Where are they now? Alex Roff

What year did you graduate? I graduated in 2005.

 

What were your senior subjects at Proserpine State High School? All of the fun ones! Maths B and Maths C, English, Chemistry, Physics and IT.

 

Favourite Proserpine State High School memory? I always enjoyed the school House sports days and have fond memories of various costumes and outfits being used, including my Dad (who was the principal) conducting an opening ceremony dressed as the queen on the back of a ute! The last week before graduation was also quite a special week, where we all began realising that this may be the last time we see each other for a while, reminiscing about the friendships formed over our school life. 

 

Where did life take you after you graduated? I conducted flight screening and an officer selection board in Year 11 to join the Defence Force when I graduated Year 12. I was successful in this flight screening and was offered a position at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) to go and study a Bachelor of Technology in Aeronautical Engineering (BTech Aero) as an Air Force pilot candidate. I moved to Canberra immediately after finishing high school to begin ADFA in January 2006, which was quite a life shock! I graduated ADFA in 2008 before my partner and I moved to Tamworth for flight school to begin in early 2009. 

I attended Basic Flying Training School (BFTS) flying the CT4-B aircraft, learning the basics of military flying before graduating mid-year to head to Perth to begin Secondary Flight Training School (2FTS). At 2FTS I learnt to fly the PC-9A turbo-prop aircraft and learnt how to conduct more advanced flying skills such as formation flying, instrument ratings, aerobatics and navigation. I graduated from 2FTS in June 2010 and was lucky enough to be streamed to Fast Jet.

I started Fast Jet training on the Hawk-127 at 79SQN in Perth in 2010 conducting Introductory Fighter conversion. After graduating and being posted to Newcastle for the start of 2011, I began the second stage of Fast Jet training at 76SQN, where you learn how to 'dogfight'. I graduated 76SQN and was then selected to conduct F/A-18F Super Hornet conversion in Amberley near Brisbane. I started Operational Conversion on the Super Hornet in Mid 2013 and graduated towards the end of 2013 before being posted to 1SQN - the operational Squadron for the Super Hornet. 

Towards the end of 2014, I was deployed to the Middle East to support the War on Terror fighting ISIS. I conducted approximately 25 combat missions over Iraq, gaining valuable combat experience. I remained at 1SQN flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet until mid 2017, at that time I was then offered the opportunity to convert onto the EA-18G Growler aircraft flying with the US Navy in Whidbey Island. The Growler is an Electronic Attack platform and is a Super Hornet variant. My wife and I moved to a town called Anacortes in Washington State in May 2017 and by the end of 2017 I had completed the conversion on the Growler and was posted to an operational US Navy SQN called VAQ-135 Black Ravens. 

I remained at the Black Ravens until the end of 2018, when we posted back to Australia in preparation for Air Warfare Instructor Course (AWIC) in 2019. AWIC is Australia's equivalent to the USN TOPGUN course, however with a much larger focus on multi-platform integration. I graduated AWIC in mid 2019 as Australia's first home grown Growler Tactics Instructor (GTI) and then assumed the position of 6SQN GTI for the next three years. 

I have since instructed on the 2022 and 2024 AWIC course, training our next generation of Growler Tactics instructors. In 2022, I was promoted to the rank of Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) and posted to the Air Warfare Centre as the Airborne Electronic Attack Subject Matter Expert (SME), and was the lead planner and scenario designer for the culminating exercise of AWIC24. At the end of AWIC24, I was posted back to 6SQN as a Flight Commander and was honoured to be awarded an A Category GTI Pilot certification (the highest category achievable) with over 1700 fast jet flying hours. 

 

What job position are you currently in? I am currently posted back to 6SQN at Amberley in Brisbane as the A-Flight Commander, responsible for ensuring that the SQN flying program meets the demands required for training and aircrew category progression. I have been lucky enough to have been flying Fast Jets now since 2011 and continue to do so. 

 

Tell us about why you picked a career in the Air Force and what your study/training journey has been? I have always wanted to be a pilot growing up. During high school, I started doing some basic flying training at the Proserpine Airport (now known as Whitsunday Coast Airport), and worked at Crazy Clark's to earn enough money to pay for my lessons! I had my student pilot licence and achieved my solo certification before I could even try for my car drivers licence!  I decided that military aviation was the best way to fly the most exciting aircraft in the world and get paid to do it, so I took the plunge and applied for pilot while I was in Year 11, conducting flight screening in Tamworth.

The road to becoming a Fast Jet Pilot has been very long but extremely rewarding, there have been many ups and downs along the road and at times has been a humbling experience. The support from my wife, family and friends along the way, paired with the determination to continue and succeed has been key. From the time I joined ADFA in 2006, it took me nearly 7 years to be flying an operational fast jet! Motivation, dedication and determination are needed to keep studying and training for this long. The learning doesn't stop there either, as you then go through the category scheme at the SQN which can take up to 3 years of effort to achieve a 4-ship flight lead.

Best experience since graduating from Proserpine State High School?

I have had many amazing flying experiences, and many amazing life experiences - from graduating as a Super Hornet Pilot, marrying my wife and travelling the world together, as well as having my two beautiful daughters - there has been a lot! Hopefully more experiences to come as well!

 

Best advice for current Year 12 students? Maintain the rage - keep studying, keep working and keep the motivation. It may seem like a long road but it is worth it to achieve your dreams and you will look back on the journey with fond memories. 

 

There is a pretty cool poem written by USAF pilot John Gillespie Magee Jr. named 'High Flight' that I find great... or anything from TOPGUN!