By BRIDGET SCOTT
A NARRE Warren South resident is making waves as she moves closer toward her goal to become a maritime warfare officer.
Earlier this montj, Shasiqah Shariff Ali graduated from the Australian Naval College where she took her first steps toward representing the country.
At only 18 years of age, Shasiqah said: “The first time I ever thought about joining the military was during career week in 2010.”
It was after this she did some serious investigation as to what the occupation involved.
“I went to an open day and spoke to family and friends and decided it was something I would like to do,” said Shasiqah.
After applying in 2010, her application was approved and she was accepted in 2012.
While the road towards her ultimate goal is long, the first stage is over, having just completed 20 weeks in the Australian Naval College.
Shasiqah explained the different work she had to do while in the college, which included initial training, basic navigation, boat work and small arms training.
She said the benefits of being at the college went beyond training her to be in the Navy.
“Within three weeks of being in the Navy I’d travelled the places I wanted to in Australia,” she said.
Shasiqah is now at her next posting, where she has already begun phase one of her junior warfare application course.
Stage one started earlier this week and will go for nine weeks.
She said this part of the course will involve more “intense navigation work and learning the basic skills of how to become a war officer”.
While the training has been intense, Shasiqah has recognised the unique opportunities this chance has given her.
“It’s the opportunities that you get – I did fire fighting and learned how to deal with floods,” she said.
“I did adventure training and other really exciting stuff that you wouldn’t get to do in civilian life.”
The young sailor also said the training has allowed her to create more relationships both personal and professional, that she wouldn’t have otherwise.
“I’ve met people and become really close,” said Shasiqah.
After the current stage of her course is complete, the teen must then do an arts degree in Canberra before she can become fully qualified.
Shasiqah said she was excited about what the future holds.
