9 July 2025
At just 20 years old, Leading Aircraftman Jontay Gothachalkenin has visited more countries in six months than some people will see in their whole lifetime.
Since joining 33 Squadron, Leading Aircraftman Gothachalkenin has flown into 10 countries: skiing the slopes of Canada after transporting athletes to the Invictus Games, walking the ancient streets of Rome while in town for the Pope’s funeral and, most recently, helping get Australians to safety during the first military-assisted departure flight from Israel as part of Operation Beech.
The Air Force crew attendant said he had never imagined where his job would take him when he joined the ADF in 2023 straight out of high school.
“You never know what you will be doing from week to week,” Leading Aircraftman Gothachalkenin said.
“You could be tasked on one thing, then turn around the next minute and I'll be all the way across the world. It's pretty exciting.”
'You never know what you will be doing from week to week.'
A crew attendant is responsible for ensuring the rations on the flight are stocked and maintained, updating flight documents, maintaining aircraft presentation and providing service to passengers on the flight.
It’s the service aspect of his job that drew Leading Aircraftman Gothachalkenin to his mustering. He said the value of that service really hit home when he was helping passengers who were airlifted out of danger on an assisted departure flight from Israel.
“Your main job is to make sure they feel comfortable and are taken care of,” he said.
“We had a little conversation with the passengers while we handed out the tea and coffee and snacks, and seeing how grateful they were after coming from the environment that they were in was really good.
“Knowing that what we were doing for them, even though it was only small, it could be just like a coffee, goes a long way for them. It was really rewarding.”
'Just know that the reward you get out of joining outweighs the wait time or any doubts you may have in the back of your head when joining.'
A proud Wik-Mungkan man born and bred in Brisbane, Leading Aircraftman Gothachalkenin said he enjoyed the structure and security of a job in the ADF but also the chance to work with a wide variety of people and learn from them along the way.
“I always loved the idea of flying and a family friend suggested I look at Defence, and after looking at all the options I decided to join as soon as possible,” he said.
“I like being able to work in a group and having people of different ages and experiences to learn off, you get a better understanding of how you would like to operate when you eventually have your own solo flights and what the best way of doing things is.”
When asked what his advice was for other young high school graduates looking to join the ADF, Leading Aircraftman Gothachalkenin said patience and trust were key.
“You just have to trust the system and be patient,” he said.
“Just know that the reward you get out of joining outweighs the wait time or any doubts you may have in the back of your head when joining. It’s definitely worth it.”
To find out more about a career as an air crew attendant, visit www.adfcareers.gov.au/jobs/Air-Force/cabin-crew
