By CDTCPO Lucas Fryer
Images: CDTCPO Fryer and CDTPO Keira Muir-White
The Australian Navy Cadets' annual Fleet Engagement Camp is where cadets get to see a broad range of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) ships and conduct team building and leadership activities and exercises with Navy personnel, as well interact with the NSW Police Force Maritime Area Command.
It has become a major success since it began in 2022.
So successful that applications for places at the camp are over-subscribed every year.
84 cadets and their adult support staff spent two days aboard HMAS Adelaide, a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) ship, in April before disembarking to Sydney’s Cockatoo Island for five days, where an RAN landing craft was ready early morning to transport them across Sydney Harbour to take in everything the Navy has to offer.
‘Everything’ included a visit to the guided missile destroyer HMAS Brisbane, to HMAS Penguin where Navy Physical Training Instructors created a mini-Olympics on Balmoral Beach, to HMAS Watson and the impressive bridge simulator. All amazing experiences.
At HMAS Waterhen, the cadets were shown how maritime boarding operations are conducted, and later had a ‘friendly’ catch up with the Military Police. All cadets returned to Cockatoo Island for lunch and caught up with Commodore David Greaves RAN, the Director General of the ANC, and Commodore Grant O’Loughlan, the Deputy Director of ADF Cadets and Support Services, who shared stories about their time in the Navy.
Traversing the beauty of Sydney Harbour every day was a first for many cadets, some of whom had never been to the city before.
Having the sea ride of a lifetime in a NSW Water Police fast Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIBs) was the ultimate for many cadets, including Cadet Warrant Officer Ava Fitzgerald from Brisbane. The NSW Water police RHIBs are specialised tactical vessels and are an impressive bit of kit.
“That was definitely one of the highlights of this camp,” Ava said.
“We’ve all had a great time engaging with Navy, and as the week has progressed, I have seen a massive change in how the cadets have come together in their divisions and how they have learnt from each other and of each other’s experiences in the ANC.”
Cadet Warrant Officer Nikolas Klonis Fuentes, from Sydney, said the highlight for him was the mini Olympics held at Balmoral beach.
“The Navy Physical Training Instructors were great and the various events they had arranged, including the paddle boarding, had everyone working together as a team.” Nikolas said.
“It is amazing to see the number of cadets that asked me for leadership advice and advice on promotion and for tips or tricks to help them.
“Cadets see us (Warrant Officer) as an inspiration to aim for.”
Nikolas has been so impressed by his Navy Cadet experience and what Navy has to offer that he has decided to pursue a career in Navy and aims to join as a Surface Warfare Officer once he finishes Year 12, at the end of the year.
Another highlight of the week was the chance to stay aboard a warship, one of the Royal Australian Navy’s LHD’s, HMAS Adelaide. Once through the mandatory safety briefings, cadets were given a five-star tour of one of the Navy’s largest ships, and later participated in a moving ceremonial sunset ceremony overlooking the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
How many teenagers can say they have achieved that feat?
Teamwork was the order of the day throughout the camp, but none more so than when Lieutenant Commander Sally Casey RAN brought her team from the Leadership Management and Development Centre to put the cadets through their paces. The Leadership Management and Development Centre located at HMAS Penguin is responsible for training and development programs for Navy, and they do an excellent job also in exposing cadets to a range of leadership exercises.
“This is the second year we have taken part, and cadets get a lot out of the development programs we run,” Lieutenant Commander Casey said.
“My Navy Staff also get a lot out of working with the cadets and engaging with them, so there’s mutual benefits all-round.”
Petty Officer Nathan Pike, took cadets through a number of challenging leadership and teambuilding exercise.
“A very positive response and a lot of engagement from everyone,” he said.
“They (Cadets) were asking a lot of questions, ‘can we do this, can we do that,’ and we then had a Q&A session about the Navy and how they could possibly fit in. It was a great day.”
Chief Petty Officer Amanda Hutchinson had another role, interacting with the sessions. Chief Petty Officer Hutchinson is the lead on many promotion courses and uses her skillset to pass on some great advice to tomorrow’s young leaders.
“My job was to pick the lowest ranks and get them to take charge of various exercises, whilst at the same time getting the senior ranks to understand how to listen to the lower ranks,” Chief Petty Officer Hutchinson said.
“I asked every single group if they had any intentions of joining the navy, and I spoke with one of the girls about my experience in Navy and she told me she wanted to join as a communicator.”
After seeing what Navy has to offer and the exceptional training provided, there were many cadets who said they are considering joining Navy one day.
The visit of a Romeo Seahawk helicopter from 816 Squadron at HMAS Albatross on the NSW south coast had cadets drooling about becoming a pilot, Air Warfare Officer or maybe an aircrewman. Making its loud arrival, before being visited by a swarm of eager cadets and then an equally loud departure and salute to the cadets perched on a gantry high above the landing site; it was another great day to remember.
The events came thick and fast, with early morning starts and lights out early as well, with cadets eager to know what was in store the next day.
HMAS Brisbane hosted the cadets one morning, with a bridge visit and a quick trip to the junior sailors' mess, where badges, caps, T-shirts and other goodies were all snapped up.
Cadets had lunch at HMAS Kuttabul, and off they went again on another adventure.
“How many of you are tired?” Commodore Greaves, RAN asked cadets as they lined up before the VIP lunch. A few hands went up.
“But how many of you have enjoyed this Fleet Engagement Camp?” he then asked.
Everyone’s hand went up.
“It’s important we engage as much as they engage,” one RAN member at the lunch said. “They are our future.”