June
New officers come through
THE morning of June 5 was a proud day at RAAF Base East Sale when 43 junior officers graduated from their 16-week Initial Officer Course (IOC 02/09). Forty-eight newly appointed junior officers started the course on February 16. Their number included three senior airmen who had decided to start a new career in the commissioned ranks.
Two students from opposite ends of the age spectrum were FLGOFF Clare Backwell and CHAP Dean Quilty, with almost 30 years separating their birth dates. FLGOFF Backwell, the youngest member, transferred from the Army to the Air Force after graduating from ADFA, and CHAP Quilty, the oldest, arrived with extensive experience as a minister from Canada. FLGOFF Backwell will now train as a logistics officer. She said she joined the military because she saw it as an interesting career that would enable her to gain valuable experiences and skills through the changing nature of service in the ADF.
CHAP Quilty is posted to the Combat Support Unit at East Sale as the base chaplain. He said that in this role, he looked forward to being able to assist in the mentoring and provision of support to future junior officers under training only months after having undergone similar experiences himself.
