“You can’t expect people to feel normal doing these things because this is an abnormal activity around an abnormal event”, is how Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Tim Barrett, AM CSC RAN, described the challenges of Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET). Physically demanding and perso
Nine new aviators from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) were awarded their coveted “wings” on graduating from 848 Naval Air Squadron at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton. The ceremony was the culmination of many years of hard work and was the final hurdle in their flying training before becoming
Australian Defence Force personnel, aircraft and a naval vessel responded to a request for assistance, after an emergency beacon was detected off the east coast. Rescue Coordination Centre – Australia requested the assistance, and in response, the Royal Australian Air Force dispatched a C-130J Hercu
Secretary of Defence & Urban Development, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa declared open the Malima Lake Front Rest at Kantale on 19th April 2013. Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage, Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Damayantha Dharmasiriwardene and Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rea
Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD 2013 was conducted on the South China Sea, Singapore and the Malaysian Peninsula between 8-18 April. Australia was the only nation to deploy a submarine in support of Exercise BERSAMA SHIELD 2013. Commanding Officer of HMAS Dechaineux Commander Glen Miles said operating as th
Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) returned from an underway April 19, after a series of engineering drills and time spent preparing for a Mid-Cycle Material Assessment (MCMA). Carl Vinson will be the test pilot for the new assessment program in the coming months. The Mid-Cycle Material Asses
Sri Lanka Navy intercepted 80 persons illegally bound for Australia in a multi-day trawler on 21st April 2013. The trawler named “Emmanuwel” was intercepted by a Sri Lanka Navy’s Fast Naval Patrol Craft attached to the Northern Naval Command. Among the arrested are 38 men, 18 women and 24 children.
Twenty Benin service members received course completion certificates April 19 after completing a boarding team operations course onboard the Belgian navy command and logistical support ship BNS Godetia (A960). This milestone capps a nearly three months multi-lateral maritime capacity building that h
A multinational mine hunting exercise has taken place off the coast of Spain involving ships from Spain, France, Turkey and the Royal Navy. MINEX 13-1 tested NATO forces against a variety of threats such as fast attack craft and terrorist drones whilst dealing with a complex mine counter-measures ba
Sailors assigned to Naval Base Kitsap participated in a base-wide cleanup of NBK to commemorate Earth Day 2013, April 19. The Department of the Navy Earth Day theme for 2013 is “Global Reach – Local Action.” The theme is meant to encourage Sailors to take local action to show the Navy’s dedication t
On Friday, the Australian Military Representative to NATO and the EU, Rear Admiral Allan Du Toit, attended a service at the Naval Memorial Commemorative Hall in Laboe, Germany, to help launch a display honouring Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer Ronald Allan Heffernan MacDonald DSM, who was lost a
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NASWI) Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC), Kathleen Schofield, was presented the Department of Defense (DoD) SARC of the Year award in a ceremony, April 19. Rear Adm. Mark Rich, commander Navy Region Northwest, presented the award, which recognizes individua
Close to a thousand family and friends gathered at Garden Island, Sydney to farewell HMAS Newcastle as she sailed for duties as part of Operation SLIPPER. Commander Australian Surface Forces, Commodore Jonathan Mead, AM RAN and the Ship’s Commissioning Lady Mrs Margaret McNaughton joined well wishes
The “Liu Gators”, a basketball team of Sailors from the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), participated in a basketball game April 18, during a Hong Kong port visit, with the students and faculty of Chong Gene Hang College (CGHC). CGHC, a co-ed government aided east district Hong Kong seco
