Sailor honoured to represent Australia

Leading Seaman Alyssa Clark serves on board landing helicopter dock HMAS Canberra, where she works as a flight deck marshaller and is part of a high-paced team that provides support to the ship’s flight operations.

CAPTION: Leading Seaman Alyssa Clark on the flight deck of HMAS Canberra as the ship conducts Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022. Story and photo by Petty Officer Christopher Szumlanski.

After missing Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2020 due to illness, Leading Seaman Clark said she was thrilled to be selected to sail with the Australian Defence Force and take part in the first RIMPAC exercise of her naval career.

“I feel honoured to be a part of RIMPAC and representing Australia. It is a unique opportunity to meet new people from the many other nations involved and I’m proud to be one of many sharing the Australian culture,” Leading Seaman Clark said.

“I hope to build relationships with the other nations and gain an understanding of the similarities and differences, not only between the many forces and ourselves, but also between each of the countries and cultures in a more general sense.

“Being in the aviation environment, I am fortunate enough to get the opportunity to work closely alongside the United States Marine Corps and their aircraft during this RIMPAC Sea Phase.

“This provides not only myself, but the aviation department with the chance to exchange valuable knowledge and practices in order to enhance our capabilities on the flight deck and set us in good stead for future deployments and collaborations.”

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