Happy to be SAD
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Cpl
Chris McLean, a cargo specialist with the Ships Army Department
(SAD) onboard HMAS Kanimbla, checks his heading as he mans the
helm of the ship while it manoeuvres to deeper water off the coast
of Banda Aceh in order to make fresh water from seawater. The
SAD soldiers assigned to the ship are expected to assist with
a variety of tasks normally associated with sailor's duties.
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By
Corporal Cameron Jamieson - filed 08 February
2005
The
soldiers who are assigned as crew to HMAS Kanimbla are a SAD bunch -
and they love it.
Corporal
Chris McLean is a cargo specialist assigned to the Ship's Army Department
(SAD).
HMAS
Kanimbla is now assigned to Operation Sumatra Assist, the ADF's contribution
to the Indonesian disaster relief effort, and the SAD soldiers are helping
out with both their Army trades and a few Navy jobs they have learnt
as well.
"Besides
our Army trade specialties, the soldiers onboard are required to do
watches as the Quartermaster's Assistant on the bridge," CPL McLean
said.
"We
report weather to the officer of the watch, act as helmsman and keep
watch on the bridge wings, reporting any air or surface contacts.
"We
can also be assigned to work in flight deck teams and boarding parties."Although
it is a trade requirement for CPL McLean to serve with a SAD, he was
keen to give it a go anyway."I volunteered to serve in HMAS Kanimbla,"
he said.
"Working
with Navy is a different experience, you get to do things that you wouldn't
normally do back on shore.
"It's
been great to serve on board, I've travelled a lot over the last two
years and enjoyed my time."
CPL
McLean said the tempo had changed since the ship arrived off Banda Aceh,
and so had the opportunities to help.
"Things
were very busy when we arrived, as there was a lot to unload," he said.
"It's
quietened down a lot now, so we are doing watches and other tasks.
"We
have the chance to go ashore and help out, so we are rotating through
that."
While
he is glad of an opportunity to help in the devastated city, his first
experiences of the natural disaster scene were hard to take.
"To
a certain degree, it was what I expected because we had seen some imagery
and heard from the press prior to going in, but it was really messed
up, and you knew that there were still bodies about by the smell.
"It
knocks you around a bit, but then you get on with the job.
"The
thing that sticks in my mind is when we first went ashore and got tasked
to hop in and unblock a drain to help clear the water from the centre
of the city.
"There
was a moment of hesitation, and we looked at the guy in charge and thought
'do you really want us to do this?'
"I
will always remember the smell and standing up to my waist in the mud
and filth.
"But
it was worth it."
