In a first for the Navy warfare community, recent graduates of the Basic Combat Systems Operators – Mine Warfare (CSO-MW) Session 012 got to experience training with autonomous underwater vehicles.
Officer in Charge Lieutenant Commander Simon Abley said the unique training gave sailors a competitive edge to be able to carry out their role at sea, contributing to Defence’s integrated and focused force.
“This is the inaugural class to undertake the Basic Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) course conducted by the Australian Maritime College in Tasmania, as a component of the Basic CSO-MW training,” he said.
“The training has evolved to provide our sailors with the technical mastery to operate AUV to meet the requirements of an expanding mine warfare capability.”
The Mine Warfare Faculty (MWF) hosted the Head of Warfare Community Commodore Philip Stanford at the graduation ceremony, which was also attended by special guests, family and friends at HMAS Waterhen.
Lieutenant Commander Abley said it was the largest class to graduate since May 2021.
“This class came together through community outreach within Navy Employment Category Development Branch, Career Management-Navy and the MWF,” he said.
The MWF provides training to all mine warfare personnel from trainee sailors to principal warfare officers. It also provides the engineering-specific courses for technical sailors working on minehunter coastal vessels.
Commodore Stanford attended the significant occasion to award the Navy Warfare Community Medallion (WCM) to the most recent recipient, Seaman Cooper Lee.
“The WCM is an integral component of the Navy warfare community mission, ‘A capable and integrated warfare community with a strong esprit de corps and a positive reputation amongst the RAN and wider ADF’,” Commodore Stanford said.
The WCM is a Head of Warfare Community initiative established in 2007 as a means of recognition within the Navy warfare community.
“The WCM is a mechanism to recognise excellence within a significant warfare employment category course,” Commodore Stanford said.
“The award recipient is the course graduate who best exemplifies Defence values whilst on course.”
Congratulations also goes to Seaman Cody Swinden who was presented the course dux award.
