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| WO takes another
step up the ladder By Barry Rollings Volume 50, No. 1, February 8, 2007 |
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WO Baker received his epaulettes from the VCDF LTGEN Ken Gillespie in Canberra and then took up his post at HMAS Kuttabul this month. “Once I made the decision, which took a little prompting, I am now focused on life as a Naval officer,” LEUT Baker said after the ceremony. “I don’t anticipate too many dramas in perhaps going from a real ‘go-gettem’ life to a job that may be a little calmer.” As the former and inaugural Command Warrant Officer of HQ JOC, he will be working in an area where he has worked before and will know many people. He doesn’t see the transition as being a problem as he gets into the new job and starts again. “This dramatic change in job description and to be LEUT at HMAS Kuttabul will be a big cultural change. But I think as long as you know to expect that, you have a lot of peers who have done it before you, you are accepted well, people know you for who you are and what your are. “They can see what’s on your chest and they know where you are coming from.” LEUT Baker felt “exceptionally blessed” in his past six years to have had two command jobs at a time when operations were in effect. “Over the past six years, I have had 10 trips to the Middle East – with the Maritime Commander when I was in the Maritime Command post – and with the VCDF since I have been in my latest job. “It has been a real eye-opener for me getting away from purely Navy. I now look after Army, Navy and Air Force. I have been lucky enough to go to Afghanistan, Iraq, and all the places that all the different arms of the service are deployed to and to see what they do. If I had remained just maritime, I would never have seen that.” LEUT Baker sees his promotion as the next logical step up the ladder. |
