At sea, some of the biggest threats are unseen.
Anchored a few metres below the surface, sea mines are capable of sinking vessels and shutting down ports.
To help counteract this threat, two Royal Australian Navy sailors recently participated in the Royal Navy's advanced mine warfare course at HMS Collingwood in England.
Warrant Officer Jason Lockard and Chief Petty Officer Narelle Cochrane attended the eight-week training on how a maritime task group could plan for, and eliminate, the threat posed to maritime security and stability by sea mines.
Warrant Officer Lockard and Chief Petty Officer Cochrane learned planning considerations, including how to identify areas likely to be mined, best patterns of search to identify targets and best available disposal methods.
"The course is designed for us to conduct practical planning for the execution of mine warfare operations," Warrant Officer Lockard said.
"Doing it alongside some Five Eyes partners who we may need to work with in the future made it realistic."
Both sailors are now qualified to work as mine warfare planners within maritime task groups.
During the course, students conducted a final training serial at the Mine Warfare Centre for Excellence in Ostend, Belgium.
They worked as a task group to identify targets against a computer-simulated mine warfare threat.
After the threats were identified, participants assigned assets such as clearance divers or mine clearance vessels.
"I am looking forward to using my new knowledge and skills to overcome challenges with mine countermeasures operations," Chief Petty Officer Cochrane said.
"Being able to contribute to advancements in our mine warfare tactics and strategies benefits my whole workforce."
