DIVING OFFICER READY TO GO TO SEA

By Simone Millar Senior Communications Adviser (North)

Midshipman Kalani Doole

The 19-year-old is one of 27 officers who have graduated Junior Officer Common Training (JOCT) at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland.

MID Doole grew up in Coromandel Town and started diving when he was 16 years old, which has taken him on deep dives to locations including ship wrecks and the Poor Knights.

“I joined the Navy due to my passion for diving. The Navy gives me so much opportunity to progress my passion and it gives me a chance to travel the world. I think the Navy really gives me the chance to become the best version of myself,” says Midshipman Doole.

The JOCT course is the first training officers undertake in the RNZN. The 21-week course takes men and women from a civilian life, to learning core military, mariner and leadership skills.

“We have some outstanding junior officers in the Navy. JOCT trains and tests their fitness, resilience, discipline and leadership skills, along with teaching sea survival and defence studies,” says RNZN Fleet Personnel and Training Course Officer, Lieutenant Hannah Parry.

MID Doole was head student at Coromandel Area School and says it gave him a taste of what it meant to become a leader.

“My experience with leadership at school was really valuable. We also did a lot of navigation on water at school which I really enjoyed. And now, the Navy is the perfect place for me to develop these skills,” says MID Doole. The Midshipman will be embarking on his Initial Sea Time training soon, before becoming a Warfare Mine Clearance Diving Officer.

The entire JOCT intake had the rare opportunity to embark in HMNZS CANTERBURY for Exercise Mahi Tahi, an amphibious exercise based out of Fiji earlier this year. The deployment incorporated elements of command and leadership courses normally conducted at Tamaki Leadership Centre, Whangaparāoa.

“It really gave me an experience of what life it like on a ship. It reinforced that I’ve made the right decision to join the Navy and I can’t wait to get back to sea,” he says.