Naval Security Team Exercise in the Okanagan

All photos: Sailor 1st Class Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services

Sub-Lieutenant Wilson Ho, 
MARPAC Public Affairs/NST PAO

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The Naval Security Team deployed on Okanagan Lake in Kelowna to conduct a training exercise from July 4-9.

“The Naval Security Team is an integral unit within Canadian Fleet Pacific, and this deployment offered us the opportunity to practise our tradecraft in different, realistic, and challenging environments,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Jeremy Breese Commanding Officer of the Naval Security Team.

The intent was to conduct Defender Navigation and Tactical Training to further the proficiency and qualifications of boat coxswain trainees. The exercise also prepared the unit for eventual deployments.

The specially-trained Naval Security Team provides a layer of land and sea-based security, also called ‘enhanced force protection’, to ensure Royal Canadian Navy ships and personnel are protected at home in Canada and around the world. The Naval Security Team supports a deployed ship by allowing the crew to take leave during longer deployments or to focus on other tasks, such as maintenance.

Naval Security Team Exercise.

“We employ members from across all trades, and the opportunities/responsibilities the sailors receive and demonstrate while on the team allow us to continue building an even more capable and empowered force,” LCdr Breese said.

During the training this past week, the Naval Security Team conducted boat manoeuvring drills and static/dynamic High Value Asset (HVA) protection drills.

Sailor 1st Class Paul Ayo assembles the C9 Machine Gun.

“We were extremely excited to have this opportunity to deploy the Defender Boats on Okanagan Lake. I am proud of what the Team has accomplished, and I look forward to further growth and success,” LCdr Breese said.

The Naval Security Team members are primarily Naval Reservists, with Regular Force members rounding out the team when required. Its standing core of 20 personnel provides expertise and training, and is augmented by a variable number of additional Reservists, based on the requirements of the mission at hand. Selected personnel train for and deploy on individual missions, and then are stood-down when the mission has been completed.

Sailor 3rd Class Blake Fowler (left) and Sailor 1st Class Chad Deman prepare for a day of training.

The Naval Security Team was established in 2017, and is self-sustaining and able to operate in established or rudimentary sea ports anywhere in the world. Some of the operations the Naval Security Team has supported include Operation Projection (Asia-Pacific) and Operation Reassurance.

Sailor 1st Class Christine Rondina drives the High Value Asset boat for training purposes.