadership cared very deeply about
their personnel and thoroughly understood the many challenges
they faced in trying to achieve their tasks and missions.
The former Australian of the Year said the new Chief of Navy was
a great officer and very well known and respected for his various
commands over the years.
“VADM Shalders has been VCDF under me for the past threeyears
and I know he is looking forward to the challenges ahead as your
Chief of Navy.”
GEN Cosgrove also took the opportunity to sing the praises of
the sailors who have served at sea on operations recently. He
said he deeply appreciated the service that the Navy uniquely
and wonderfully provides for Australia - a maritime nation.
“Our interests inevitably lay in our region – at sea – on land
– and in the air. But we are a maritime nation,” he said.
“And unfortunately Australians don’t see enough of what you do,
because the Navy, by definition, is the silent service, which
cannot show all Australians all the dedication, the patience,
the skill and the professional mastery that you exhibit so far
away at sea.
“But I know it – and many others in uniform know it. And crucially,
political leaders appreciate it.
In every sense you are a guardian of this country and we deeply
appreciate what it is you do.”
GEN Cosgrove said the Navy’s amphibious and supply ships deserved
special mention because of the tempo of current operations which
had kept them at sea away for their families for so long.
