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Behind
the desk
The month for getting to know you
By
Warrant Officer of the Air Force WOFF Ray Woolnough
Volume
48, No. 3, March 9, 2006
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WOFF-AF
Ray Woolnough
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GREETINGS,
Airmen and Airwomen of the Air Force. During the month of February
I have been kept quite busy, which in a funny way is quite pleasing.
Firstly, it was remiss of me in my last entry not to make mention
of Sergeant Michael Melia, OAM, Flight Sergeant Brett Holland,
CSM, and Sergeant Robert Ausic, CSM, on their well deserved Australia
Day 2006 awards – I would like to say on behalf of all Airmen
and Airwomen well deserved and well done.
On Wednesday February 1, I attended CAF’s Planning Day in
the company of AIRCDREs (and equivalents), AVMs and, of course,
CAF. This band of personnel is known as Group 4, the Focus and
Alignment Group. Very, very interesting and enlightening, but
I have to say, getting to know all the meanings of the acronyms
is going to be quite a challenge.
Having said that, you will be pleased to know that the group has
the troops’ well-being foremost in their planning.
I visited RAAF Base Amberley February 8-10. My intention was to
go to all the units, squadrons and wings, after attending the
Session 90 CPL Course, to introduce myself to the members so that
they could put a face to the name and position.
I was really looked after and treated very well by all Commanders,
WOFFs and SNCOs – thank you for making my stay most enjoyable.
The
three main messages I spoke of were quite simple –
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1. I want the Chain of Command to be used;
- 2.
I want people to be constantly aware of ‘Manners and Protocols’;
and
- 3.
I want people to look after themselves, in a health sense, first
and foremost.
My
apologies to SECPOL, BISC, PTI’s and Fire Section for not
catching up with you on that visit, I will endeavour to do so
next month.
The Regimental Sergeant Major – Army (RSM-A), WO Kevin Woods
and I, were officially invited to visit the Federation Guard (Monday
February 13), viewing a Precision Drill Team (PDT) display, before
enjoying morning tea with all present and speaking to our relevant
‘troops’ (Air Force numbering approximately 55 in strength).
The small PDT, consisting of four members from each Service, carried
out 300 drill movements with no words of command, listening only
to the beat of a side drum and didgeridoo.
CPL Tracy Seears, an Air Force CPL, is one of two CPLs who trains,
choreographs and looks after the PDT. Part of that team is the
Drum Major, Air Force’s CPL Kim Irvine. What I saw was really
pleasing – thank you Tracy and Kim.
We have all heard the rumblings that the Federation Guard is an
Army unit; I will tell you that is a fallacy. The Guard Sergeant
Major (GSM), WO2 Eddie Penman, has just been posted into the position
as has his OC, MAJ Justin Olde.
These two gentlemen are just that – gentlemen, and very much
family-orientated.
WO2 Penman said to me, “One of my aims as the GSM, for my
posting tenure, is for the Guard to always respect their individual
Service differences, be tolerant and learn about the other Services
but have a tri-Service ethos first and foremost.”
To say I was impressed is an understatement. To WO2 Penman, thank
you and please keep up the good work.
That evening, CAF and I attended a dinner in town with the WOFF
Course 29, a worthwhile event with much discussed and much gained
by all present.
My thanks go to the hard working facilitators – WOFF Sandy
Nicholson and WOFF Rob Dias for organising the event.
Also in February, the Service Warrant Officers had a speaking
part in the new ADF Rehabilitation Program DVD and afterwards
we addressed the SQNLDR (and equivalent) Staff College Course
on ‘Leadership in the ADF – A Senior Non-Commissioned
Officers View’.
Afterwards it was off to RAAF Base Wagga for me to meet, speak
to, and listen to, the two SGT Courses 89/90, then FSGT Course
45, and the WOFF Course.
Coupled in with the usual and extra meetings that take place and
the usual administrative woes, it has certainly been a busy and
exciting month.
Till next time, keep on smiling.
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