Family flocks to Navy

For most recruits, graduating from the RAN Recruit School is an event shared with family watching proudly.

For SMN Jodie Broomham and her daughter, SMN Skye Broomham, it was a moment experienced side by side, marching out together as part of GE447 Emms Division’s graduation at HMAS Cerberus.

The pair from Gladstone, Queensland, are possibly the first mother and daughter to graduate from recruit school in the same division, making their achievement a unique chapter in Navy's history.

Following in the footsteps of one of her sons and two daughters currently serving, Jodie initially started at the school in 2024 but returned home midway through training due to family circumstances.

With the support of her husband, she decided to return and complete what she had started.

“I knew I enjoyed it,” Jodie said.

“My husband said, 'Why don't you go back and finish it off and do what you wanted to do?’”

At the same time, her daughter Skye was progressing through her own application to join Navy.

When they received their enlistment dates, they discovered they would be starting at the school together. While excited, Jodie admitted she was initially unsure how the experience would unfold.

“Out of all of our family, me and Skye were the ones who clashed the most,” Jodie said.

“But we're very lucky to have gone through this experience together.”

Recruit school challenged both women in different ways. For Skye, the initial adjustment to military life proved the biggest hurdle.

“It was a culture shock," she said. “Making friends was probably the best part, but learning everything and adapting to the environment was definitely the biggest challenge.”

For Jodie, separating her role as a recruit from her instincts as a mother proved to be a unique challenge.

“I wanted her to experience it herself, so I tried to keep away from Skye as much as I could,” she said.

“But everything I was going through, she was going through as well, and as a mother that’s hard to switch off.”

Despite giving each other space during training, they became each other's greatest supporters.

“I think it's made our relationship stronger,” Jodie said.

“I have a huge amount of respect for Skye. It was a challenge for her at the start, but seeing where she finished compared to where she started, I couldn't be prouder.”

Skye agreed the experience had changed their relationship for the better.

“I can open up to Mum a lot more now,” she said.

“At the end of the day I'd go and tell her everything that had happened. At home we probably wouldn't have done that.”

After completing the course, marching together at their graduation was a meaningful moment for Jodie.

“Just because you're older doesn't mean there's anything you can't achieve,” she said.

“I'm very grateful and very honoured to have had this opportunity.”

Now beginning the next stage of their Navy careers, the sailors will serve in different locations, with Jodie posted to Cairns and Skye to Sydney.

Skye is looking forward to life at sea and the opportunities that lie ahead.

“I really enjoy the routine,” she said.

“I'm very excited to get onto a ship and start doing my job.”

Reflecting on their shared experience, both encouraged others considering a career in the Navy to take the leap.

“Just do it,” Skye said. “I recommend it to anybody, young people or older people.

“Just be in the right rig, at the right place, at the right time, and be a good person.”

While their careers will now take them in different directions, RAN Recruit School has given the mother and daughter a bond few families can claim.

“It's something we'll always be able to share,” Skye said.

“That's something that will always be ours.”