Sailor studies at sea for degree

Royal Australian Navy Lieutenant Rob McLaughlin worked under pressure and under water during his law studies.

Lt McLaughlin, who will graduate with his University of Queensland Bachelor of Law in August, completed part of his degree while at sea as a torpedo officer.

Now stationed in Canberra, he can laugh about his experience as an external student on surface ships and submarines.

'The worst thing that happened was when I was sitting an exam at sea. I was on a surface ship at that time,' he said.

'The second-in-command would give me the exam and supervise me in the sonar control room. It was a sea state four, that means it was pretty rough with waves around two to four metres.

'I remember sitting there trying to do this family law exam while being thrown from side to side. I was trying to hold everything on the table but books and pens and papers kept falling off.

'Thankfully, I passed anyway.'

Lt McLaughlin said weighty law tomes also caused problems with luggage limitations onboard the submarines.

'We only have one drawer or a foot locker, so I could only take one subject on board at a time,' he said.

'The only available space for swotting was in the torpedo compartment, where the 178cm lieutenant would jury-rig a bunk or use the navigation table to spread out papers.

'My first job was looking after the submarine. As a torpedo officer, I was in charge of weapons and handling so if there were any problems I had to work.

'Your time is very fragmented when you're at sea by the watch-keeping routine. You keep two six-hour watches a day. You've got three to four hours work in administration, divisions and meals. Then two to three hours of sleep twice a day.

'Study fitted in whenever it could. When we're on the surface we had more time.'

Lt McLaughlin said next year he would be back at sea.

'I'll keep doing that until I don't enjoy it any more then I'll see if I can turn my degree to use.'

Lt McLaughlin began a combined Bachelor of Arts and Law in 1986. He finished his Bachelor of Arts with honors in History then joined the navy.

While at sea, he studied external subjects and returned to finish his degree with one year full-time at the St Lucia campus.

For further information contact Lieutenant Rob McLaughlin 06 2688528