From the 24-27th September, the RAAF Women in Aviation Flight Camp was held at East Sale RAAF base in Victoria. The camp participants were 16 young women from 16-24 years of age, coming from all over the country to experience life in the Air Force. Two Merici students, Jade Esler and Grace Howse participated in the camp and have offered their reflection on their experiences.
Jade Esler, Year 11
We were provided with a taste of life as an officer aviation in the RAAF. This included many opportunities to experience not only what being a pilot would be like, but also an Air Battle Manager (ABM), Air Combat Officer (ACO), Operations Officer (OPSO) and an Air Traffic Controller (ATC). Between all of these activities, we also participated in leadership and team-work skill building activities, an example physical fitness assessment (PFA), marching drills, and had the opportunities to talk to many inspirational RAAF personnel, and to gain a better understanding of the application and selection processes. For all of us, this was an incredible experience and was very influential in deciding future career options.
I personally have a very strong interest in being a pilot, and so my favourite activities were those where we were exposed to life as a pilot. Being able to sit in the cockpit of a brand-new, as of yet unreleased, PC-21 training and roulette aircraft was an amazing opportunity. On a similar level of amazement, the multi-million dollar, 360 degree, full cockpit PC-21 simulator was phenomenal. We were also able to get airborne in a King air 604 and a search and rescue helicopter, and talking to the pilots of these aircraft was also a very valuable experience.
This camp is one of many initiatives by the RAAF to increase diversity in the force, and to encourage a larger percentage of females in aviation roles. As Group Captain Tan (Senior ADF Officer of RAAF base East Sale) told us, diversity of thought is the only way that the Air Force, and indeed any organisation, will be able to move forward into the future with creative and intuitive solutions to problems that arise. A new generation and a higher female representation would bring an entirely new perspective to current and future challenges the air force could be faced with. This idea was heavily evidenced by our approaches to officer training leadership activities. We came up with solutions and ways of solving problems that the staff had never seen done before, and whether they worked or not, the new approach and new ways of doing things is what the Air Force is trying to encourage in its current and future personnel. The only way that this will change, and that diversity will be increased, is by exposing people to the options available; the main objective of this camp.
This experience has been incredibly influential in determining potential career options for me. I had never really considered joining the military, but now that I have seen and experienced the opportunities available it has become quite a likely possibility and an avenue that I am excited to explore. I would strongly recommend this experience to anyone who is considering aviation or the military in general, and I can guarantee that it will open your eyes to things you never knew were possible.
Grace Howse, Year 10
The RAAF Aviation Work Experience was an incredible experience. The aviation camp has assisted me in identifying the wide range of aviation role in the Air Force. The most exciting experiences on camp were meeting many amazing and supportive RAAF staff, making friends with likeminded people, flying in the King air aeroplane, flying in the search and rescue helicopter and having many opportunities in the PC -21 flight simulators.
