Blog update 1 - Sgt Matt Davies Training Down Under
By: Royal Air Force
Tags: Australia, Royal Air Force, Training, Raaf, Wedgetail

Blog update 1 - Sgt Matt Davies Training Down Under

Day before I departed.

My Career Background:

After qualifying as a Weapons Controller (WC) in 2014 I was posted to 1 Air Control Centre at RAF Scampton, where I deployed on numerous UK based exercises and Exercise MAGIC CARPET in Oman. I was assigned to No.47 Sentry Conversion Course in August 2015. Graduating in January 2016, I was subsequently posted to No. 8 Squadron as a WC and achieved Combat Ready (which qualified me to deploy across the Globe in support of operations) in October 2017. During my tour on No. 8 Squadron I deployed on Operation SHADER (Akrotiri, Cyprus); Exercise MAPLE FLAG (Cold Lake, Canada), Exercise ATLC (Abu Dhabi, UAE) and Exercise COALITION VIRTUAL FLAG (Albuquerque, USA). In December 2017 I was posted to No. 54 Squadron as a Sentry WC Qualified Rear Crew Instructor. I was awarded a Central Flying School B2 Instructor Category in February 2019 and achieved my B1 Category in December 2019. I also had the privilege to fulfil the WC standards role in April 2019. In my time on the E-3D Sentry AEW Mk1 Fleet I accumulated a total of 700 flying hours.

RAAF Base Williamtown, New South Wales, Australia.

My Reasons for Applying:

After completing my first deployment in support of Operation SHADER; the excitement, the challenge of the job and the satisfaction it provided, left me with no doubt that I wanted to remain within the airborne Command and Control environment for as long as possible. Sadly, with the E-3D Sentry drawing-down, it meant the opportunity to continue as an airborne WC was coming to an end. With the announcement that the E-3D was to be replaced by the E-7 Wedgetail, I knew straight away that I wanted to be part of bringing the aircraft into service with the RAF. Soon there was a request for WCs to go Australia and train with the RAAF to potentially be one of the first crew to operate the UK E-7 Wedgetail AEW Mk1.I knew this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass-up; now for the hard part, convincing my fiancée! When I told Danielle my training and subsequent posting would be based around two hours north of Sydney, surprisingly, she jumped at the opportunity.

The professional reward of integrating with the RAAF, bringing the aircraft into service with the RAF and the once in a lifetime opportunity of moving my fiancée and son Milo to Australia was too great an opportunity to miss!

View from my seat.

The Journey to Australia:

1st April - 31st May

Since COVID restrictions have been in-force, preparing for the big move “down-under” has become a lot more challenging. Trying to chase signatures and approvals from those working remotely has proved tricky, and with the travel restrictions imposed by the Australian government there has been a lot of uncertainty and a lot of unknowns! Sadly, our wedding was cancelled in early April and with the course start-date moving ever-closer, it was looking more and more likely that the move may not happen at all. It wasn’t all bad news though as I found out I had been promoted!

A lot of work from the staff at the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Force Headquarters (ISTAR FHQ) to ensure that a waiver was signed by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Chief of Air Force (CAF) and then approved by the New South Wales (NSW) government. This was my green light to travel and although I was elated, it was bittersweet as the waiver didn’t cover my family (which is completely understandable given the circumstances). As soon as restrictions are lifted in Australia my family will join me — hopefully without the need to quarantine for 14 days in a hotel room in Sydney, which is where I am now!

Boxes shipped and bags packed it was time to say goodbye (via Zoom of course) to the extended family, my fiancée Danielle and little boy Milo. It is tough not knowing when I’ll see them next, but we know it will ultimately be worth it in the end!

Empty flight.

An eerily quiet Heathrow awaited, this was followed by an equally deserted aircraft; a handful of passengers spread throughout the whole cabin and crew dressed in full head-to-toe protective equipment served as a good reminder of just how serious a situation we found ourselves in.

Outside of the hotel.

Fast-forward 24 hours and I’ve arrived! My first time in Australia and it has just dawned on me that I’m going to call it home for the next three years — crazy! I was greeted by friendly Australian Defence Force (ADF) troops at the airport who took my bags, ushered me onto a minibus and took me to my hotel. Here I remain, two days down 12 to go; looking forward to clearing quarantine and then the fun will really start!

Quarantine brekkie.

1st - 21st June

After being in quarantine for 14 days, I’m a free man! No ‘pom’ or ‘pommy’ jokes welcome — I’ve heard them all since my release. A negative COVID test — which isn’t a pleasant experience — on day 10 meant that on 0001 on 14th June, I could roam free. As draconian a measure it is to lock someone up for 14 days, it has certainly saved a lot of lives here in Australia. In the 14 days I was in quarantine not a single positive test was returned in the whole of New South Wales (NSW) and the only positive tests in the whole of Australia were returning travellers who were also quarantining. The end certainly justified the means, and I’d like to extend a big thanks to the Australian Defence Force (ADF)who are tasked with looking after all those in quarantine.

Collecting the car.

The elation of being released was soon met with trepidation, as the mammoth task that lay ahead now became a reality. My conversion course onto Wedgetail was due to start in a week. Finding a house, furnishing it, moving in, purchasing a car and generally sorting my life out, all had to happen within a week — challenge accepted! But first, time for a run and a visit to a gym. Life in New South Wales (NSW) feels a world-away (no pun intended) from the UK I left behind; the only restrictions that remain are a mandatory 1.5m social distancing rule and capacity restrictions for stadiums and outdoor venues.

Five minutes from the house.

Keys collected, furniture ordered and vehicle paid for — all in time for the weekend. Some drinks in Newcastle to catch up with the other Brits who are operating on Wedgetail. With the view from the bar overlooking the marina, my hotel room in Sydney suddenly seems like a distant memory. Time to head down to Corlette and move in, after a 10-minute drive and 10 different beaches passed, I think I have made a good choice with the location! Work tomorrow, I almost forgot….

View from the bar.

Next update to be published January 2021.