From flipping burgers in Bondi to navigating warships across the Pacific, Sub-Lieutenant Ben Regan's journey to Navy was anything but ordinary.
Born in Hornsby and raised across Sydney's inner west and eastern suburbs, his early years were rooted in hospitality.
"I started working at McDonald's when I was 16," he said.
"Then I moved on to high-end catering, cafés and market stalls."
But it was his curiosity about science that led him to the University of Wollongong, where he pursued a Bachelor of Medicinal Chemistry with Honours.
Sub-Lieutenant Regan's honours research took him into the cutting-edge world of neutron-enhanced particle therapy, developing a compound designed to improve the effectiveness of radiotherapy for cancer patients.
His work earned him an award from the Institute of Nuclear Engineering, along with a growing desire to serve in a more hands-on capacity.
"I tried getting into medicine, but the idea of more years of study didn't sit right," he said.
"So I walked into the recruitment office in Wollongong and applied to join the Navy."
Now a surface warfare officer under training, Sub-Lieutenant Regan's career has taken him from the golden arches to the gates of HMAS Creswell, and onward to the open seas of Western Australia, Hawaii and beyond.
'You get a lot more face time with the commanding officer on a minor war vessel.'
He has served on board HMA Ships Sydney, Sycamore and Bathurst, gaining experience in navigation, operations and even life-saving missions.
One of his most defining moments came during a cyclone off the Queensland coast, when Sub-Lieutenant Regan and his crew were tasked with rescuing a Lithuanian sailor stranded at sea.
"It was surreal," he said.
"We packed down an entire open day exhibit in an hour and sailed straight into the storm. Everyone from junior sailors to the command team played a part. It was a massive team effort."
Now posted to HMAS Bathurst, Sub-Lieutenant Regan is honing his skills as a watchkeeper and navigator.
"You get a lot more face time with the commanding officer on a minor war vessel," he said. "But it's the sailors who really teach you how to do your job."
Looking ahead, he hopes to earn his Bridge Warfare Certificate and eventually explore opportunities in Navy's nuclear submarine program, drawing on his scientific background and passion for precision.
"I've got a good appreciation for the science behind it," he said.
"And if not subs, I'll stay surface side and keep navigating."
From chemistry labs to command bridges, Sub-Lieutenant Regan is proof that the path to the ADF can start anywhere, even from behind a café counter in Bondi.
Bathurst is conducting its final deployment in the south-west Pacific in support of maritime surveillance before decommissioning.
