Whakatāne sailor achieves Navy dream

Ordinary Marine Technician (OMT) Bishop, 18, graduated among 54 men and 17 women from Basic Common Training intake 25/02 at a joint officer and sailor graduation at Devonport Naval Base in Auckland at the weekend.

Born in Hāwera, Taranaki, OMT Bishop grew up in Whakatāne. At Trident High School’s Service Academy, he got an idea of military basics, with discipline, marches and week-long camps involving basic training.

But he had always dreamed of being in the Navy.

“My dad was an engineer on fishing boats for a lot of his life and it was a role I wanted to follow, plus serve New Zealand, so I thought the Navy was a great choice for me. Since Year 9 I always pushed myself for good grades so I could achieve this goal.”

A love of finding out how things worked by taking them apart and reassembling them also pointed to a marine technician (MT) trade. His goal is to add an ‘L’ (eLectrical) to his MT trade and become a qualified electrician.

OMT Bishop joined the Navy partway through his Year 13 schooling. He was also working 35 hours a week at a fast-food restaurant. His motivation was “work hard, play hard”, making the most of time off if it happened.

Working hard was a factor in the 15 weeks of basic training, he said.

“There have been many moments on this course that have been so fun and memorable.

“One training week on Whangaparāoa Peninsula we had to help defend the ‘Belesian Islands’ from the ‘Alvanians’, which meant making campsites and learning how to barricade them, and leading our team through evolutions to try and beat other classes.

“The key part of that week was when my division, Achilles, won the Efficiency Cup event – a long endurance race with sandbag carries, weapon dismantling and reconstruction, confidence course, tyre flip and a long equipment carry. 

“It felt like it lasted longer than it actually was.” 

OMT Bishop believes his family will notice his improved discipline and fitness following graduation.

“They’ll also see me eat my food in an instant from all the action ‘scran’ (food) training we’ve had. And I can clean very, very well – it’s all part of the ‘lead self’ training.”

His advice to others is put your foot down and give it your best shot.

“I’ve had this goal since I was a kid so the drive was there, so just set that goal and do whatever it takes.

“Even when we were all sore and hurting, we all look back and realise how much fun we were all having.”