Mar 20th 2008 - ASCS Jakob Skiffington
I am a 22 year old Able Seaman Combat Specialist on HMNZS RESOLUTION and am currently the Chief Quartermaster onboard.
Although I am originally from the North Shore, I spent most of my teenage years in Warkworth, where I attended Mahurangi College, leaving school when I was 15. From there I gained a place at MTU on an automotive course and was employed at Cannon Motors. Even though I really enjoyed the job, I wanted a bit more adventure in my life so I joined the NZ Army and spent 2½ years in the Royal New Zealand Armoured Corp as a ‘Tankee’. Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed this job and liked the military lifestyle but I wanted to travel more and see the world.
So it was an easy move for me to join the RNZN, and with by Army background I chose the ‘Gunnery branch’, or more correctly the Seaman Combat Specialisation chose me!! I have served on HMNZS WAKAKURA and TE MANA as well as RESOLUTION and visited many ports including Hong Kong, Singapore, Samoa and various ports in New Zealand.
Image Right: ASCS Skiffington on watch as Quartermaster (NIS-04-078).