From Army to Navy
Brendon Watts says he enjoyed the Army, but “saw the light” when he did joint electrical technician training with Navy personnel. Today, Able Electronics Technician Watts is still loving his trade, but now as a Navy sailor, posted to HMNZS CANTERBURY. “I joined the Army in 2016, straight out of Western Heights College in Rotorua,” he says. “I wanted to be in the police force originally, and I talked to an Armed Offenders officer, to get some idea of direction. He told me, join the military – that’s what he had done.”
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He spent four years in the Army, with two of those working towards his trade qualification alongside Electronic Technicians from the Navy. “And that’s when I saw the light. These guys I was on the course with, they were talking to me about where they had been, what they were doing, and where they were going. I loved the Army, and I loved being in the workshops, but the only place you got sent to was Waiouru. These guys had already been to South East Asia. It just grabbed me. I wanted to do that, to be able to travel more.” It wasn’t too big a change to switch services, he says. “My command chain was really good putting a service change proposal together, and they helped me as much as they could. It was all pretty smooth.” What helped was they saw he was keen and had a plan. “I had that drive, that this was what I wanted to do. I made a plan, a schedule, and they saw that.”
He had to retrain in the Navy elements of his job, and then do the Damage Control course and Seamanship courses. “And it’s just being here now, on base and on ship, where you pick up on certain things that the Navy do. Even ‘jack-speak’ (Navy slang).” He’s been in HMNZS CANTERBURY since June, just after the first COVID-19 lockdown. “I’m really enjoying it. The camaraderie is pretty good, and there’s three hot meals and a shower.” He says NZDF personnel are supported in decision-making like this. “It’s really good to have had command back my decision. Now I’m happy to get through the ranks, and get some time under my belt.”
