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That’s
the way to engineer a change
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Chief
of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston talks to Flying Officer
Stuart Scott after presenting him with the Leader and Military
Qualities Award at the No. 8 Initial Officer Course graduation.
Photos by SGT Troy Rogers
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When
Flying Officer Stuart Scott won the Leadership and Military Qualities
Award on the No. 8 of 2002 Initial Officer Course he wasn’t
the only No. 92 Wing Senior NCO to be commissioned.
Also graduating from the same course on November 8 at Point Cook
were another former flight engineer flight sergeant, an ex-flight
engineer warrant officer, and an ex-airborne electronics analyst
flight sergeant.
And, for good measure, a former military skills instructor sergeant
from No. 1 Recruit Training Unit also graduated from the course.
It was no coincidence that a crew from No. 10 Squadron, captained
by Flight Lieutenant Chris Anderson, staged an Orion flypast over
the two graduating courses on parade – Nos 8 and 6.
“It happened by fluke, three flight engineers in one hit,”
FLGOFF Stuart said. “The Wing would notice that.”
He has moved into the electronics engineering category, and starts
the next stage of his career with No. 84 Wing in January.
FLGOFF Stuart has just completed eight years as a flight engineer,
and has logged 3000 flying hours. He spent the time with No. 10
Squadron, then instructing with No. 292 Squadron, then again with
No. 10 Squadron.
In that time he has seen a good deal of Asia, North America and
New Zealand.
He sees his commission and new job as a logical career progression,
and would like to be involved in acquisition projects.
“I made a choice to get out of maritime and picked this job
to continue professional development,” he said.
The other flight engineers who graduated were Flight Sergeant Malcolm
Bennett (now a Flying Officer) and Warrant Officer Mark Wilson (now
a Flight Lieutenant). The Flight Sergeant AEA was Simon Longley
(now a Flying Officer).
Edinburgh’s strong showing at the graduation was completed
with a 1RTU military skills instructor Sergeant Robert Park moving
into the Administrative Officer category.
Winner of the Leadership and Military Qualities Award on No. 6 course
was Officer Cadet Joshua Eicke, who aims to become a fast-jet pilot.
OFFCDT Eicke joined the Air Force as a direct entry officer, and
had behind him a biomedical and computer science degree from James
Cook University in Townsville and two and a half years’ work
in Sydney.
“I have always been interested in flying. I went through recruiting
and flight screening, I was keen on flying in the military environment,”
he said.
He is working as an operations officer at No. 33 Squadron until
he starts pilots’ course at Tamworth next year.
Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston was the reviewing officer.
AIRMSHL Houston told the graduates that this was not the end of
their training but for many it was just the beginning.
He said he required them to commit to the Air Force values, which
meant being a leader from the earliest part of their career.
“I expect that everything you do will reflect the values you
have been taught here at OTS,” he said.
AIRMSHL Houston also said the ADF faced an operational tempo unseen
in a generation.
“I have no doubt we will all play our part in ensuring Australia
remains the wonderful country it is today,” he said.
CAF added that the recent efforts of Air Force aircrews and medical
staff evacuating seriously injured from Bali was indicative of the
Air Force’s values-based culture.
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