Top Stories
Like father, like son
By Andrew Stackpool

Volume 49, No. 4, March 22, 2007
 
PERFECT BALANCE: Proud father WOFF Phillip Berkhout poses with son Jordan, who chose a navy avionics career after a little help from dad.
Photo courtesy of WOFF Phillip Berkhout
 
For WOFF Phillip Berkhout from the Directorate of Defence Aviation and Air Force Safety, the family Service pendulum has begun to swing his way at last.

After being outmanned by in-laws, for some time, he has found the family balance restored a little by his son’s enlistment.

Jordan graduated from the recruit school at HMAS Cerberus late last year. He has begun training as an aviation technician avionics (ATV) at the RAAF School of Technical Training at RAAF Base Wagga.

“Until then, I was the only member of my immediate family who had served in a military organisation,” he says.

His wife had recently served in the Air Force but is a public servant with Defence; his brother-in-law is a SQNLDR, and his sister-in-law and her husband are naval officers in Sydney.

To make things more complicated, his brother-in-law’s wife’s brother is also a naval officer.

Despite having three members in or ex-Air Force, both sides of the family are proud of his decision. WOFF Berkhout says that Jordan, who wanted a technical career, had little choice in the matter.

“Jordan and I discussed my Service career and the different aircraft that I have worked on [Mirages, Hornets and Hawks] and the places that this has taken me to,” he says.

“Air Force had no technical trades and Army offered only a few; Navy had four – aviation technician avionics, aircraft technician, electronics technician, and marine technician.

“To give Jordan an insight into the Navy, and in particular the avionics trade, I contacted an acquaintance who is an avionics technician with Seahawks at HMAS Albatross. He showed Jordan around the maintenance and flying facilities there.

“Jordan returned home and said that he was taking the Navy option and would pursue a career as an ATV.”

WOFF Berkhout says that the now SMN Jordan Berkhout enjoyed every aspect of his training at the Navy training establishment, and is looking forward to his specialist training. SMN Berkhout anticipates posting to the Naval Air Station HMAS Albatross on completion.

“He knows that I did my airframe fitter training at Wagga and this has brought him some enthusiasm for his trade/career choice.”

He says the whole family are very proud of Jordan’s choice.

“At the end of the day, we’re all Defence members (Service or civilian) and proud of it. Of course there is some banter between us about our chosen Service, but it is all in good fun. And there is another family of Air Force in-laws as well.

“The teasing isn’t just between Air Force and Navy but also includes the APS members of the family. At the end of the day, we know it takes all of our skills and abilities if the job is to be done and done well. We share a common goal – we’re a team.

“In our opinion, both the Navy or Air Force would provide Jordan with a world of experience and a very satisfying career.

“With new weapons platforms coming on-line in both Services, we believe that Jordan has joined Defence at the right time.”

“We are positive that Jordan will enjoy his Service life. Navy, like Air Force, is a large family and, throughout his career, he will bump into old acquaintances from time to time, re-establishing old friendships.

“That’s how it is in the Services.”