Aug-Sep 2013, Issue 174 - Royal New Zealand Navy

A Navy life for meFrom Ordinary Radio Operatorto Lieutenant CommanderLT CDR Jan Kingham, Recruit Training Officer, HMNZS PHILOMEL, describes her 31years (and still counting) in the Navy and how it is possible to have a Navy career anda family and a lot of fun along the way.Some 2500 years ago, the Greek philosopher Heraclitusfamously said that the only constant in life is change. Ofcourse this also applies to our Navy and one change inparticular that continues to generate much discussion, perhapseven polarising, is the role of women. I have no doubt yourown view will depend very much on your own experiences andattitude. That is great. Hold that thought while over the next fewparagraphs I take you on a journey; a ‘short deployment if I may’,where I will give you a brief glimpse of my experiences.Before you turn the page in lack of interest let me just start bysaying I have just celebrated 31 years in a naval uniform and haverecently received the New Zealand Armed Forces Award. Yes, 31years, and in that time I have held every rank from Ordinary Rateto Warrant Officer and since commissioning in 2003 I have climbeda couple of rungs on a different ladder. Today I am a LieutenantCommander and I am the first woman to hold the post of RecruitTraining Officer. I will reassure you this is not a blow-by-blow diaryaccount of 31 years. But it is my story, and, as sailors, we all love ‘agood dit’! As Recruit Training Officer my primary role is to overseethe Basic Common Training (BCT) of the Navy’s newest sailors, andI am often asked this question by the new recruits: “Ma’am, howlong have you been in the Navy?” I enjoy watching the expressionon their faces as I proudly (yes, proudly!) inform them that Ihave been in the Navy for 31 years. I hold my head high when Iemphasise to every recruit that a career in the Navy can be a longand interesting one, if you want it to be, and this applies to male,female, young and even the not-so-young.I remember vividly my own BCT course; this young lass fromDunedin who, together with 28 other young ladies gathered atHMNZS TAMAKI (as it was then) in July 1982, was herded likesheep into Duchess Division. We were nervous, excited, andlooking for adventure. At the end of eight weeks BCT we graduatedand along the way I collected the prize for Best Kit. We still awardthis prize and yes, I do have a quiet chat with the recipient at eachBCT graduation!OUR PEOPLE11