Loaded into a U.S. government van at Joint Base Charleston yesterday morning, I was flanked by Australian journalists currently living in eastern coastal big cities north of Virginia. “So… I went to a Waffle House last night for a dessert waffle…” said one of videographers.

The next few minutes were filled with laughter and glorious accents about the waffle with chocolate chips. As an American who hasn’t lived in Australia since the mid-80s, I’m not sure if I understood why they were laughing. I’ve also never ordered a Waffle with chocolate chips — but my guess is that the menu item is seen as lazy/simple. He also didn’t use syrup. Once, I went to Waffle House in West Columbia and the person I was with put ketchup on their waffle. No one was drunk or high. It was at lunch.

Enough about waffles. Us folks in the van were there to cover three Australian submarine officers graduating from the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power Training Command in Goose Creek. The Australian Navy has announced plans to develop a national high-performance submarine academy, and these guys are expected to play significant roles in the future of the Australian Royal Navy and their nuclear submarine program.

The three Aussies are Lt. William Hall, Lt. Cmdr. James Heydon and Lt. Cmdr. Adam Klyne.

Aussie Sub Officers Graduate from Elite US Nuclear School - The Daily Telegraph

About the author: Sean Rayford is a South Carolina photographer who spent his early years in a small town in the Australian Outback, Alice Springs. It’s in the middle of the continent and on the southern edge of the Northern Territory. Princess Diana once read to Rayford and his classmates here.

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