NAVY PEOPLE: MANLY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE RETURNS HOME AFTER TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Manly High School seems like a distant memory to Tara Longley as she and her 190 shipmates aboard HMAS Melbourne return to Sydney today.

They are just back from six months pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa. It’s been Tara’s first overseas deployment.

Tara, 25, now works as part of a highly trained team inside the frigate’s operations room, filled with radar screens and electronic warfare equipment.

Using information from this room, the ship’s command team prevented an act of piracy on a British flagged vessel in the beginning of January.

Tara joined the Navy in 2009, and has specialised as a Combat Systems Operator. She’s been promoted to Able Seaman, and has also trained in operating the Mini-Typhoon automated 0.50 calibre machine guns that provide cover during boarding operations.

“It has given me an opportunity to put all the skills I’ve learnt in to place in an operational environment,” said Tara.

“It’s been great to see places like Jordan, UAE and Bahrain that I never would have had a chance to visit.”

But Tara isn’t resting on her laurels. “I am starting my Masters of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism at Macquarie University when I get home.”

She hopes to be promoted to officer in years to come, specialising in naval intelligence.

Already a member of the Warringah Women’s Rugby Team, Tara is also looking forward to the chance to play for the Australian Services Rugby Team and represent the ADF at the Women’s National Championships later on in the year.

“I hope the physical and mental endurance that I discovered on deployment will transpire onto the football field!”