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SPRAY
IT AGAIN: Potential Navy recruits participated in an orientation
day onboard Seahorse Mercator and HMAS Parramatta at Garden
Island last month.
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Photo:
ABPH Andrew Black
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By
Kate Benson
Volume
49, No. 9, June 1, 2006
Eleven
potential recruits got a taste of life in the Navy when they visited
Garden Island in Sydney on May 9.
The recruits, accompanied by seven Defence Force Recruiting (DFR)
staff, commenced the day with a ship’s tour of HMAS Parramatta,
conducted by LEUT Roebottom, SBLT Patterson and LSMT Steer.
The group then transferred by RHIBs to MV Seahorse Mercator a
navigation-training vessel, and got to see first hand the navigation
training they hope to undertake.
Mercator was piloted by Mr Glenn Harber from Defence Maritime
Services, and observed by LCDR Peter Collins from the Navigation
Faculty at HMAS Watson.
This sea ride was a valuable opportunity for young Seaman Officer
candidates to experience teamwork at sea first hand.
One candidate wrote to DFR: “Thank you for the opportunity
to visit FFH Parramatta and ride in the Navy training boat –
it was a wonderful experience, simply mind- blowing.
To experience being on a Navy vessel and watch how sailors live
and work is much better than reading about it on the net.
I met a real Combat Support Operator who was able to answer my
questions and offered to help with further queries about recruit
school, training and being at sea. I even made great friends with
other candidates.”
