THE NAVY RESERVIST - Royal Australian Navy

NAVY RESERVIST 5
ARE you looking for a change of PQ or just
a PQ?
Do you enjoy demanding and challenging
work but with potential for a wide range of
opportunities and the feeling of a job well
done?
Then you may wish to consider a second
career – in Operational Logistics (OPLOG).
OPLOG involves managing the processes
necessary to move PMC (Passengers, Mail
and Cargo) from a forward location to fleet
units operating away from home base.
The Reserve is currently looking for
suitable people interested in a career in
forward logistics support. OPLOG offers
the opportunity for Reservists to provide a
valuable contribution to defence capability. It
is a rewarding career choice for those with a
suitable background, the right aptitude and a
desire to serve.
The requirement for the OPLOG organisation
was first identified in 2004 by the Supply
community under the Supply Officer ten year
plan, SO2013. The community determined
that, given the right training, Reservists with
the right background could provide a valuable
contribution in an operational logistics role.
The timing for creating the capability tied in
perfectly with the Defence White Paper which
endorsed the government’s policy for a bigger
navy, with larger ships and greater capability.
domestic and international exercises,
be assigned to operations and assist in
humanitarian relief.
After completing initial training, OPLOG
officers will attend the two-week long
initial operations logistics course (IOLC).
This will be followed by on-the-job training
and assessment consisting of a series of
competency-based tasks contained within
a Work Experience Journal (WEJ). Tasks
include participation in logistics planning,
coordination of front end logistics support to
ships and making necessary arrangements
for port visits for Fleet Units away from home
base.
An OPLOG PQ will be awarded to those who
successfully complete the IOLC and WEJ.
The first IOLC was held at HMAS Cairns last
April and the six candidates passed. During
Exercise Talisman Saber, they were deployed
Streaming the log
By CMDR John Willy and LEUT Anthony Gilmour
to Brisbane, Rockhampton and Townsville to
provide the necessary shore support.
The development of the new OPLOG branch
is already a success. As the capability
grows, the ability to provide a surge capacity
whenever required, at sea or ashore, will
increase dramatically.
While the pilot IOLC members were all
serving Reservists, future recruiting plans
to target civilians “off the street”, as well as
lateral transfers by Reservists. People with
a logistics or supply background or working
in the maritime industry are ideally suited
for OPLOG. However, equally important
are the soft skills: good people skills,
assertiveness, excellent time management
and organizational skills, ability to recognize
priorities and common sense and logic.
The next IOLC is planned to take place in the
first half of 2010.
While the capability is in its infancy, OPLOG
personnel will mainly deploy to commercial
ports around Australia to provide the “port
services” support needed during fleet unit
port visits. They will work for the Port Services
Managers. However, as the capability matures,
Reserve ‘loggies’ will be deployed overseas to
work in logistic support elements or forward
operational sites. The Navy’s acquisitions plan
places a demand for Reserve personnel to
be at the forefront of future logistics support.
‘Loggies’ will provide that front end support.
As the capability matures, OPLOG personnel
will be given chances to travel, work in
different environments, participate in
In future, OPLOGSs will play a vital role in tasks like this as HMAS Tobruk loads humanitarian stores.
The Navy Reservist - ISSUE #2