By Corporal Simone Liebelt
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Two
aircraft technicians received awards from
the Riverina Institute of TAFE.
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Leading
Aircraftman Sam Alexander received the Aviation
and Aerospace award as a result of training
to be an aircraft fitter.
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Leading
Aircraftman Barry Mulder received the Campus
Outstanding Student award as a result of training
to be an avionics technician.
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Aircraft
fitter LAC Sam Alexander from 11SQN received the Riverina
Institute of TAFE’s Aviation and Aerospace Award.
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Photo
by LAC Casey Smith.
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Avionics
technician LAC Barry Mulder from 77SQN received the Campus
Outstanding Student award.
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Photo
by LACW Sonja Canty
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TWO
aircraft technicians who graduated top of their class last year
have recently returned to Wagga for the Riverina Institute of
TAFE’s 13th Annual Awards.
Leading Aircraftman Sam Alexander received the Aviation and Aerospace
award and Leading Aircraftman Barry Mulder received the Campus
Outstanding Student award from the National Aerospace Training
Centre of Excellence, RAAF School of Technical Training.
Both were surprised with their accolades, particularly Leading
Aircraftman Alexander, who won for his high degree of aptitude
and application while training as an aircraft structural fitter.
“It was a huge surprise to win, I actually thought it was
all a joke the first time I was told about it,” he said.
“It was great to return to Wagga and meet a wide variety
of people and understand how the training helped them in their
career.”
He said while he enjoyed the course, he couldn’t wait to
get into a squadron.
“The best part of my training was being in a team environment
where you’re always with your mates, but I’m extremely
happy to be at No.11 Squadron as I wanted to work on P3s,”
he said.
“They travel so much throughout the world and Edinburgh suits
my lifestyle, so I’m having a great time.”
Leading Aircraftman Mulder first signed up 20 years ago and worked
as an armament fitter on Hornets for 10 years.
After working overseas for 11 years, he then rejoined the Air
Force as an avionics technician, where he achieved outstanding
results on course. He also received a CO’s Commendation for
his leadership and behaviour during training after being nominated
by his student peers – which is rare.
“The commendation has very special meaning to me as it was
instigated by my fellow course members,” Leading Aircraftman
Mulder said.
“I didn’t expect recognition as that was the role that
was required to ensure that our team performed to the best of
our ability. It also demonstrated to me that the values that the
team at RAAFSTT and myself had promoted had been successfully
integrated into the mindset of our course.”
He said returning to Wagga provided the opportunity to thank the
staff from RAAFSTT and the TAFE, and celebrate with the other
winners, whose achievements were both inspirational and humbling.
Now at RAAF Base Williamtown, he looks forward to the career ahead.
“It was a nice irony to be posted back to No. 77 Squadron,
as that’s where I was first posted to in 1985,” he said.
“I was pleasantly surprised at how well the Hornet is performing
and ageing compared to other platforms I’ve worked on.”
