Australia

The fame of the name

By Jacqueline Klimas on July 11, 2012 Australia, Humor, Navy, Navy Personnel Command, Recruiting

Cmdr. Flex Plexico has been widely recognized for having one of the coolest names in the Navy, and now his fame has stretched all the way Down Under. Plexico, spokesman for Navy Recruiting Command in Millington, Tenn., was ranked seventh on a list of the top 25 most unusual names by the Daily Dot, in between Dutch politician Tiny Kox and Australian submarine designer Hans Ohff. The list, which notes Plexico’s name would be good for a WWE wrestler, was culled from the @NameCurator Twitter feed, where Australia resident Ben Osborne posts funny, unique names of real people. It’s the latest…

Stuck in port? It can happen to you

By Gidget Fuentes on June 22, 2012 Australia, Ships, The Pacific

A navy ship stuck in port for maintenance? Yes, but not the U.S. Navy this time. Down Under this past week, one of Australia’s newer ships developed problems with its propulsion system, according to reports. The amphibious landing ship HMAS Choules was heading from Sydney for a scheduled exercise in Queensland when the ship lost half its power, forcing the ship to return to Sydney. The 16,000-ton Choules is relatively new to the Royal Australian Navy, but it’s not a brand new ship. Australia bought the ship in December from the Brits – the Largs Bay operated in the fleet since…

Aussie Navy is hiring

By Sam Fellman on May 8, 2012 Australia, Navy

Interested in sailing with the Royal Australian Navy? The U.S. Navy may be cutting jobs, but the Australian Navy is adding new ships — and seeking former U.S. sailors and officers to crew them. “The Royal Australian Navy welcomes enquiries from both officers and sailors who are interested in a new career and new life in Australia,” the Australian defense department said in its recruitment posting. “In the coming decade, the RAN is delivering new capabilities in amphibious warfare, air warfare and also helicopter systems.” They’re looking for submariners, medical officers and technicians, among others. Aegis experts are needed aboard…

Looking for new job … and country?

By Bill McMichael on January 12, 2012 Australia, Navy, Photos, Recruiting

The U.S. Navy is obviously downsizing and by many accounts losing some darn good sailors in the convoluted process — all due to the ongoing economic downturn and pressure on overall defense spending. Staunch ally Great Britain is facing the same sorts of pressures and trimming its forces. Meanwhile, the military of another strong ally, Australia, is struggling to recruit enough able bodies — so much so that according to this report, the Royal Australian Navy has sent a delegation to Britain to hunt for engineers and submariners who’ve been cut from the force. One study cites a need for…

Down Under, memories of another ‘Pearl Harbor’

By Gidget Fuentes on November 25, 2011 Australia, Historical, Liberty, Navy, The Pacific

No doubt the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor stands out as a critical turning point in our nation’s history. Next month, we mark the 70th anniversary, and the nation will join countless veterans and service members in recalling the sacrifice from that day and the amazing generation that stepped up and answered the nation’s call. Such pivotal moments are shared by U.S. allies including the Australians, who are strengthening their ties and military relationship with the United States that goes back 60 years to World War II with an alliance that’s remained solid – and popular among U.S. sailors and Marines…

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