Seaman by name and by rank

With the surname Seaman, Marine Technician Ryan Seaman was destined to join the Navy.

And his rank? He’s a Leading Seaman!

It’s the perfect name for a sailor, and one that draws plenty of comments from shipmates.

“People have a laugh, particularly when they hear it piped across the ship, and some don’t believe it’s my surname at first,” LS Seaman said.

“The irony is I don’t come from a Navy family.”

For the 25-year-old, who hails from Woongarrah on the New South Wales Central Coast, it was a high school friend keen on a military career who sparked LS Seaman’s interest in the Navy.

“I was doing well at school but was keen to move on so left at the end of Year 11,” he said.

“Navy looked like a good idea and I wanted a qualification so decided on an electrical trade.”

Three months of recruit school at HMAS Cerberus in April 2019 was followed by two years of study, with the sailor graduating in May 2021 as a marine technician.

HMAS Choules was LS Seaman’s first posting and has been his second home since.

He stayed on Choules until the end of 2024, was promoted to Leading Seaman, did further TAFE study and returned to Choules in August 2025.  

It is no surprise Choules is keen to keep LS Seaman given his important role as a marine systems manager and his good-natured willingness to work four-hour shifts – the ‘watches’ that no one would envy, running from midnight to 0400 (the ‘guts’ watch) and midday to 1600.

“We have four watchkeepers on our watch and I am responsible for the team,” LS Seaman said.

“We monitor the engines and propulsion systems that keep the ship sailing, plus we are responsible for systems that support amphibious operations and allow the embarked troops to go ashore.

“I also look after all the hydraulics systems on the ship, like the cranes and lifts.

“And as a ‘kellick’, I am also looking more at capability and the life cycle of systems, to plan maintenance and rectify defects.”

While LS Seaman’s parents took a bit of convincing about him leaving school early, they are proud of his successful career.

“I didn’t want to let them down, but I think they trusted me and knew I would find my feet,” he said.

Mum and Dad are also stoked their eldest son has found his future wife in the fleet. LS Seaman met fiancé AB Maddison Amoroso at HMAS Cerberus.

The boatswain’s mate is now at HMAS Kuttabul and the couple plan to marry in 2028, meaning Navy will boast an LS Seaman and an AB Seaman.

While his rank fits for now, it’s a sure bet LS Seaman will soon outgrow it, given the praise heaped by his supervisor PO Marine Technician Ryan Grima.

“His name and rank doesn’t do him justice,” PO Grima said.

“Leading Seaman Seaman is not only really good at his own job, he excels at other people’s jobs too. He won’t stay too long as a leading seaman.”