Our People in Tasmania
Jenna Dean - Jenna’s Silent Service In Singapore
When Jenna Dean left Devonport in Tasmania to pursue a life of adventure and excitement she didn’t dare dream that would include crash-diving in a submarine and torpedoing ‘enemy’ warships.
After leaving Scotch Oakburn College in Launceston, in 2006, Able Seaman Dean joined the navy and is today a communications specialist with the Collins class submarine, HMAS Farncomb.
Able Seaman Dean sailed with Farncomb from its base in Western Australia to Singapore, to participate in a major multinational exercise featuring some 18 warships, two submarines and 60 combat aircraft.
Farncomb is one of five Royal Australian Navy vessels participating in Exercise Bersama Lima, which is being conducted on the Malaysian Peninsula and in the South China Sea during October 19 to November 4.
Able Seaman Dean said Farncomb is here to help the naval task-group to test and evaluate their Anti-Submarine Warfare capabilities.
“It’s been a fantastic experience to be a submariner and sail to exotic destinations,” she said.
Able Seaman Dean, 25, said she joined the Navy after leaving school and transferred to the ‘Silent Service’ in pursuit of more career challenges and rewards.
She joined Farcomb in August, and if the submarine could speak it would sound just like Able Seaman Dean, who as a communicator uses voice and data systems to facilitate communications between the Collins class submarine and other warships.
“It’s been a really cool exercise, allowing us to ‘sink’ enemy warships while evading detection by sub-hunting aircraft,” she said.
When not involved in training serials with Farncomb, Able Seaman Dean has enjoyed seeing the sights and sounds of Singapore, which includes sampling the local culture and cuisine.
“It’s been very exciting for a young person such as myself to explore a different culture in a strange and exotic land,” she said.
Able Seaman Dean said even though she is fully occupied learning his trade as an Electronic Warfare technician, his thoughts often turn to home in Devonport, where her mother runs Lyn’s Hair-dresser.
“I enjoy going home because I get a free haircut from mum,” she said.
However, while training hard with Farncomb Able Seaman Dean is already counting down the days to her wedding to another submariner, on January 12, 2013, after a courtship spanning seven years.
Able Seaman Dean is one of 750 Australian Defence Force personnel involved in Bersama Lima 2011, which is being conducted by the Five Powers Defence Agreements which includes Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand, the UK and Australia
This year marks the 40th Anniversary of a successful Five Powers Defence Agreements (FPDA) illustrating the long-term commitment of the founding members to Defence cooperation and regional stability.
With over 80 per cent of the world's trade sea-bound and with nearly a quarter of it passing through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the FPDA continues to remain as an important regional multilateral arrangement.