Graduation Day.....

On Thursday the NEOCS (New Entry Officer Cadets) will graduate after having finished their six months training here at HMAS Creswell. J and I have come to know some of them very well; you would be proud to call any of them son or daugher. They manners are impecible, their maturity over this past six months has developed enormously and their pride in their position and the Australian Navy is very obvious. I might say that when they first arrived they were like any other civilian and we have watched their personal growth during this six month course. One could sayy arrived looking for direction and will leave self-confident and empowered.

The course requires them to live full time here at HMAS Creswell as Creswell is a training college. During those first six weeks they have no free time whats so ever including weekends. The NEOC age diversity ranges from school leavers to mature aged men and women; some people decide to join the armed forces later in life after experiencing a career. Our friend Paul is a Lieutenant Commander who joined the Navy at age 39. Another friend was a solicitor who simply wanted to move in a new direction in life. One of our customers told me that she had been a nurse in civilian life and had reached a point of wanting a new challenge in life. She loved the sea and enjoyed physical activities and wanted to return to study. The Navy offered her the opportunity to do everything that she aspired to and paid her as well.

It has been fascinating to meet so many of the officers and the enlisted personnel here at Creswell. They come from all over Australia, some are married with families, some are single and others are widowed. But each and every one of them has their own story and is unique in a very special way. Those that are stationed here at Creswell are involved in the training of the NEOCS in one way or another. There are physical trainers, medical staff, leadership trainers, Communication specialist trainers, trainers in Equity and Diversity, Weapons Trainers, trainers in boatwork, Pistol handling, Combat Survival, First Aid, Survival at Sea, and even systems management. So you can see that the NEOCS are kept extremely busy whilst here. During our time here at HMAS Creswell J and I have seena lot of officers come and go. They appear to be reposted about every 18 months to 2 years.

Back to the NECOS.....I remember the first weekend that this current class of NEOCS was given leave. Friday afternoon arrived and they were excited to finally have a weekend off. Some were heading home (if they could communte over the weekend that is) and the rest were hitting the town and because the weather was much warmed back then they went surfing and fishing and made the most of their first leave. Monday morning came and it was interesting to hear the tales of that weeekend lol.

That first six months is really aimed at teaching the NEOCS to live within a community. When I though about this it would be strange to suddenly eat, work, study and socialize with strangers and expect the situation to be a harmonous one so teaching skills which reflect on living communially takes place without anyone thinking about it and before they know it they have made new friends (known as divisional mates) and are supporting each other. We were here for the last several graduations and it is two days of excited families, proud Mums and Dads and even prouder Naval Officers. These young people will graduate and be recognised as Royal Australian Naval Junior Officers and be stationed elsewhere immediately. They will all attend ADFA at some stage. (Australian Defence Force Academy) to undertake a degree. I had wondered what would happen in this case and was told that most people sign up to the Navy for six to nine years and however, after completing two years of their degree they have to serve in the Navy, known as Return fo Service Obligation. I imagine this ensures that the Navy get a return on their investment made in the individual's education as there are no HECS fees to the individual and all costs are paid for by the Navy. The remainder of the degree is finished part time. When I talked to the NEOCS about their plans they were so excited to have this plan available. Their intended degrees varied from engineering to business and their sense of adventure was very obvious. We wish them all well and hope that the leaders of tomorrow enjoy and learn at every step along the journey,

Good luck girls and guys!