Features
Cream of the crop


Volume 50, No. 1, February 8, 2007
 
STRONG LINE-UP: Members of the second Force Warfare Course graduating class at HMAS Watson. The Deputy Maritime Commander CDRE Griggs attended the ceremony.
Photo: ABPH Justin Brown
 
The newest crop of graduates recently completed the second RAN Force Warfare Course, held at HMAS Watson.

The graduation ceremony was attended by Deputy Maritime Commander, CDRE Griggs and the Head of the Surface Warfare Community and DGNCPP, CDRE Jones. Also present was the Commander of the Surface Combatant Group, CDRE Kerr.

Graduating from the Force Warfare Officers’ Course were LCDR Young (PWO METOC A), LCDR Baily (AVN O), LCDR Buckham (AVN O), LCDR Clelland (PWO MW H), and LEUT Hosick (PWO A).

The ceremony, held on the Watson Wardroom swimming pool deck with the stunning harbour views as a backdrop, saw the dux of the sub-specialist A course receive the coveted St Barbara Medallion. This was awarded to LEUT Dan Hosick, soon to be posted to HMAS Kanimbla as operations officer.

The ceremony included two personnel graduating as PWO A sub-specialists after finishing an intensive seven-week program focusing on developing Force Air Warfare skills.

The course covered employment and management of some of the emerging capabilities in the ADF, including the Wedgetail AEW&C, air-to-air refuelling and Link 16. The purpose of the course was to provide students with a theoretical grounding of some of the more advanced aspects of air warfare before putting their skills to the test in simulated multi-threat exercises.

The graduation also marked the completion of the battle staff component of the course, aimed at exposing warfare officers to task group operations at the higher tactical level. LCDR Eric Young was awarded the dux of that component of the course and awarded a Palm Pilot donated by LOPAC.

The battle staff course continues to evolve with the goal of producing suitable candidates for employment with the Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Maritime) during major exercises and operational deployments into the future. The course also marked the first time that aviators have been involved as participants on the course.


Sailors promotion list

Name, ship/establishment, due date, promoted to:


PROMOTION TO CHIEF PETTY OFFICER

POATA McDonald, 805 SQN, July 2, to CPOATA.
POATA Fletcher, 816 SQN, July 2, to CPOATA.
POATA Blank, Albatross, March 5, to CPOATA.
PONPC White, AUSCDT Four, March 26, to CPONPC.
POPT Brennan, Cairns, April 16, to CPOPT.
POWTR Jones, Creswell, January 15, to CPOWTR.
POET Fava, Harman, March 1, to CPOET.
POCK Robinson, Kuttabul, March 1, to CPOCK.
POSTD Davey, Melbourne, January 29, to CPOSTD.
POCK Ellerton, Stirling, January 15, to CPOCK.


PROMOTION TO PETTY OFFICER

LSSTD Morton, Coonawarra, January 15, to POSTD.
LSMT Flitton, Coonawarra, January 15, to POMT.
LSWTR Grundy, Melbourne, January 15, to POWTR.
LSNPC Lawrence, Stirling, January 15, to PONPC.


PROMOTION TO LEADING SEAMAN

ABATV Carter, 816 SQN, April 2, to LSATV.
ABCSO McKenzie, Adelaide, January 15, to LSCSO.
ABET Chamberlain, Arunta, January 1, to LSET.
ABMT Mullins, Arunta, February 3, to LSMT.
ABMT Ridley, Coonawarra, January 15, to LSMT.
ABCSOMW Starcevic, Diamantina, January 15, LSCSOMW.
ABETSM Stewart, Sheean, January 8, to LSETSM.
ABMTSM Jurgens, Stirling, February 6, to LSMTSM.
ABET Winter, Stuart, February 26, to LSET.
ABMT Palmer, Sydney, March 6, to LSMT.
ABMT McCloy, Sydney, March 26, to LSMT.
ABCSO Brown, Tobruk, May 18, to LSCSO
ABATA Hilderbrandt, Warramunga, March 1, to LSATA.