Aviation technician Sergeant Nathan Butt has been awarded a US Army Commendation Medal by the US Secretary of the Army for exemplary leadership, professionalism and commitment during Exercise RIMPAC.
In July 2022, Sergeant Butt, of 11 Squadron, took part in the first Australia/US Navy (USN) P-8A Poseidon maintenance interoperability trial during RIMPAC 2022 in Hawaii, US.
This trial involved maintenance personnel from USN Patrol Squadron Forty (VP-40) and RAAF's 11 Squadron at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.
Reflecting on the trial, Commanding Officer 11 Squadron Wing Commander Adam Saber outlined Sergeant Butt's efforts.
"Sergeant Butt demonstrated the kind of energy and attention to detail required to work through extensive regulatory and licensing limitations," he said.
"His efforts directly led to major advances in us achieving our interoperability goal, and his recognition from our major ally is very well deserved."
This activity marked a significant milestone in advancing a maintenance interoperability arrangement. It also informed the decision for RAAF to adopt USN servicing and document tasks on USN forms as the agreed procedure for maintenance support requests.
The primary objectives of the trial were to determine the regulatory requirements for certification and documentation of maintenance, understand the differences between RAAF and USN maintenance and servicing procedures, and conduct a walkthrough of the USN daily inspection on a RAAF P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
"The ability to seamlessly integrate with the US Navy has been a core goal of 11 Squadron since the introduction of the P-8A Poseidon," Wing Commander Saber said.
"As the geopolitical environment has changed, our need to integrate has increased."
Sergeant Butt clearly participated with enthusiasm, engaging with USN maintainers and facilitating discussions with the USN VP-40 maintenance controller. These discussions helped build confidence in their ability to conduct servicing as prescribed by USN procedures.
This trial not only highlighted the dedication and skills of Sergeant Butt but also underscored the importance of international cooperation in enhancing military capabilities.
