Our People in SA
Hayley Reed - Adelaide adventure-seeker serves Australia
Adelaide local Hayley Reed didn’t expect to be deployed on Operations, helping protect Australia when she elected to join the Navy for a period of twelve months after school.
“It’s amazing I’ve been ‘in’ for less than six months, and already on Operations with the Navy,” Hayley said.
The 18 year-old enlisted in February this year under the relatively new GAP Year scheme which allows high-school graduates to experience twelve months’ worth of adventure in the Service of their choice, prior to undertaking university studies or embark on another profession.
“The chance to try something new and different attracted me,” Hayley said. “And already the Navy has exposed me to so many exciting situations which I would never have experienced if I hadn’t joined.”
The 2008 Eynesbury College graduate, who was a member of the Adelaide University Rowing Club and previously worked part time at both McDonalds and JacquiE, has not lived a reserved life by any stretch of the imagination. But the year has still been one of many ‘firsts’ for Hayley.
“During the first half of this year I’ve trained to fire weapons, fight fires, tie knots and survive in a raft at sea,” Hayley said. “I’ve also been working at sea and travelled to many places in Australia I haven’t visited before… such as Darwin and Broome.”
Hayley is currently deployed on a Patrol Boat assigned to Operation RESOLUTE, protecting Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. This work involves patrolling the coastline and offshore areas to find and detain illegal foreign fishing vessels and people smugglers.
Hayley will finish up her Patrol Boat time soon and post to Sydney where she expects to gain further exposure to Navy life. Beyond 2009, Hayley plans to undertake medical studies at Adelaide University but is unsure of exactly what form that will take.
“I’m having so much fun,” she said. “Perhaps I’ll end up being a doctor in the Navy!”