Lt(N) SeeEun Kim, HMCS Regina 

  • Cdr Darren Sleen received the Gold Sea Service Insignia during RIMPAC 2026 after surpassing 1,460 cumulative days at sea.
  • HMCS Regina’s crew organized a surprise at-sea presentation known as Op SILENT SLEENER.
  • The ceremony celebrated leadership, mentorship, and a career shaped by years of service at sea.

–

To the untrained eye, the Gold Sea Service Insignia (SSI) is simply a small pin on a naval uniform. To those who have watched the shoreline fade into the horizon from aboard a naval vessel, the Gold SSI represents something far greater. The pin, which marks 1,460-plus cumulative days spent at sea, is an extraordinary milestone of dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment to the mission.  

A close-up of the Gold Sea Service Insignia presented to Cdr Sleen. Photo: Avr Rebecca Mainardi, MARPAC Imaging

During Exercise (Ex) Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, Commander (Cdr) Darren L. Sleen, Commanding Officer (CO) of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina, was presented with the Gold SSI. It represents four full years spent upon the high seas, leading sailors through both challenges and successes while answering the call of duty around the globe. To earn the Gold SSI is to wear a badge of honor; it is a level of expertise and drive cultivated through high-tempo operations and the unyielding rhythm of service at sea. Earning such recognition demanded a presentation to match, and the crew of HMCS Regina delivered, in operational style.  

To present Cdr Sleen with the Gold SSI, the crew of HMCS Regina conducted a covert shipboard operation: Op SILENT SLEENER. Under the guise of SILENT SLEENER, the crew orchestrated a surprise passenger transfer by bringing Captain(N) (Capt(N)) Landon Creasy, Task Force Commander of RIMPAC, aboard the Regina to present the SSI where it was earned: in the middle of the ocean, directly on the deck plates.  

The presentation carried a deeply personal and inspiring connection. Years earlier, when Cdr Sleen served as the Executive Officer (XO) of HMCS Regina, Capt(N) Creasy was his CO. Standing together on the same ship, their reunion highlighted the powerful bonds of mentorship, camaraderie, and the shared history that often defines naval leadership. Presenting the Gold SSI at sea was a deliberate mark of honor; a testament to a mentorship forged in common purpose and built on the steel decks of HMCS Regina.  

As HMCS Regina continues its voyage, the gold pin on Cdr Sleen’s chest stands as a powerful symbol of excellence and inspiration. Bravo Zulu, Cdr Sleen!