By
WOFF Howden Farrar
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AS
the new Warrant Officer at the Aerospace Centre (AeC), I am looking
forward to the challenges of promoting air power doctrine and
air power education and engagement.
My position provides input to the activities of the centre and
is specifically responsible for airmen/women education on air
power doctrine across the Air Force.
Air power is not a new concept – it has been with us since
the earliest days of wooden aircraft and steel men and it is from
these humble beginnings that our identity is drawn.
Many airmen/women are asking their supervisors about their place
in the “big picture”. More simply put, “Why do
we spend cold rainy nights on the flight line?” or “I
work in an orderly room, why should air power matter to me?”
It is the answers to these questions that help us understand who
we are. These answers set our identity and the way we do things
in our Air Force.
Some of you will probably think this is another evangelistic speech
to perpetuate The Fundamentals of Australian Aerospace Power,
when it is not the intent. Think of it as more like a public relations
speech for the many airmen/women who would like to know more about
the Air Force, its origins and how we operate, but are unsure
of how to go about it.
This is not to suggest that we all go out and get a personal copy
of The Fundamentals of Australian Aerospace Power, although that
would be good, but to encourage you to take an interest in the
Air Force and your place in it. One of our fundamental values
is teamwork and every member of the RAAF is part of one large
team and every team member needs to understand their position.
My position includes providing input into the development of air
power strategic doctrine, participating in educational activities
such as providing support to the Warrant Officers Course, Advanced
Aerospace Power Course and assisting with administrative support
to other AeC activities, such as conferences and the RAAF Heritage
Awards.
Should you have any questions or any ideas, I am eager to receive
input from airmen/women on their perspective on air power or training.
I can be contacted at the Aerospace Centre on (02) 6287 6563 or
aerospacecentre@defence.gov.au
If you just want to know more about aerospace power, then you
can also contact me and I will assist you to obtain reading material
to further your knowledge.
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Career
summary
Warrant
Officer Howden “Sparra” Farrar has more than 27 years
of active service in the Air Force, with a majority of that time
spent flying first as a crewman on Iroquois and Chinook helicopters,
then as a Loadmaster on C-130 and B707 aircraft.
He has served operationally in Desert Storm with No. 36 Squadron
in 1991 and over Afghanistan as part of the International Coalition
Against Terrorism with No. 84 Wing in 2002.
