Page 5

Handover by CDF ends

40-year career

Celebrating 60 years

NEWSNAVYVolume 61, No. 12, July 12, 2018

CUTTING EDGE

New frigates to provide highest level of lethality

Pages 2-3

An artist’s impression of BAE Systems’ type 26 Global Combat Ship.

Centre

Joint task force prepares

for RimPac Page 4

CN finishes his service

in style

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2 NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS July 12, 2018

CMDR Fenn Kemp

THE announcement that BAE Systems, a United Kingdom firm, had been selected as the preferred tenderer for the largest peacetime naval shipping construction project in Australia’s history, has been met with great antici-pation.

LCDR Luke Bogan, who watched the proceedings from his workplace at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia, said the announcement had been met with great interest among his shipmates.

LCDR Bogan was recently assigned as Marine Engineering Officer to another high-tech capability – the Air Warfare Destroyer NUSHIP Brisbane, which has completed its latest sea trials.

“It’s obviously very early days, but this will be a game-changer for Navy,” LCDR Bogan said.

“As we watched the announcement, I think we all understood that we were witnessing something pretty historic.”

BAE’s Global Combat Ship- Australia has been assessed as the capability best suited for our nation, providing the ADF with the highest lev-els of lethality and deterrence our major surface combatants need in periods of global uncertainty.

The Future Frigates will be more capable than the Anzac-class frigates they will replace. Their primary mission is anti-submarine warfare, and they will have sufficient range and endurance to operate effectively throughout maritime South-East Asia and will be able to be deployed globally.

“The capabilities the Hunter-class will have are very impressive,” LCDR Bogan said.

“There are junior sailors and offic-ers reading this now who might well be serving in HMAS Flinders when it rolls off the production line.

“The Hunter-class will give us the future force we need in uncertain times.”

Future Frigates a game-changer

3NEWS July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

THE government will deliver one of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigates, create more than 4000 Australian jobs and secure a local naval shipbuilding industry for decades to come.

Defence Minister Marise Payne said the future Frigates, to be designed by BAE Systems and built by ASC Shipbuilding, were cen-tral to secure our nation, our naval shipbuilding sovereignty and create Australian jobs.

Speaking at the announcement on June 29, Senator Payne said the government was committed to giv-ing our military the potent naval capability it required.

“The Future Frigates will give the Royal Australian Navy the highest levels of lethality and deter-rence to hunt and kill submarines, to protect our fleet and to protect Australia and our interests,” Senator Payne said.

“This is a decision entirely based on capability, the best capability to equip the Navy in anti-submarine warfare, with range and endurance, able to operate independently or as part of a task group, and to contrib-ute as well in humanitarian assis-tance and disaster relief and other non-warfare roles.”

Future Frigates a game-changer

CMDR Fenn Kemp

IN a signal to all personnel, CN VADM Tim Barrett said the name Hunter-class was cho-sen for the Future Frigates to reflect the tra-dition of naming RAN ships that promote Navy’s bond with the nation.

The first three ships of the Hunter-class will proudly carry the names of three major Australian regions, all with strong historical maritime and naval ties.

Associated with the South Australian region, HMAS Flinders II is named for explorer Captain Matthew Flinders, who is credited with the first circumnavigation of Australia and identifying it as a continent.

HMAS Hunter – the NSW region – is named for Vice-Admiral John Hunter, the First Fleet Captain and second Governor of NSW.

HMAS Tasman is named for explorer Abel Tasman, the first known European explorer to reach Tasmania, New Zealand and Fiji.

The class name was specifically chosen because the term ‘hunter’ represents the role of the frigates as a submarine hunter, with the term embodying the pursuit of prey.

“The replacement of our eight Anzac- class frigates with nine frigates optimised for anti-submarine warfare will significantly enhance the lethality of our surface combat-ant capabilities,” VADM Barrett said.

“These ships will incorporate world-class design factors and integrated systems that will change the way we conduct anti-sub-marine warfare operations. Our interoper-ability as a joint force and with our allies will improve.”

The Anzac-class frigates are expected to be in service until the early 2040s.

VADM Barrett said the future frigate announcement was a game-changer for Navy, the ADF and defence industry.

“Beyond the frigate design, this deci-sion demonstrates that Navy is an intrinsic national capability that connects the private and public sectors to deliver a fundamental national objective – security above, on and under the sea.”

Names to reflect maritime links

CN VADM Tim Barrett discusses the capability of the Hunter-class frigate to

members of Air Warfare Destroyer NUSHIP Brisbane

at the Future Frigate announcement in Adelaide.

Photo: ABIS James McDougall

Decision was based on capability: Payne

To be built in Australia, by Australians, using Australian steel, the Hunter-class will begin entering service in the late 2020s replacing the eight Anzac-class frigates, which have been in ser-vice since 1996.

Senator Payne said the Future Frigate program was one of Australia’s most significant invest-ments in military capability.

She said it provided a unique

opportunity to not just strengthen, but guarantee Australia’s naval shipbuilding sovereignty.

Incorporating the leading edge Australian-developed CEA Phased-Array Radar and the US Navy’s Aegis combat management system, with an Australian inter-face developed by Saab Australia, the Hunter-class will be one of the most capable warships in the world.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Defence Minister Marise Payne and CN VADM Tim Barrett look at a model of the new frigate at the announcement in Adelaide. Photo: ABIS James McDougall

‘‘ – CN VADM Tim Barrett

Nine frigates optimised for anti-submarine warfare will significantly enhance the lethality of our surface combatant capabilities.

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4 NEWS www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS July 12, 2018

CMDR Fenn Kemp

VADM Tim Barrett formally ended his term as CN at a handover ceremony at Blamey Square in Canberra on July 6.

VADM Barrett ended his permanent Navy career in style, with an honour guard and flypast in his honour.

Several hundred Navy personnel from across the region braved a blustery Canberra morning to attend the ceremony. VADM Barrett told the gathering his time as Chief had seen significant change to the Navy, thanks to hard work and dedication by members.

“The considerable successes that Navy has enjoyed during my tenure is due to that important and valuable work under-taken by uniformed and civilian people ashore, as much as they are due to the out-standing efforts of our sailors and officers both at sea and ashore, whether permanent or reserve,” VADM Barrett said.

“Our people are more resilient and innovative, and they are getting the job done safely. Our workforce better reflects the diversity of the Australian community, demonstrating a bias for action, and seek-ing to continuously improve the way we do business.

“And, despite some reports, the vast majority are upholding Navy’s values and living Navy’s signature behaviours, on duty and off duty, in uniform or out of it, at sea and ashore.”

VADM Barrett’s time as CN was indeed one of significant change. He guid-ed the decisions to acquire the offshore patrol vessels, Navy’s next generation of replenishment ships, future submarines, and the Hunter-class frigates, along with the associated infrastructure investments.

He also oversaw the introduction into service of the LHDs – HMA Ships Canberra and Adelaide – the MH60R Seahawk, and the first of Navy’s new destroyers, HMAS Hobart. These new capabilities, combined with the Navy-wide reforms driven by Plan Pelorus, have enabled Navy to generate and deploy mar-itime task groups capable of accomplish-ing the full spectrum of maritime security operations.

VADM Barrett welcomed incoming CN VADM Mike Noonan, the men saluted and shook hands before VADM Barrett passed him the weight of command.

VADM Barrett thanked the men and women of the RAN for their service and urged Navy to continue advancing in an age of swift change.

“We serve peace and security, we safe-guard peace and democracy,” he said.

“If you seek peace, you must prepare for conflict. The defence we offer is how we underwrite peace.

“We must tackle the heavy seas head on, it’s the only way.”

VADM Noonan told the gathering history would consider VADM Barrett to be “the father of Australia’s 21st-century Navy”.

“His commitment and dedication has been both extraordinary and selfless, and over the last four years as the Chief of Navy, he has set our Navy on a new course,” VADM Noonan said.

VADM Noonan said he intended to lead a Navy which was operationally ready thanks to committed, well-trained men and women, capable of deploying nationally, regionally and internationally in support of Australia’s national interests, during uncertain times.

“To achieve these outcomes we need to think like a fighting Navy, and fight like a thinking Navy,” he said.

“It’s an important time to be in Navy. With the majority of capability decisions, we must shift our focus to delivery and sustainment of our current and future force.

“We must all strive to be better every day, in everything we do.”

After the speeches, VADM Barrett’s flag was hauled down and VADM Noonan’s flag raised and a flypast by members of the Fleet Air Arm paid tribute to Navy’s most senior aviator.

The Barrett family left the parade ground in a 1976 Rolls Royce. Made the year VADM Barrett joined the Navy, it was hired through contributions made by the many sailors and officers who had the privilege of working alongside him during his long and successful career.

CN ends service in style

Outgoing CN VADM Tim Barrett salutes as he reviews the guard during the change of command parade in Canberra as his successor VADM Mike Noonan watches on. Photo: Jay Cronan

VADM Tim Barrett hands the weight of command to VADM Michael Noonan. Photo: Jay Cronan

VADM Tim Barrett receives his CN’s personal flag from WO-N Gary Wight. Photo: Lauren Larking

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THE decommissioning of aircraft car-rier HMAS Melbourne and disbanding the fixed-wing component of Fleet Air Arm may have inadvertently set outgo-ing CDF and former Navy pilot ACM Mark Binskin on a path to reaching Defence’s top job.

“I would probably have had to broaden from an aircrew specialisa-tion and gone into more general Navy service to be able to get to CDF,” ACM Binskin said.

He finished as CDF on July 6, rounding out a 40-year career that included a brief stint flying Navy A-4G Skyhawk fighters from the deck of Melbourne.

When the fixed-wing component of the FAA was disbanded, the CDF was on exchange with the RAAF, where he stayed and flew Mirages then Hornets.

“Being able to get in the Hornet and fly that aircraft to its maximum capabil-ity is one of those great memories that will never leave me,” ACM Binskin said.

ACM Binskin rose to become Chief of Air Force, before a promotion to VCDF and attained the top job in 2014.

He said he was particularly proud of overseeing the creation of Defence Signals Intel l igence and Cyber Command.

“The military side of cyber is some-thing I really wanted to progress,” he said.

“Pulling together those in uniform and making it a proper capability in the ADF; making it a proper weapon sys-

5NEWS July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

CDF leaves his markCPL Julia Whitwell

FAREWELLED by a four-ship formation of F/A-18A/B Classic Hornets from 77SQN, and a 17-gun salute, ACM Mark Binskin handed over as CDF to former CA GEN Angus Campbell in Canberra on July 6.

In his address to the parade, ACM Binskin said serving as CDF was the pinnacle of his proud mili-tary career.

“It’s been a great ride, and it has been a privilege,” ACM Binskin said.

“Not one day has gone by without a new challenge, but more importantly, not one day has gone by when the ADF has not made a new achievement.

“It’s those achievements that have made the last four years special. I’m very proud of what the

men and women of the ADF have achieved during that period.”

ACM Binskin said he had confi-dence in GEN Campbell’s leader-ship.

“We are in a time of significant change and significant challenge and I know you are very well-placed to be able to lead the ADF over the coming years,” ACM Binskin said.

GEN Campbell said ACM Binskin’s service as CDF was dis-tinguished.

“We owe him a great debt of gratitude and I’m deeply apprecia-tive that the handing over of com-mand responsibility is handing over an ADF in extraordinarily good shape,” GEN Campbell said.

“This is a great organisation filled with people who every day do extraordinary things in the defence of the nation and its interests.”

tem. Cyber affects everyone. You, your bank account and social media, right through to high-end operations.

“If you don’t understand the cyber domain and have the agility to work there, you’re not going to run success-ful operations into the future.”

Landing on an aircraft carrier or flying a Hornet weren’t the toughest challenges the CDF faced.

“Early on in my flying career, having mates killed in accidents was always very hard,” he said.

“There was also a period in Afghanistan that was particularly dif-ficult; even now I see reports and it makes me stop and think.

“For everyone we lose, there are grieving families involved and the cir-cumstances are often quite complex.

“As the chief you feel responsible for everyone and you do take it per-sonally.”

While ACM Binskin deeply feels each service death, he will remember his mates and people performing at

their best. “I’ve made some fantastic friends and a lot have become just as close as family,” he said.

“When you go out on operations you see the men and women doing what they really want to do. You can see the high morale; they’re always proud to show you what they’re doing and what they’re achieving.

“That’s the part I’ll miss the most.”ACM Binskin left some parting

advice for those aspiring to become CDF.

“The Defence Force does a fantas-tic job of progressing people through, giving people opportunities to develop and lead,” he said.

“Look at where you want to go and help shape that, but you need to focus on the job you’re doing at the time and do the best you can.

“When you get to CDF, people trust you to do the job because of who you are, so don’t ever stop being yourself.”

Pinnacle of his career

ACM Mark Binskin and GEN Angus Campbell at the official handover ceremony in Canberra. Photo: Lauren larking

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7NEWS July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

LCDR Lauren Rago

MEMBERS of Clearance Diving Team 3 (CDT3) have been awarded a US Navy Unit Commendation for exceptionally meritorious service in the 1991 Gulf War

In 1992, the acting secretary of the US Navy awarded a US Unit Commendation to units involved in the 1991 multinational Desert Storm Task Group.

Australian guidelines at the time prevented CDT3 personnel from accepting the award. After revision of the guidelines, the US has been reviewing records to ensure all enti-tled personnel receive their awards.

COMAUSFLT RADM Jonathan Mead presented the commendation, at a ceremony at HMAS Penguin on June 28, to the original teammates, many of whom are still serving.

“The award of the US Unit Commendation was a reminder of the significant achievement of Clearance Diving Team 3 during the First Gulf War,” RADM Mead said.

“Under the command of then LCDR John Griffith, the team was initially involved in the preparations for a possible amphibious assault of Iraqi-occupied Kuwait.

“As the requirement for an amphibious operation receded, the

team’s primary mission became the explosive ordnance clearance of Kuwaiti ports in support of the US Navy’s coastal warfare and port recov-ery operations.

“The members distinguished them-selves and earned their branch an international reputation for courage, skill, professionalism, flexibility, and adaptability.”

Former XO CDT3 and current Head of Clearance Diving, CAPT Stephen O’Brien, said the commenda-tion was welcome recognition for a deployment that was challenging and rewarding.

“The experience and the lessons

learnt from the team’s time in the First Gulf War helped us in later deploy-ments and are still part of the way we operate,” CAPT O’Brien said.

The events in Kuwait in 1990 resulted in the international commu-nity responding swiftly with a large multinational task force.

CDT3 cleared four ports, searched 2,157,200 square metres of sea bed, surveyed 32 wrecks, dealt with 60 mines, cleared 234,986 pieces of ordnance, cleared seven ships and secured countless buildings, ports and oil facilities.

The operational recovery of these ports provided the government of

Kuwait and supporting coalition forc-es with their most important means to resupply the beleaguered Kuwaiti so they could rebuild their nation.

During that time, HMA Ships Adelaide, Darwin and Success also deployed to the region. They were followed at the end of 1990 by HMA Ships Brisbane and Sydney, both of which received Australian Meritorious Unit Citations for sustained outstand-ing service in warlike operations.

US Consu l Genera l L inda Daetwyler and representatives from across Defence also attended the award ceremony in June.

All clear for just reward

COMAUSFLT RADM Jonathan Mead, far right, with members of Clearance Diving Team 3 at the US Unit Commendation ceremony at HMAS Penguin. Photo: LSIS Nicolas Gonzalez

Good reason to earn dolphins every dayLEUT Rilana Ostheim

UNITED States submariners lost at sea while defending Australia have been honoured at a memorial ser-vice at the National Anzac Centre in Albany, Western Australia.

Officers and senior sailors from the Australian and US navies gathered with Australian cadets from Training Ship Vancouver and invited guests to remember the sub-mariners, who died while defending Australia from the threat of invasion by Japanese forces during WWII.

The Submariner’s Prayer was recited as each submariner lost in action was named.

While the event honoured US submariners it also addressed the contribution the Australian, United Kingdom and Dutch navies made in the undersea domain.

CMDR William Dull, of the US Navy, addressed attendees in a moving speech.

“We are here today, remember-ing our lost comrades and the tre-mendous impact allied submarines operating out of Western Australia made in the Pacific during WWII,” CMDR Dull said.

“While focused on sinking Japanese oil tankers, submariners

from the allied forces contributed tremendously to the efforts of crip-pling enemy forces and accelerating the allied victory against the threat of a Japanese invasion.”

He also highlighted the proud legacy established by submariners during WWII that has continued to the present day.

“We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us,” he said.

“In the United States submarine force we have an expression – ‘You earn your dolphins every day’ – which refers to the submarine

warfare insignia worn on the chest and means to never be satisfied and constantly strive to improve.”

He encouraged everyone, sub-mariner or not, to live by that senti-ment, to uphold and honour the rich legacy submariners have left.

“Earn your dolphins every day by offering a helping hand to peo-ple who might need it,” CMDR Dull said.

“When you walk past someone who looks like they need some help, offer it.”

Officers and senior sailors from the Australian and US navies with cadets from TS Vancouver after the memorial service in Albany. Photo: LSIS Bradley Darvill

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9NEWS July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

LEUT Anthony Martin

NAVY is participating in a national campaign to highlight the achieve-ments and importance of women and diversity within our ranks.

100 Days of Change, running from July 1-October 8, aims to strengthen the momentum for indi-viduals to improve our operational effectiveness by committing to gen-der equality and equity at all levels.

Statistically, 21.3 per cent of Navy’s workforce is female. Women and men serve alongside each other at sea and ashore and they have done so since World War I.

DCN RADM Mark Hammond said it was a statistic Navy could be proud of, but more needed to be done.

“Navy’s future is very bright, but we are yet to fully capitalise upon all of the inherent strengths of our diverse workforce, and to fully leverage the potential of the entire Australian recruiting pool,” RADM Hammond said.

“With the imminent arrival of new capabilities, we need to grow the overall size of our workforce.

“We can only achieve this by becoming an employer of choice that welcomes workforce diversity and inclusion.”

The 100 Days for Change is an initiative by Women and Leadership Australia (www.wla.edu.au), and is supported by the Australian Gender Equity Council and the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

The program challenges all Navy personnel to make a com-mitment or pledge to appropriate change – as an individual or at unit

level. Examples include holding a workplace conversation about the Diversity and Inclusion strategy and 100 Days of Change; attending/participating/supporting a women’s sporting event; reviewing orders, instructions, and procedures to overcome gender bias; taking a campus course on unconscious bias; celebrate commitments and pro-mote 100 Days of Change in your workplace.

“We must do this as one Navy, regardless of age, rank, race, reli-gion, sexual orientation, ability or gender,” RADM Hammond said.

“We cannot afford to leave any-one behind. Diversity and inclusion is a force multiplier.”

More information can be found on the Navy Women’s Strategic Adviser web-page at drnet/navy/navywomensstrategy/Pages/Home.aspx

Laying down the inclusion gauntlet

‘‘ – DCN RADM Mark Hammond

We cannot afford to leave anyone behind. Diversity and inclusion is a force multiplier.

SMN CIS Grace Waters of, HMAS Adelaide, communicates with HMAS Success using an Aldis lamp during a RAS. Photo: ABIS Tara Byrne

From left, SMNBMs Jessica Love-Lace and Tayla Stark, SMNCIS Samantha Waller, and SMNBM Jordan Moloney handle the messenger line during a RAS between HMA Ships Adelaide, Success and HMNZS Te Mana in the Pacific Ocean while en route to Hawaii to take part in Exercise RimPac. Photo: ABIS Christopher Szumlanski

www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS July 12, 2018 1110 CENTREExercise RimPac

CPL Sebastian Beurich

A FASCINATION with teeth was just the beginning of a friendship between LEUT Lisa Holliday and ABDENH Tyler Jones.

The pair make up Navy’s dental healthcare unit on board HMAS Ad-elaide, currently deployed as part of a joint task group supporting Indo-Pacif-ic Endeavour and Exercise RimPac.

They met in 2014 when LEUT Holliday was a RAAF dentist and AB Jones had just completed her initial dental assistant training.

Both grew up on the Gold Coast and have worked together since de-ploying in Adelaide in February 2017.

“We work together all day, espe-cially when we’re at sea, so we have to be pretty close,” LEUT Holliday said.

“Even when we’re at home, I’m always paired with a fleet dental as-sistant.”

AB Jones said she enjoyed meet-ing people of all ranks and rates from Australian and international fleets.

“I’m also really interested in the treatment we do, and watching how LEUT Holliday shapes a tooth,” she said.

“It sounds silly, but you need to have an eye for shaping a tooth and it’s really amazing to watch.”

The ship’s dental clinic differs from a land-based one, in that it must have everything stocked before the ship leaves, including patient files.

“Unless it’s a serious issue and we have to conduct a medical evacua-

tion, the buck stops with me,” LEUT Holliday said.

“I’m the one who has to relieve a patient of pain and patch them up until they can seek specialist care.”

This means the entire dental sur-gery is packed into a few boxes.

“If we don’t have something, we can’t just go out and get it, we need to improvise to make it work,” AB Jones said.

“There are so many small de-tails which go into making a trip go smoothly, but everything has come to-gether really well for this deployment.”

They said having dental care on board was critical to maintaining the health of the crew over long deploy-ments.

“There aren’t many opportunities for our sailors to complete an annual dental check-up when they’re at sea for long periods of time,” LEUT Hol-liday said.

“Generally people change their personal routine while they’re at sea, which changes their oral hygiene practices.

“We can cover any extra treat-ments which are required, as well as those annual check-ups, which reduces the strain on our dental units back in Australia.”

LEUT Holliday and AB Jones said they both enjoyed the variety Navy offers, including their current deploy-ment, which has made calls in ports throughout the Pacific.

More than 1000 personnel are de-ployed in the task group aboard HMA Ships Adelaide, Melbourne, Success and Toowoomba.

SHIPS representing three of Her Majesty’s Navies prac-tised a number of maritime evolutions en route to Hawaii

to participate in a complex series of war games.

HMA Ships Adelaide, Melbourne and Success were joined by HMNZS Te Mana and HMCS Vancouver, of the Royal New Zealand and Royal Cana-dian Navies respectively, as the joint task group transited towards Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RimPac), a large-

scale multinational maritime exercise.All five ships used their transit in

company to sharpen their skills by conducting officer-of-the-watch ma-noeuvres, replenishments at sea and flying operations in embarked helicop-ters.

Adelaide’s Navigating Officer LCDR Lachlan Browne said the fre-quent interaction between Australia and New Zealand’s Defence Forces made Te Mana’s integration into the joint task group seamless, and

that Vancouver was also able to join smoothly.

“All three Navies operate from the same allied tactical publications, so initial integration was relatively easy despite some small challenges at the outset integrating our communications circuits,” LCDR Brown said.

“Adelaide is the ‘Screen Com-mander’, meaning she managed navi-gation plans of all ships in the joint task group, their course and speed, to ensure we could train together and

reach Hawaii safely. The RAN has in-vested a great deal of time and effort to build up and refine joint task group operations in recent years and it is now fantastic to continue our development with the aid of Te Mana and Vancou-ver.”

Adelaide, Melbourne, Toowoomba and Success recently completed the first phase of Indo-Pacific Endeavour, a series of key engagement activities with Australia’s regional partners in Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu and Samoa.

Fixing smiles on long sea miles

LEUT Lisa Holliday in the dental hospital of HMAS Adelaide en route to Hawaii. Photos: ABIS Craig Walton

ABDENH Tyler Jones prepares instruments for a procedure in the ship’s dental hospital.

LET WAR GAMES BEGIN

INTERNATIONAL engagement at Exercise Rim of the Pacific

(RimPac) started early for HMAS Melbourne as she welcomed aboard 20 soldiers from the US Army in Hawaii.

The American troops, of the 5th Battlefield Coordination Detachment (BCD), stepped aboard for a tour on June 29 while the ship was alongside at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam to learn about her capabilities and history.

The 5th BCD guests were surprised to learn of Melbourne’s 26 years of operational service and her links to the US Navy as

a variant of its Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate.

The highlight of their tour was watching Melbourne’s SM2 verti-cal launch system load a guided missile training round in less than a second.

CO 5th BDC Col Kareem Montague said his unit’s role integrating multinational ser-vices during RimPac gave them a unique opportunity to step aboard a RAN vessel and meet the crew.

“We already have a very close working relationship with the Australian Army but this is an op-portunity to see not only a sister service, but a foreign service’s

naval vessel,” Col Montague said.“It was interesting to see the

pride they take in their ship, the time they spend working on it and how they’ve got such a long life out of it compared to the US.”More than 1600 ADF personnel have arrived in the US ahead of a month of focused military train-ing activities with 26 nations from across the globe.

Along with Melbourne, HMA Ships Adelaide, Success, Toow-oomba and Rankin have been deployed by the ADF, as well as diving personnel, an amphibious landing force from the 2nd Bat-talion Royal Australian Regiment,

and one P-8A Poseidon aircraft.Now in its 26th iteration,

about 47 surface ships, five submarines, 18 national land forces, more than 200 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will participate in the world’s largest maritime exercise in and around the Hawaiian Islands and South-ern California until August 2.

CJOPS AIRMSHL Mel Hup-feld said that, along with Talisman Sabre, RimPac was the pinnacle of high-end military exercises in the region.

“From amphibious warfight-ing exercises with our flagship Adelaide to the first-ever Harpoon

missile fired from an Australian P-8A Poseidon aircraft, RimPac is a real test of Australia’s maritime military capability,” AIRMSHL Hupfeld said.

“It provides complex and chal-lenging training in a multinational environment, perfect for strength-ening interoperability with our regional partners and allies.”

Other activities will include gunnery, missile, anti-submarine, and air-defence exercises, as well as maritime interdiction and ves-sel boarding, explosive ordnance disposal, diving and salvage operations, mine clearance opera-tions and an amphibious landing.

G’day to our mates from the USA

From practising manoeuvres en route, to our crews meeting some of their international counterparts, everybody’s ready for RimPac. LEUT Ryan Zerbe reports

SBLT Andrew Clark explains the layout of HMAS Melbourne’s bridge to US Army soldiers during their tour of the ship in Pearl Harbor. Photo: POIS Paul Berry

HMA Ships Adelaide, Success, Melbourne and Toowoomba conduct a formation exercise in com-pany with HMNZS Te Mana and HMCS Vancouver during the transit to Hawaii. Photo: ABIS Christopher Szumlanski

HMAS Melbourne passes astern of HMNZS Te Mana as both ships sail in formation in the Pacific Ocean. Photo: ABIS Christopher Szumlanski

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12 FEATURES www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS July 12, 2018

VIRTUAL reality and gam-ing technologies could be used to enhance future language training, after a

successful trial at Defence Force School of Languages (DFSL) in May.

Language students at DFSL interacted with instructors via video link during an Avatar Augmented Role-Play Project (AARP) trial across French, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and Indonesian courses.

The instructor’s voice, gender and appearance were morphed to be unrecognisable.

Head of DFSL’s Blended Learning Cell Sheik Taleb Bin Sheik Husain said AARP employed off-the-shelf technology to create avatars speaking foreign languages in an environment likely to be encountered by the students.

“The instructor was completely transformed and projected as an avatar in another room. The stu-dents interacted with the teacher’s avatar via video link,” Mr Bin Sheik Husain said.

The Australian Defence College Simulation Centre (ADCSC) worked on the technol-ogy over several years and sup-ported the trial.

Centre director Grant Robinson said it used motion capture and game engine technology to let an instructor realise training objec-tives through an avatar.

“An easy way to think about this technology is a remote subject matter expert using their whole body as the input device driving an interactive digital puppet,” he said.

“We are able to change char-acters and sets quickly to improve training and to easily generate after-action review videos of both

the avatar and student. It was exciting to see students immersed in their scenario engaging with the range of avatars and settings.”

The technology uses marker-less motion capture devices for the body and face which are translated onto high fidelity avatars generated from detailed photography of real humans –including dynamic facial wrinkles and finger movement.

Mr Bin Sheik Husain said the trial made students use impromptu and productive language skills rather than just passive skills such as listening.

“It’s helpful in situations where you may only have two female or two male teachers in a language department,” he said.

“Languages are gender based, some more than others. We also teach languages at DFSL which have differing levels of formality, depending on a range of factors

and scenarios. This can be easily and effectively accounted for when using AARP.”

The team aims to use feedback from the trial to help further refine the fidelity of the avatars.

With oversight from Joint Operations Command and col-laboration with the ADCSC for the past two years, the AARP trial has garnered international interest. Mr Bin Sheik Husain said the system gained attention at a recent NATO military language conference.

“It was perhaps the first trial of its kind in an Australian language-learning institution,” he said.

Mr Bin Sheik Husain hoped to update AARP to include holo-graphic projections to create a more immersive experience.

For information on the trial, go to drnet/JCG/ADC/ACSC/DFSL/Pages/DFSL-AARP-Trial.aspx

Changing face of learning

Arabic language instructor Kalsom Ahmed suits up to be morphed into a male police inspector avatar during the AARP trial at Defence Force School of Languages. Inset: Head of Blended Learning Cell at the school Sheik Bin Sheik Husain briefs students participating in the trial.

Avatars are transforming language training and, as PTE Renee Breeze reports, holographic projections could be the next step.

13FEATURES July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

A U N I Q U E p a r t o f Navy’s history came to an end on June 19 when HMAS Harman’s

WWII-vintage Building 115 was demolished.

Harman was established as a wireless telegraphy station before World War II.

Defence contractor and former sailor Steve Zoneff said many communicators and greenies served in Building 115 from the early 1940s, and it would have had particular significance to former members of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service, commonly known as WRANS.

“I never worked there myself, but remember visiting as a young sailor under training around 1991, when it was the Naval Communications Station, and quite a busy place,” Mr Zoneff said.

“It was at Harman that WRANS began their service and cemented their place in history 77 years ago.

“The first WRANS wore the green uniform of the Women’s Emergency Signal Corps, until naval pattern uniforms were appropriated for them.”

Mr Zoneff said only non-combat roles were available to females then, such as those first telegraphists, who served at Harman’s wireless/transmitting station in the early 1940s.

“WRANS were on watch when reports that HMAS Sydney II was overdue were received at Harman,” he said.

“Efforts to establish commu-nications with the cruiser proved fruitless and she was later con-firmed as having been sunk.

“It was also from this build-ing that the WRANS transmit-ted a message to the Fleet that Australia was at war with Japan.”

Mr Zoneff said he received a personal message from Building 115 when he was serving in HMAS Tobruk II in Somalia in late-January, 1993.

“There was no email back then and my son was born while I was over there, so I was real-ly craving for information from back home,” he said.

“My cousin wrote something up and sent it via Russell Offices, and she said something like, ‘I’ve met your little boy’.

“So that’s an important con-nection with 115 for me.”

A FORMER Wran who started her long Navy career in Building 115 was present to see the building being demolished.

Technical Manager at HMAS Harman CPO Lyn Jensen followed her three older brothers into the Navy in 1979.

“They came home and showed me photos and told their warries; their lives sounded exciting,” she said.

“So even though I knew I wasn’t going to go to sea and do what they were doing, I applied and joined, and after recruit training I became a Wran and then later a Senior Wran and Leading Wran.

“I arrived at Harman in May 1980 and spent five years working between Building 115, then NAVCOMMSTA Canberra, teletype workshop, systems control room and Bonshaw receiving station.

“Throughout my career, I have spent time in Building 115 at every rank.”

CPO Jensen was a Leading Wran when the WRANS was disbanded, and became a Leading Seaman.

She said one of the most memorable while she was in Building 115 was when Navy started broadcasting the Australian Armed Forces Radio to deployed units in Somalia and warships at sea.

“Parents could ring in and leave a message for their sons on the ships, so the messages were recorded and com-piled into a broadcast at Russell; the tapes were then delivered to Building 115,” CPO Jensen said.

“We’d play the tapes and broadcast

the messages out via HF from Belconnen and Harold E Holt.”

CPO Jensen remembered a particular broadcast message, where a father had dialled in and left a message for his son who was on deployment.

“The father was saying how proud he and the family were of his son and how much they missed him, and then they played Unchained Melody,” she said.

“Well, have I ever teared up at work before; this was probably one of the most memorable and really nice times I’ve had at work.

“As the building was coming down so many faces flashed to mind and all of them were smiling.

“It was certainly a close-knit and productive team with some very smart people who I worked with, and worked for, in that building, and their work eth-ics were second to none.

“We knew if our equipment broke down, the guys at sea wouldn’t be get-ting their messages.”

CPO Jensen said it was an honour to have been part of that team.

“I think I was fortunate, as were most people who worked in 115 – it was a formative period of our Navy lives,” she said.

“I am sure there are a lot of ex- and still-serving greenies and operators who would have liked to have been in my shoes today to have the opportunity to reflect on the past as the building demoli-tion started; especially those inspirational sailors and WRANS that commissioned the building.”

A special place in timeThe demolition of a Canberra building brought a chapter of naval history to a close, writes SGT Dave Morley.

A typical scene from inside building 115. The radio being operated by the WRANS member in the foreground is probably an early version of the STC A679 receiver.

CPO Lyn Jensen and former sailor Steve Zoneff at the demolition of Building 115. Photo: SGT Dave Morley

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15FEATURES July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

The Combat Survival Training School wants more instructors who enjoy being taken out of their comfort zone, writes FLTLT Tracey Li

Teaching skills for life

IMAGINE your aircraft just crashed in the middle of a jungle but you managed to survive. You must find food and water fast,

build a shelter for protection and create a signal fire to maximise your chance of getting rescued … you’re becoming more and more fatigued, thirsty, hungry and the clock is tick-ing…

This is one of the scenarios students undertaking the Aircrew Combat Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape (SERE) Level C Course are given to test their survival tech-niques and skills under extremely challenging situations in a jungle environment near RAAF Base Townsville.

CO Combat Survival Training School (CSTS) SQNLDR Jay Nicks said that since its formation, the unit had delivered combat survival train-ing to Navy, Army and Air Force aircrew for nearly 30 years.

“We are based in Townsville, North Queensland, which gives us access to a range of environments to conduct training including sea, sea coast, arid and jungle regions,” SQNLDR Nicks said.

“This course is designed to match some of the worst condi-tions military aircrew could face in permissive (peace time) and non-

permissive (hostile) environments.“We teach them the skills to

survive, be located and be recovered should they become isolated for any reason.

“Students are taught the follow-ing priorities of survival – protec-tion (first aid, clothing, shelter and fire); location (use various devices and aids to assist search and rescue efforts); water and food.”

LEUT Patrick Hitchings, an Aviation Warfare Officer of 725SQN, said he had significantly improved his fieldcraft from the two-week course.

“Before joining the Navy I spent 10 years in the Army as a Combat Engineer and this course provided me an invaluable opportunity to consolidate and refine my skills and knowledge in the field,” LEUT Hitchings said.

“For me the highlight of this course was to learn how to build a functional survival site using only a good knife and what’s around me and it was particularly satisfying to be able to use vines for cordage to good effect.

“I’m now feeling a lot more confident in my ability to stay alive and be located in tough and isolated environments.”

SQNLDR Nicks said the unit

was seeking new instructors. “This will be a fantastic opportu-

nity to increase your organisational understanding, as you will be work-ing in a joint environment with highly professional and dedicated individuals from different services, specialisations and musterings,” SQNLDR Nicks said.

He said CSTS was responsible for delivering a continuum of com-bat survival training and advice, including foundational level IET courses, mission-specific aircrew force preparation training, person-nel recovery exercises, and deploy-ing on ADF operations as the Joint Personnel Recovery Officer.

“We would like to hear from you if you are fit, driven and wish to push yourself outside of your com-fort zone,” SQNLDR Nicks said.

“The unit will provide all the necessary training to prepare you for this challenging role. Professional development oppor-tunities will continue to become available throughout your tenure at CSTS to help you to reach your full potential.”

STS is seeking interest from permanent personnel and reservists to become SERE instructors. For more information contact csts.registry@defence.gov.au

Combat Survival Training School instructor POA David Vowell debriefs students after their first night surviving in the jungle and (inset) WO2 Clive Keam, right, inspects LSA Brendan Potter’s smoked beef jerky. Photos: SGT Kirk Peacock

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17PERSONNEL July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

SBLT Max Logan

PERSONNEL from the Canberra region took to the streets of near-by Queanbeyan on July 1 for a Freedom of Entry march to mark a significant milestone.

In a display of communi-ty spirit, officers and sailors of HMAS Harman assembled for the march from Moore Park to Queen Elizabeth II Park in celebration of Harman’s 75th commissioning anniversary.

Staying true to tradition, the event featured a parade through the city centre with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, colours flying,

drums beating and band playing.The granting of Freedom of

Entry is the highest accolade a town or city can bestow on a mili-tary unit.

The tradition originated in medieval times, when a city would show its trust in a group of men-at-arms by allowing them to enter their walls without being dis-armed.

In modern times, it is a dem-onstration of the positive links between military units and the communities they represent.

Accepting the ceremonial scroll from Queanbeyan Mayor Tim Overall CO Harman CMDR

David Luck said it was an honour for Harman.

“Many of Harman’s ship’s company live in the local area and it was great to march through the familiar streets of Queanbeyan today,” CMDR Luck said.

“We’re grateful to everyone who turned out to support us and celebrate the 75th commissioning anniversary milestone.

“HMAS Harman has a rich history of service to the nation and it was a very proud moment.”

Early in its history, the base played a fundamental role in ena-bling the first women to undertake service in the ADF.

The Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service was formed in 1941, with the pioneer service-women performing roles as teleg-raphers during WWII.

Harman continues to pro-vide communication services to the Fleet through the Defence Network Operations Centre as well as facilitating administrative and personnel support to Navy members and several reserve and cadet units.

For more information on HMAS Harman visit: http://www.navy.gov.au/establishments/hmas-harman

DEFENCE Families of Australia (DFA) has launched a partner-friendly employer initiative in response to an unemployment rate among ADF part-ners that is double the national level.

The official government advisory body for families of serving ADF members has developed a checklist on its website for the ‘gold standard’ of what it takes to be a Defence partner-friendly employer. This standard includes recruiting for skills and not purely on chronological work history.

DFA National Convener Maree Sirois said this was especially important for partners who faced the challenge of gaining and maintaining meaningful employment when faced with interstate relocations and long ADF member absences.

Employers involved in the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program who meet the stand-ard of the checklist have been invited to provide a link to the employment section of their website for inclusion in the initiative. These employers are Westpac, Thales, PwC, SAAB and BAE Systems.

DFA’s research and a review of existing pro-grams in North America revealed three key compo-nents for addressing Defence partner employment: Job readiness, such as resume writing, interview

and career coaching; Education for employers on the business case for

hiring a Defence partner and ways to help part-ners gain and maintain meaningful employment;

Monitoring and fostering the connection of part-ners with Defence partner-friendly employers.DFA’s additional website pages are designed

to address the employer education and con-nection components. The Defence Community Organisation’s Partner Employment Assistance Program addresses the job readiness aspect.

“Education is spreading about the veteran employment experience and now is the time to start educating about the partner employment challenge,” Ms Sirois said.

“There are a variety of initiatives happening in this space so I will continue to talk with businesses, ex-service organisations and government depart-ments to find out what they are doing and share our checklist.”

For more information on the DFA ADF Partner Employment Initiative, go to www.dfa.org.au

Have YourSay about working in DefenceHAVE you been invited to par-ticipate in the 2018 YourSay: Organisational Climate Survey (YourSay)?

The YourSay survey is held once a year to measure attitudes and experiences relating to topics such as Defence and ADF culture,

leadership and management, career progression, resources, work-life balance and working conditions.

Head of People Capability RADM Brett Wolski said Defence’s leadership needed maximum input from ADF and APS personnel.

“YourSay enables you to tell us

the extent to which your expecta-tions are being met, and what could be done to improve the satisfaction, commitment, and performance of all Defence people,” he said.

For information about the survey contact the YourSay team via email, your.say@defence.gov.au.

Finding jobs for partners

Trusted troupe

CAPT Stephen Bowater and Queanbeyan Mayor Tim Overall receive a salute from HMAS Harman’s ship’s company during the Freedom of Entry march.Photo: ABIS James McDougall

18 PERSONNEL www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS July 12, 2018

A HARDY ADF crowd braved Canberra’s cold weather to conduct and support a sporting event for a good cause at HMAS Harman in early June.

The events featured a touch foot-ball match, barbecue and raffle, with all proceeds of the day going to the Mark Hughes Foundation.

The charity was created by former NRL player Mark Hughes after he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014. It raises awareness and much-needed funding for brain cancer research in Australia.

The event’s driver was LSBM Matthew Lewis, who has strived to promote the cause since his grandfa-ther died of brain cancer in 2006.

“The Mark Hughes Foundation does a great job in raising aware-ness about brain cancer,” LS Hughes said.

“The charity holds a Beanies for Brain Cancer round in the NRL, and encourages members of the public to host a Beanie Day at homes, workplaces or schools during the week [in early June].

“I thought this was a great way to raise funds and bring together the Canberra Defence community by using sport as the catalyst.”

XO Harman LCDR Mark Wilson said that when LS Lewis approached him about the fundrais-ing sports day, he thought it was a great initiative.

“LS Lewis went around to local

SGT Mark Doran

AN EXPERIENCED Navy medic learnt a lot but was no fish out of water during his first land-based deployment, as Senior ADF Medical Officer in the Middle East.

CMDR Neil Smith deployed on Operation Accordion between March and June this year.

The Melbourne respiratory and sleep physician worked for Australia’s National Command Headquarters at Camp Baird, over-seeing the health and wellbeing of about 2000 personnel deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as Navy’s sailors at sea.

“I’ve been with the Naval Reserve for 15 years and normally deploy at sea as a ship’s doctor or with Navy’s Maritime Operational Health Unit,” CMDR Smith said.

“This was my first land opera-tion – there were a lot of Army people and unusual acronyms – and my first headquarters deploy-ment.”

As a civilian doctor, CMDR Smith works in private prac-tices at Hoppers Crossing and John Fawkner Private Hospital in Coburg, near his home in Brunswick.

He also works in the public sys-tem, at Mercy Werribee and The Alfred hospitals.

“Working with the ADF medi-cal staff in the Middle East dem-onstrated to me the high level of training, professionalism and enthusiasm, often in somewhat arduous circumstances,” he said.

“Our aim was to give our troops medical care comparable to what

they would receive in Australia.”In the Australian-led Role 2

Hospital in Taji, Iraq, another team of about 20 Australian doctors, nurses and specialists support the frontline medics and provide ser-vices to the coalition facility.

On board HMAS Warramunga, which was assigned to Combined Task Force 150 under the Combined Maritime Forces in the Persian Gulf, was a doctor, two medics and the ship’s medical emergency team.

CMDR Smith was a sailor before he enlisted in the Navy Reserve and skippers a 34ft yacht, named Elise, which he regularly sails on Port Phillip Bay.

“I deploy with Navy for at least a couple of months each year, mainly at sea with amphibi-

ous ships such as HMAS Canberra in the primary casualty reception facility,” he said.

“As a senior consultant physi-cian in the Victorian public hos-pital system for the past 20 years, and an adjunct clinical associ-ate professor of medicine at the University of Notre Dame, I regu-larly guide, advise and teach junior doctors, which I also did during my deployment.

“Defence has given me excel-lent training in leadership and organisational management.

“I’ve also received military medical training in trauma, resus-citation, aviation medicine, diving medicine, tropical diseases and disaster response – opportunities I wouldn’t get in civilian health care.”

A SAILOR and mother of two says Navy’s Keeping Watch grant program has saved her fam-ily from being swamped by medical bills.

Both of AB Rhiannon Walker’s young chil-dren have an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis.

“One of my girls, in particular, requires sub-stantial support for her disability,” AB Walker said.

The family has used many of the financial support options from private health funding, including the ADF Family Health Program and more recently the government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme. But gap payments have kept the bills piling up.

AB Walker said her supervisor told her about Keeping Watch.

“When a signal came out for applications for the Keeping Watch Grant program, my chief sug-gested I apply to help with my outstanding medi-cal bills,” she said.

“With the help of my divisional chain I was able to submit the application, which was approved and has been a huge financial relief.”

Families can experience significant financial and emotional stress if a member has a per-manent condition or a disability, or if a family member is injured and requires intense medical support.

Often a flood of related logistical problems affect family relationships and mental health. Getting to and from hospitals or medical appoint-ments grows into an obstacle on top of daily liv-ing. Errands such as grocery shopping, cooking dinner and ferrying children around require more planning and mental effort.

Keeping Watch Chair RADM Peter Laver said these were the kind of situations Keeping Watch helped with.

“We were delighted to help AB Walker and her family,” he said.

“Every application is carefully considered and we have helped 24 families in the past 12 months.

“Keeping Watch has real flexibility in the assistance it can provide. It is an important means by which members of the naval family can access such help in times of crisis.’

For more information, including how to make a tax deductible donation to support the work of the Navy’s charity, visit keepingwatch.org.au.

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In touch with charity

LCDR Mark Wilson contributes to the brain cancer cause, via SMN Jayden Mansfield, during the HMAS Harman charity sports event. Photo: CPL Dan Pinhorn

businesses in search of donations for the raffle in his own time,” LCDR Wilson said.

“Smart Salary was kind enough to donate all the food and drink for the day. This meant that all money made was profit and was donated directly to the Mark Hughes Foundation.”

LS Lewis said the day was a huge success.

“We sold many raffle tickets in

the lead-up and on the day, received donations at the front gate on the morning of the event, and the BBQ was also a hit.

“We managed to raise $1755.70 for the Mark Hughes Foundation, which was an amazing result,” he said.

For more information on the Mark Hughes Foundation, to donate or buy a beanie, visit: www.markhughesfounda-tion.com.au.

CMDR Neil Smith monitors a mass casualty exercise at

Camp Baird in the Middle East.Photo: SGT Mark Doran

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19SPORT July 12, 2018 www.defence.gov.au/news/NAVYNEWS

PTE Renee Breeze

THE ADF women’s rugby team crashed through the thin blue line of the Australian Police team in an inaugural match in Canberra on June 22.

The ADF Rugby Union (ADFRU) team included two Brumbies and two Reds players, who helped it smash the Police 39-10.

LSMT Shannon Evans whipped in the first try just over a minute after kick-off, setting the scene for the rest of the game.

Police pushed the line, capitalising on penalties but falling short of scoring.

With ADF on 17, Police scored their first try in the last moments of the first half but failed to convert.

ADF continued to press the advan-tage, with play in the second echoing the first half of the match.

In the final minutes of the game,

PTE Julia Robinson tore up the field to score Defence’s final try.

For ADF outside centre ABCSO Courtney Frankl, of HQ JOC, the chal-lenge of playing together was a matter of teammates covering thousands of kilometres.

“We drew players from three servic-es in different states,” AB Frankl said.

“We had these girls in camp for just a week, so to get the structure together in less than that, it’s pretty hard.

“But we gel together as a team and it definitely helped to get that win.”

AB Frankl, also a member of the Brumbies women’s squad in Canberra, said it was never too late to try some-thing new.

“I’d never tried the sport before. I started when I was 26, so in April last year I was playing my first game. Give it a chance. You never know where you might end up,” she said.

THE ADF Rugby Union (ADFRU) men’s team (pictured) will take on the Australian Police rugby union team in Canberra on July 20.

While in Canberra the team will help run a coaching clinic with the

Australian Police for players from multiple rugby clubs.

The game kicks off at 3pm at RMC and entry is free.

You can follow ADFRU on Facebook @ADFRugby

Now for the men …

Copping an ADF hiding

ABCSO Courtney Frankl charges towards the try line during the game

against Australian Police.Photos: PTE Renee Breeze

PTE Renee Cross scores for ADF against Australian Police.

Volume 61, No. 12, July 12, 2018

SPORTABCSO Courtney Frankl storms

ahead with the ball during the women’s rugby union game

against Australian Police.Photo: PTE Renee Breeze

BREAK THROUGH

ADF women breach the thin

blue line Page 19