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[caption id="attachment_7348" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team train for the Asian Games being held inSouth Korea this September.[/caption] When Capt Ingrid Walker saw how limited women’s choices were during her 2012-13 tour in Afghanistan, she started looking for a way to make a difference. The search didn’t take long. In the course of her deployment, she stumbled across Mountain2Mountain, a charity dedicated to helping women and girls in conflicted regions around the world. “It’s an organization that I discovered completely by chance while I was on tour, working with the NATO Training Mission – Afghanistan (NTM-A) in Kabul from November 2012 to May 2013,” says Capt Walker. She immediately began to support the charity and has now organized Victoria’s first Global Solidarity Ride to raise awareness and funds for the grassroots organization. On Aug. 30, she invites all women to hop on the saddle of their bicycles and ride from Mattick’s Farm to Ogden Point. The ride starts at 10 a.m. The one-way 25.7 km ride is open to anyone who wants to join and Capt Walker is encouraging those who have served in Afghanistan, in particular, to participate. There is no registration fee. Riders are instead encouraged to donate to the Mountain2Mountain website, www.mountain2mountain.org. “For me, it’s a way to continue my relationship with the Afghan people, albeit from a distance,” says Capt Walker of her involvement with the charity. “I worked with Afghan women quite a bit in my role as a Human Resources Gender Integration Mentor and was left with an enduring admiration for their courage, tenacity and resilience. It seemed short sighted to end my commitment to women in Afghanistan, simply because my tour was over.” Mountain2Mountain uses the bicycle, a symbol of freedom of movement, as its vehicle for changing...

Boaters in the Gulf Islands were treated to an exciting scene when the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), volunteers of the Royal Canadian Maritime Search and Rescue (RCMSAR), and United States Coast Guard (USCG) personnel gathered for a joint training evolution in the sun-soaked waters off Pender Island. The exercise involved coordination between the 47 foot CCG Motor Life Boat (MLB) Cape Naden, a CCG 753 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB), a U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and four RCMSAR RHIBs. Participants were supported by 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, which provided space for briefings and the use of their helicopter pad for aircraft familiarization. Personnel practiced lowering and raising an Air Rescue Technician in a rescue basket between MLB Cape Naden and the aircraft, as well as station keeping with the RHIBs. “We share a lot of adjacent water with the U.S., we share a common goal of helping those in peril, so there are situations in which we will support each other on SAR incidents. It’s important to be ready for those situations,” says PO1 Mike Mitchell, Search and Rescue Program Officer for the CCG and the Coxswain for HMCS Malahat. “We only get the opportunity to train together a few times a year so it’s important to make the most of it.” He says the high level of coordination and skill necessary between air and sea assets is what makes any joint rescue a perilous undertaking. “If the sea conditions are rough or it’s windy, things become very challenging,” he says. “Not only are the vessels bouncing around, but the wind is buffeting the aircraft, and they have to be in almost perfect synchronization to make sure everything is as safe as possible when lowering or raising people in danger.” PO1 Mitchell says working with the USCG, while...

[caption id="attachment_7283" align="alignnone" width="300"] For more information on the Digitization Project and the archives, or to submit your own materials visit www.esquimalt.ca/cultureHeritage/archives/ or call 250-412-8540.[/caption] In a three-room office underneath the Esquimalt Road McDonald’s restaurant the history of the township is being brought into the digital age. Municipal Archivist Greg Evans and his team are heading up the Archives Digitization Project, scanning over 6,000 images dating back 150 years and storing them online for the public eye. “The archives have always been available on site, but we wanted to make our collection more accessible,” says Evans. “This way you can be anywhere in the world and look at the images we have, and also gives us a way to preserve them should anything happen to the hard copies.” The project is one of several similar ones funded by the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, receiving a $9,000 grant from the organization. The money has gone towards the re-inforcing of the archive’s web architecture, and the services of archive consultant and historian Patrick Craib. Digging through stacks and stacks of photos, Craib scans and annotates each one, adding relevant information such as the date of its production, the subjects, and any other details that are to be posted alongside it on the archives website. “Individually the photos are interesting, but once you start going through them all in succession it gives you a new appreciation for the culture that existed back then,” says Craib. “You see how people dressed, how they spent their free time, how they felt about certain events, and what was important to them. There are reasons people took photos of these events and finding those reasons is very intriguing.” For Evans’ part he hopes the new digital archives can give the people of Esquimalt a reason to...

What is happening?Power to the CFB Esquimalt areas of Dockyard, Signal Hill, and Naden will be disrupted for approximately eight hours due to a planned power outage. When is this happening?This is scheduled to take place Sunday August 24, 0830hrs until approximately 1630hrs. Why is this happening?This power interruption is required to perform repair work on the high voltage power distribution system within the base, as well as repairs to the high voltage system at the Esquimalt Graving Dock. The following will be affected: All buildings and structures within the Dockyard gates, and on Signal Hill. All buildings in Naden including the Arena, Base Gym and CANEX. All Dockyard and Naden Jetties including ships’ power supplies. Esquimalt Graving Dock. Critical buildings and systems will be dependent on permanently installed generators. Note: Not all buildings on base are backed up with generators. No portable generators will be provided. The following will not be affected: Naden Health Services Clinic. Work Point all areas. All outlying areas not located in Esquimalt.  (ie. Colwood, Albert Head, Armouries, etc) Emergency services will be available. Alarm systems will function on battery backed up power. Phone lines are not anticipated to be effected. Note: If using a cell phone to call 911, tell the dispatcher your location is CFB Esquimalt and request to be transferred to the Base Fire Hall. What accommodations and food services will be affected?All housing units and accommodation blocks within the gates of Naden and Dockyard, as well as all base messes located on Signal Hill will be affected. Housing units outside the gates, in Work Point, and in outlying areas will not be affected.This power outage is planned to take place as stated; however, timings are subject to change due to the nature of the work.Watch the MARPAC notice board for updates. If you require more information, please contact:Dean MarshallElectrical SupervisorBase Construction Engineering Dean.Marshall@forces.gc.ca 250-363-2225   Power outages from a BIS perspective What is happening?In order to replace UPS’s at Esquimalt Dockyard...

[caption id="attachment_7271" align="alignnone" width="300"] For more information on Fab Forts and the remaining summer programs such as Learn to Camp, English Car Affair in the Park, and the Lantern Tour hosted at Fort Rodd Hill, visit www.pc.gc.ca/fortroddhill or 250-478-5849.[/caption]Next weekend the normally serene grounds of Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site will turn to a scream fest as hordes of children engage in Victoria’s largest water gun fight.The bone-drenching competition is a part of Fab Forts, an annual Parks Canada initiative created to celebrate the many historic and military forts scattered across Canada.“We wanted to do something to get the adrenaline pumping. What gets the blood going more than a water gun fight?” says Lara Cohlmeyer, Interpretation Coordinator for Fort Rodd Hill. “The grounds of the fort are beautiful and expansive, so we thought we’d put them to use.”In years past Fort Rodd Hill has featured military re-enactments and presentations; this year they wanted to try something a little different.Beyond the team-based Storm the Fort there will be  Capture the Flag, target practice, face painting and music.“For many people this will be their first Fab Forts, and we wanted to show them a side of the fort they’ve never seen before,” she says. “It’s one thing to walk around and observe the history in this place, but it’s another to run around and soak your friends in it.”Whether you’re looking to duke it out in the water gun fights, or just relax with some sunshine and live music, Cohlmeyer says the event has something for everyone.“This fort is for the community,” she says. “We want people to come down and soak in some local history in any way they want.”Gracing Vancouver Island’s coastline since its construction in 1850, Fort Rodd Hill has long stood as a bastion of Canadian naval...

[caption id="attachment_7249" align="alignnone" width="300"] Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014 Canadian Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, left, speaks with Cdr David Stallworth, commanding officer of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 14, on the bridge of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) while underway off the coast of San Diego.[/caption] A veteran newscaster in Hawaii and anchor of KHON(FOX)2’s Wake Up 2day show, gave Canadian Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier an honorary title during an interview about Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2014 on July 24. RAdm Couturier, who has participated in five RIMPAC exercises over the years, was named by Ron Mizutani as an “honorary Kama’ina” - a native-born local citizen of Hawaii. RAdm Couturier is commander of the maritime component for RIMPAC, the world’s biggest maritime exercise, which is about to enter its final week in and around Hawaii. On behalf of all RIMPAC participants, RAdm Couturier thanked the people of Hawaii for their support and “aloha,” noting how RIMPAC helps the local economy. “Without a doubt the 25,000 sailors, plus the ships ... they need all sorts of things, so we buy local Hawaiian and I want to take the opportunity to thank the [people of Hawaii] for their hospitality,” he said. “This is my fifth time at RIMPAC, so I’m very familiar with your beautiful islands and every time looking forward to come back here and visit and enjoy.” During his interview, RAdm Couturier explained two of the primary goals of RIMPAC. “First of all, it’s to be able to learn to work together as professional mariners. So this year we have 22 countries, 47 ships, 200-plus aircraft, six submarines and over 25,000 people here. What we are trying to do to is work together in order to...

[caption id="attachment_7245" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt(N) Steve Waddell gives his first speech as Base Commander at the CFB Esquimalt Change of Command ceremony held at the Military Museum Parade Square on July 30.[/caption]As ranks of shining white, green, and blue uniforms stood at attention under the blazing summer sun, CFB Esquimalt welcomed its new Base Commander.Capt(N) Steve Waddell took command of CFB Esquimalt from Cmdre Luc Cassivi during a well-attended ceremony on July 30.Beginning the ceremony with blessings from Esquimalt Nation Elder Mary Anne Thomas, and Songhees Nation Elder Elmer George, as well Formation Chaplain Maj Doug Friesen, the newly minted Cmdre Cassivi took to the podium to bid farewell to the base.“Thirteen months ago I took over the position as ‘Mayor of CFB Esquimalt,’” said Cmdre Cassivi to a crowd that included prestigious guests such as VAdm (Ret’d) Nigel Brodeur, and Mayor of Esquimalt Barbara Desjardins. “It was a challenging year, and it showed me the power and ingenuity of the men and women in uniform. With your dedication, and a passion for what you do, you faced every challenge head-on and that’s why, to me, this year was a success.”From CFB Esquimalt, Cmdre Cassivi will move on to his new position as Director General of Naval Strategic Readiness at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. To incoming Base Commander Capt(N) Waddell, he had some choice words on the nature of base leadership.“There are a lot of people here to help you; trust them, work with them, and they’ll make your time here much easier,” he said. “These are good people. You’re in good hands.”Following the lowering of Cmdre Cassivi’s Base Commander’s Pennant, Reviewing Officer RAdm Bill Truelove, Commander Maritime Force Pacific (MARPAC) took the podium.“You came into the job running and never slowed down, and the results are evident everywhere...

[caption id="attachment_7241" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cmdre Luc Cassivi (centre) receives his new rank from Base Chief Petty Officer CPO1 Shawn Taylor (left) and Commander Maritime Forces Pacific/Joint Task Force Pacific, RAdm Bill Truelove (right).[/caption] The promotion is in and the epaulettes have been changed. Capt(N) Luc Cassivi is now Commodore and set to head to Ottawa for his next assignment – Director General Naval Strategic Readiness at National Defence Headquarters. Last Wednesday marked his final moments as CFB Esquimalt’s twentieth Base Commander when he officially handed over the job to Capt(N) Steve Waddell. His journey from the small town of New Richmond, Quebec, to becoming one of the navy’s highest ranking officers has been built on opportunity and curiosity. He joined the navy for the education but stayed for three decades because of its diversity. “It’s constant change; there’s never an occasion where it’s a steady rhythm. The navy provides many challenges and chances to try something new. That’s what hooked me,” he says.  The variety of work has included submarine and surface ships, even working with the Royal Australian Navy in the officer exchange program, and high level desk jobs. Last June he landed in the corner office in Naden 5, assuming his “mayorship” over CFB Esquimalt. Having spent most of his time “in pointy end operational” work, the prospect of the year-long job was both exciting and anxiety-filled. “My biggest experience with the civilian workforce was three admin assistants, so having a large civilian workforce and dealing with unions, and the outside community was all new territory,” he says of the first few days managing the second largest base in Canada. The Base Commander portfolio includes delivery of support services to 70 separate organizations located at CFB Esquimalt. Plus he is the landlord for $1.6 billion in real estate...

[caption id="attachment_7191" align="alignnone" width="300"] Inset: The gifted medals originally awarded to the late Rear-Admiral Victor Brodeur throughout his 38-year-career in the military. They include Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, presented by King George VI for his services during the Second World War. Plus the United States Legion of Merit (Commander) presented by President Harry Truman for his work as the Canadian Naval Attache and Naval Member of the Canadian Joint Staff in Washington DC.[/caption]The walls of the Admiral’s suite at Maritime Force Pacific (MARPAC) Headquarters will now be home to an important piece of Royal Canadian Navy history.In a small presentation held July 23 in the Wardroom, VAdm (Ret’d) Nigel Brodeur passed on the medals worn by his father Rear-Admiral Victor Brodeur to RAdm Bill Truelove, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific.“My father cared very much about this navy, and that caring shaped the organization into what it is today,” said VAdm Brodeur, who followed in his father’s footsteps into the navy, and eventually retiring as Deputy Chief of Defence Staff in 1987. “In passing these on I hope to pass on his memory and passion for the Canadian Armed Forces. He would be very proud of everyone here today.”RAdm Victor Brodeur served in the RCN for 38 years from 1909 to 1947. During his lengthy career, RAdm received recognition for his service from heads of state around the world.Most notably, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) by King George VI for services to the Empire. King George also awarded RAdm Brodeur with the CB (Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath), the senior honour for service “of the highest calibre” during the Second World War.RAdm Brodeur was also recognized for his service by the United States. President Harry...

[caption id="attachment_7186" align="alignnone" width="300"] Julie H. Ferguson is presenting Celebrating Canadian Submariners: 1914 to 2014 on Sunday, Aug. 3 at 2 p.m. at the Maritime Museum of B.C., Bastion Square, Victoria. The event is free and focuses on the submariners rather than the boats — from the prairie boys in 1914 who’d never seen the sea, let alone a submarine, to the highly trained sailors who serve in our Victoria class today. This is their story. Both books will be available for purchase and signing.[/caption]Unbeknownst to most Canadians, Canada has a long and colourful submarine service history – to be exact, 100 years of service this year.To honour the centenary, Julie H. Ferguson’s publishers have released updated, second editions of her two books: “Through a Canadian Periscope: The Story of the Canadian Submarine Program” and “Deeply Canadian: New Submarines for a New Millennium.”“Canada has had such vibrant history with regard to its submarines, it’s a shame more people don’t know about it,” says Ferguson, a retired reserve naval officer. “With my books, I always wanted to inform Canadians on the subject, and hopefully with renewed interest due to the centenary I can reach a few more.”She was inspired to write both books when she asked her husband LCdr James S. Ferguson (Ret’d), who was captain from 1979-1981 of the now decommissioned submarine HMCS Okanagan, where she could read more on the subject of the Canadian submarine service. “He was surprised when he realized there weren’t any books,” says Ferguson. “And so was I.”That realization encouraged Ferguson to write one, and a year later set her on a decade-long project that would take her across Canada and the United Kingdom, speaking with veterans, serving members, and historians, and delving deep into archives.Her first book, “Through a Canadian Periscope” explores the history...

[caption id="attachment_7183" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cpl Adam Carruthers of the CFB Esquimalt Military Police will join 23 other riders on this year’s Tour de Rock.[/caption]Every year a team of Vancouver Island police officers and media professionals make an arduous journey through rain, snow, and wind all in the name of pediatric cancer research.Joining them this year in the 2014 Tour de Rock will be Cpl Adam Carruthers, 28, from CFB Esquimalt Military Police. “I lost my grandmother to cancer in 2013, so I was looking for a way to help families who are in the same position that mine was. I’d only heard good things about the ride from co-workers, so when the time came around to apply I put my name in,” says Cpl Carruthers. “It’s such a great cause, and a once in a lifetime kind of experience. I didn’t want to miss my chance to take part.”The bike rides spans 1,100 kilometres, from Port Alice to Victoria, in 14 days to benefit the Cops for Cancer charity.With the start date for the ride still months away - kicking off Sept. 20 - Cpl Carruthers and his fellow teammates are already four months into training, with practice rides taking place Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.Training exercises alternate between hill nights, where riders practice extended uphill rides; speed training with a focus on acceleration, and distance rides where sheer distance is the name of the game.“It’s been exhausting, but rewarding,” says Cpl Carruthers. “You really get a feel for what the actual ride might be like, but at the same time I know it will be so much more.”For the ride, team members have been outfitted with special road bikes tailored to their specific attributes. These prototype bikes, donated by Trek Bicycle Store in Esquimalt, will see them through training as well...

[caption id="attachment_7168" align="alignnone" width="300"] Veteran Marina Libro receives assistance from teammates on a steep climb June 28.[/caption]For dedicated athlete and Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) member Sgt Dan Bodden, no distance is too great when it comes to helping wounded veterans.The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) Assistant Air Controller recently returned from the inaugural Can/Am Veteran’s Challenge, a 1,200km 18-day bicycle ride that took 16 wounded Canadian, American, and Danish military veterans, as well as nine civilian riders, from the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, ON, all the way to Capital Hill in Washington, D.C.The ride was conceived by non-profit organization World TEAM Sports as a way to show injured veterans, as well as the civilian population, that being injured or disabled doesn’t mean you stop being active.“The team I was riding with came from all walks of life, all different parts of Canada and the U.S., as well as a few riders from around the world, and they all showed the same fierce spirit,” says Sgt Bodden. “It was a very inspiring experience. They showed me that getting on with your life is as much as part of rehabilitation as any surgery or medicine.”When it comes to going the distance for wounded veterans Sgt Bodden is no slouch.Just this past February, he  co-founded the Wounded Warriors Run BC and his team ran from Port Hardy to Victoria.“As a member of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) it’s my duty to aid and support my fellow service men and women any way I can,” he says. “When I heard there was an opening for the Veteran’s Challenge there was no way I would pass it up.”His dedication went as far as physically helping a fellow cyclist during the Can/Am ride.During the journey Sgt Bodden rode alongside US Army Master-Seargent (Ret’d) Marina Libro,...

[caption id="attachment_7165" align="alignnone" width="300"] Deputy Minister of National Defence Richard Fadden presents MWO (Ret’d) Bob Quann with the Deputy Minister’s Commendation. Quann received the commendation during the Corporate Awards in Ottawa for his dedication, passion, and excellence during his 43-year career as a Resource Management Support Clerk with the Department of National Defence.[/caption]When MWO (Ret’d) Bob Quann joined the military as a Resource Management Support (RMS) Clerk, he wanted to build a career helping people. He never imagined doing a job he loved would earn him a trip to Ottawa to receive an award.Just a month prior to retiring from a 43 year career with the military and public service, Quann visited the National War Museum to accept a Deputy Minister’s Commendation that recognized the passion, dedication, and excellence he’s shown during his career.Deputy Minister of National Defence Richard Fadden presented the award, which consists of a certificate signed by the deputy minister, a lapel pin and a gift of Canadian art.The commendation recognizes work above and beyond normal duties, or community service that either benefits or brings credit to the Department of National Defence.“I was truly honoured and humbled by the award,” says Quann, who retired July 18. “I was totally unaware that I was nominated, so when my boss, PO1 Andrew Chadwick, showed me the e-mail where I was awarded the DM Commendation, I was blown away, to say the least.”While his end-of-career recognition is welcome, the thought of awards never crossed his mind.“I guess I spent the last 43 years looking after others and never expected this type of recognition for myself,” he says.While an outsider looking in may see the administrative work of an RMS clerk as just filing and paperwork, Quann found it to be much more than that.“In this trade you’ve always got someone...

[caption id="attachment_7162" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cpl Michael Bastien, MARPAC Imaging Services The naval boarding party of HMCS Regina conducts tactical movement drill practice on the ship’s upper deck off the coast of Africa on earlier this year during Operation Artemis.[/caption] The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is taking important steps toward tailoring its operations to confront and deter smaller, asymmetric threats with the standing up of a single dedicated unit that will provide an Advanced Naval Boarding Party (ANBP) capability.“We are excited about the development, the stand-up of this new unit, and the unique and challenging opportunity it presents to all RCN personnel,” said LCdr Wil Lund, the ANBP Capability Officer in Charge. “It represents an important milestone that will enable the RCN to combine over a decade of highly successful operational experience with the ingenuity and abilities of our own officers and sailors.”Right now, naval boarding parties are comprised of regular members from a ship’s company who perform these duties in addition to their primary duty on board. Once fully operational, the new unit will deploy specialized teams on any RCN platform operating in a high-risk environment.Though traditional NBPs are capable of conducting basic obstructed boardings, the dynamic and evolving nature of RCN missions now calls for a new approach. The ANBP capability will allow for deployed vessels to meet the new level of risk and to provide other direct support when necessary.With today’s naval operations increasingly concerned with providing maritime security in the littoral (near-shore) environment, the need for an advanced, versatile force that can respond rapidly to threats such as pirates, drug smugglers or small, nimble fast attack craft is as salient as ever.These operations require a highly trained team such as the ANBP. Through extensive specialized training and careful selection, the Maritime Tactical Operators from this unit will eventually...

[caption id="attachment_7113" align="alignnone" width="300"] The 16-metre Boomer 1 departs the patrol craft Egret as it makes its way under escort into harbour after nearly sinking. Photo by MS Richard Loy, CFMETR[/caption]A lightning fast departure by a Canadian Forces patrol craft from alongside was likely the key to keeping a sinking civilian vessel afloat after it began taking on water near Nanoose Bay June 6.Egret, one of the craft responsible for patrolling the torpedo test range operated by the Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges (CFMETR), was having its windows replaced when a Mayday call crackled over the radio.  While vessel master PO2 Kevin Hall ran from his shore office, Bos’n MS Dan Connelly and Engineer MS Rich Loy hastily landed the contracted maintenance crew and fired up the vessel’s twin jet drives.“We got off so quickly it wasn’t until the Mayday was secured that I looked around and realized we didn’t have any windows on the starboard side,” said Hall. “But thanks to the professionalism of the crew we were first on scene, getting there even before vessels that were already in the area.”On reaching Boomer 1, a 21-metre power boat, Hall rapidly assessed the emergency.“The vessel’s bilge pump could not keep up with the water flowing in,” recalled Hall. “In other words, she was sinking.”  While Connelly calculated time and distance to the nearest safe harbour, Hall directed engineer Loy onto the foundering vessel to attempt to slow the influx of seawater. Hall remained on the radio, coordinating with the Rescue Coordination Centre, the approaching Coast Guard vessel Cape Cockburn out of nearby French Creek, and with another CFMETR vessel, the Canadian Forces Auxiliary Vessel (CFAV) Stikine.For 26-year veteran Loy, working in confined spaces was nothing new. He had once been trapped for 20 minutes in the bilge...

[caption id="attachment_7110" align="alignnone" width="300"] Teams arrive, via Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat, at the Fleet Diving Unit jetty prior to facing the day’s challenges.[/caption]In their first encounter with military reality, 11 teams from The Amazing Race Canada were put through their paces at the Damage Control (DC) Training Facility in Colwood to do what the producers of show wanted: make this stop one of the most difficult these teams encounter all season.In the series opener, staff at the training facility put the teams, dressed in firefighting gear and using the hoses at hand, through their paces.The first scenario consisted of knocking down three weighted buckets within 30 seconds, then suppressing a helicopter fire before recovering a casualty.It all had to be done with LCdr Rob Petitpas, Division Commander, watching and judging if teams passed or failed. “I was thrilled to be part of the show,” said LCdr Petitpas. “The firefighting challenge was not easy for some teams, but when they succeeded, it was great to see their excitement when I delivered them the good news.”Many teams found the challenge exhausting and a real eye opener regarding the reality of fighting a fire on a warship.  At least one team could be heard saying, “I’ve never been so hot in my life!” as they raced to the next challenge.“We really had a chance to showcase the Royal Canadian Navy and the training we put sailors through, “said CPO2 Spike Armstrong, the Division Chief at the DC Training Facility. “It was a blast watching teams go through the different scenarios.  It made me realize just how well we train our sailors.”Once through the fire trainer, it was off to the flood trainer to figure out how to stop water from flooding a room. It was made even more difficult as the teams were not provided...

[caption id="attachment_7102" align="alignnone" width="300"] Port Clements Mayor Wally Cheer accepts ships’ plaques from the Commanding Officers of HMC Ships Brandon and Edmonton, LCdr Lawrence Moraal and LCdr Brad Henderson.[/caption]Following a formal request from the Port Clements town council to the Admiral, HMC Ships Brandon and Edmonton were dispatched to help the small community celebrate its 100 anniversary.On the final day in June, the two Kingston-class vessels made history as the first warships to sail into Masset Inlet in the north of Haida Gwaii.The mayor, members of the town council, fire department and local citizens were on the jetty to meet the two ships.In his opening remarks, Mayor Wally Cheer addressed the sailors, saying, “The council, village staff, and the citizens of Port Clements and surrounding areas extend a heartfelt ‘thank you’ for visiting Port Clements, Haida Gwaii. Your presence will make our Canada Day and centennial year a memorable one for many years to come. Safe journeys and God bless you.”The comments were met with hearty applause from the ships’ companies. After the address, locals challenged sailors to games of softball, volleyball and soccer, followed by a barbecue.On the second day, sailors split up for a kayak trip, a hike up Juskatla Mountain, a hike along the Golden Spruce trail, and walking tour of village.The city tour showcased significant parts of the town’s history and stories of citizens that put Port Clements on the map. The  town’s museum exhibits logging of the past and First Nations culture, including the story of the white raven and the Golden Spruce that shaped the community over the last 100 years.Locals were also provided the chance to tour the ships and learn about the navy. Overall, 260 people toured the ship.On the last day, both crews returned to their ship and invited the mayor,...

[caption id="attachment_7031" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Ellen Delong has made her mark in the history books by becoming the first female officer in charge of an Orca training vessel.[/caption] A personal and professional milestone was achieved earlier this month when Lt(N) Ellen Delong from the Cadet Instructor Cadre (CIC) completed her tender charge check ride, certifying her to act as Officer in Charge (OIC) of Orca training vessels. This certification makes her the first woman from CIC to receive this qualification. “It’s interesting to think I made a bit of history,” she says. “We’re at a point where women commanding vessels and making milestones isn’t an uncommon thing; but being the first female reservist from CIC to do it is pretty cool.” The certification is the last requirement in a long line of qualifications, which has included tests, training, and at-sea exercises spread out over the past six years. She began the process in 2008, but things were put on hold for two years while she focused on her family. “For some reason they don’t let you go to sea when you’re pregnant,” she says, laughing. “I had to take a break to raise my child; so getting back on the water felt really good.” For the check ride portion Lt(N) Delong set out on a fully-crewed Orca with Cdr Lorne Carruth, Commander Coastal Division, riding shotgun. As her boss, Cdr Carruth acted as judge and jury that day, analysing Lt(N) Delong’s performance. “He was very supportive and really helped me feel at ease,” she says. “I was a little on edge, it being my first shot at something I’d worked very hard for over the years.” Performing manoeuvres, coming alongside, and docking were just some of the things she had to walk her crew through. “The reverse docking is stressful. It’s a much more finicky kind of docking, but I think I handled it well,” she says. “Everyone one of the crew worked so well together, it was a thrill...

  The Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) 12-year mission in Afghanistan recently ended. It assisted in making the war-torn country more secure, better governed and more stable, but it did not come without sacrifice.While serving their country with honour, 161 Canadians – 158 CAF personnel, a diplomat, a Department of National Defence contractor and a journalist – lost their lives in Afghanistan. In addition, 43 United States Armed Forces members sacrificed their lives while serving under Canadian command during operations in Afghanistan. “One of the ways Canada is commemorating the mission in Afghanistan is by honouring the fallen through the Afghanistan Memorial Vigil, which will travel across Canada this year and in 2015,” said Capt Indira Thackorie, Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) Public Affairs Officer. The Afghanistan Memorial Vigil consists of 192 plaques representing the 204 fallen. Originally, the plaques were part of the Kandahar Air Field cenotaph – a memorial structure built for soldiers by soldiers to commemorate their fallen comrades while deployed in Afghanistan. The first stop in the Memorial Vigil travel schedule was May 4 in Trenton, Ontario. On May 9, it was displayed in the Hall of Honour on Parliament Hill during the National Day of Honour and some of the families of the fallen were in attendance. Three CAF personnel – Captain Patrick Lottinville, Corporal Martin Labelle and Chief Warrant Officer David Mahon – will travel with the exhibit across Canada. During his time in the Canadian Army, CWO Mahon has been deployed to Germany, Egypt and Afghanistan. This task, however, holds an important significance for him.The opportunity to be a part of the Vigil Party will round out his 41-year career with the CAF. “Working with soldiers who are tasked to set up and tear down the Vigil, and then discussing the intent and meaning with Canadian citizens has been the most meaningful experience of my career,” he explained. “My task is ceremonial and drill. I feel that my years in the field and on...

This was it; 2014 would be the year I learned to ride a motorcycle and ride with the pack. None of my friends would ride with me unless I took a proper “learn to ride” course. And, as if the hog gods were listening, an ad appeared in the Lookout newspaper for “Learn to Ride” motorcycle training. I could almost hear leather-clad angels cooing “ahhhhh.” With my application accpeted and Class 6/8 Learner’s License obtained, I was set for the two evenings of four hour classroom theory, and two full days of learning on a 250cc motorbike – courtesy of  Learn to Ride Motorcycle Training Ltd. In hopes of staying ahead of the pack, I eagerly studied the ICBC “Learn To Ride Smart” booklet. A few days later, I was seated next to four other rider wannabes at the Econo Lodge Gorge View board room, our eyes set on Richard Beaumont, a Petty Officer Second Class sailor who has 14 years experience on two wheels, and seven as a certified trainer. He tossed out bike jargon that I found novel such as “space cushion.” No, not a silver lamé throw pillow, but a descriptive term for the necessary distance in front of you that allows time enough to stop or react safely. Or “road snakes,” the literal meaning sounds more fantastical than the actual. It pertains to the wiggly tar lines meant to repair the cracks in the road. They are slippery, especially when wet and are to be avoided where possible. In terms of real world threats to a motorcyclist, road snakes are on the lower end of our worries. We learned that everything is a potential hazard when you are riding, and it is best to practice SIPDE: scan, identify, predict, decide and execute. From the classroom, we...

[caption id="attachment_6972" align="alignnone" width="300"] Above: Cadet Chief Warrant Officer Kristan Chung (right) of the British Columbia Regiment lays a wreath at the cenotaph in the Canadian Cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer. Attending the ceremony are, from left: Captain Leah Yauck, C/MCpl Roger Mak, C/Sgt Holly Johnson, C/Sgt Sharon Wong and C/MWO Richard Vo.Wayne Emde[/caption] For five Vancouver cadets from 2290 RCACC (British Columbia Regiment), a tour that combined the battlefields of the First World War with the events of the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day landings proved to be moving and memorable. During the first week of June, after tourist stops and museum visits in London and Paris, Captain Leah Yauck and cadets Kristan Chung, Rich Vo, Holly Johnson, Sharon Wong and Roger Mak travelled to Normandy, France. Their first stop was Pointe du Hoc on the coast of Normandy, where, during D Day, the United States Army Ranger Assault Group assaulted and captured the area from the Germans after scaling the cliffs. “We were rendered speechless after learning of the carnage and battlements, which were so visible and oppressive,” said Capt Yauck. They were surprised to see the numbers of re-enactors at the site; French citizens who dressed in vintage American army uniforms driving restored vintage jeeps, trucks, and motorcycles. Their second stop was Arromanche, which was established as an artificial temporary harbour to allow the unloading of heavy equipment during the Second World War. The town is home to the Arromanche D Day museum. “We stood at the monument there and tried to imagine what it looked like 70 years ago,” she said. On June 5, the group travelled to Honfleur, where they toured the oldest wooden church in France, and then the ancient harbour surrounded by tall, narrow buildings. After an emotional stop at the Ardenne Abbey, the location...

[caption id="attachment_6969" align="alignnone" width="300"] War Veteran Peter Chance added another medal to his collection, the the Ordre national de la Légon d’honneur.[/caption] Seventy years after his ship, HMCS Skeena, took part in the D-Day landings, Cdr (Ret’d) Peter Chance received recognition from the French government. Along with 500 other Canadian army, navy and air force veterans of the pivotal Second World War battle, the 93-year-old was named a Chevalier (knight) of the Ordre national de la Légon d’honneur, France’s highest honour. Five hundred is all that remains of the more than 34,000 Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen who participated in Operation Overlord and began to push German forces back out of France. Chance and 14 other B.C. veterans gathered in Vancouver on May 21 to accept the medal from Consul General of France M. Jean-Christophe Fleury, who presented it on behalf of the President of France. The event included dinner and speeches from dignitaries including Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino, Premier Christy Clark, and Lieutenant Governor of B.C. Judith Guichon. Each recipient was assigned a cadet escort “to make sure we didn’t fall down,” Chance jokes. Though he earned several other medals and awards through his more than 30-year naval career, this one is special, he says. “It is very special because it recognizes Canadian participation in the Normandy landings.” Chance was the navigating officer in HMCS Skeena when the allies made their Normandy assault on June 6, 1944. As part of Escort Group 12, Skeena’s duty was to block German submarines from entering the landing area. The most memorable moments of that mission came on June 8 when two homing torpedoes – designed to target the frequency of a ship’s propellers – streamed through the water and exploded in Skeena’s Canadian Anti-Acoustic Torpedo (CAT) gear. It was a...

CF Morale and Welfare Services Directorate of Fitness has joined the push to generate a fitter and healthier military. They are going beyond the FORCE Evaluation - the new assessment tool to determine if a member is fit for duty - and are now looking at a way to indicate a member’s general fitness level.  Researchers have been to four bases putting select members through the FORCE Evaluation to gather specific data. Last week, 150 men and women of varying ages volunteered for the research at CFB Esquimalt . “We’re going across country collecting data on 600 CAF personnel to see what their fastest FORCE times are, and we’re plotting them on the incentive chart where they’ll be compared to their age and gender counterparts,” explained Dr. Tara Reilly, Research Manager Human Performance in Ottawa. The Human Performance Research team is developing a Fitness Profile, which is a measure of fitness that goes beyond the minimums for job performance. That profile will include an incentive program that will be used to encourage members to improve both their operational and general physical fitness.  In the previous EXPRES test the incentive was an exemption on the next year’s test. However, the new motivational program is still in the development phase, so the four incentive levels and rewards have yet to be confirmed. The new fitness profile expands on the existing FORCE Evaluation in two main ways:   Firstly, it offers an incentive program where members will be compared to their age and gender groups in order to encourage maximal performance and improvement on the FORCE Evaluation.  In this way the member will be provided with a scaled measure of his or her operational fitness compared to other people of his or her age and gender, rather than simply a pass or fail....

[caption id="attachment_6949" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt J. J. ‘Yank’ Cummings, Nimitz’s Executive Officer and a former naval aviator, gives an informational tour of flight operations on the carrier’s flight deck.[/caption] The hulking silhouette of USS Nimitz, a United States Navy (USN) aircraft carrier and lead ship of the Nimitz-class, was an impressive sight on the water during its stay in Esquimalt from June 13-16. “We pass by here every time we get underway thinking ‘Wow, it would be great to pull into Victoria.’ So we’re pleased to be here,” said Captain Jeffery Ruth, Nimitz’s Commanding Officer. Arriving from its home port of Naval Station Everett in Washington state, “Old Salt”, the carrier’s official nickname, laid at anchor off Royal Roads near CFB Esquimalt. Here for a brief port visit before proceeding to Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental Test Range Nanoose Bay, Nimitz arrived in Esquimalt with over 2,800 sailors and family members on board. With the addition of the carrier’s air component, Carrier Air Wing Eleven, the ship’s personnel would number well over 5,000; however the Wing remained in California. Despite the absence of the carrier’s Air Wing, media were given an informational tour of air operations on Nimitz’s massive flight deck by Captain J.J. “Yank” Cummings, Nimitz’s Executive Officer and a former naval aviator. Capt Cummings described the force behind the carrier’s catapult aircraft launching system as a “40-tonne double-barrel shotgun below deck.” The launching procedure is an intricate process that involves a number of personnel on the flight deck working in close conjunction with one another amongst explosives, jet blasts and steam-driven launching catapults. “It’s one of the most dangerous places on earth,” stressed Capt Cummings. When the aircraft and catapult are primed for launch, the press of a button releases a massive amount of force, literally flinging the aircraft...

[caption id="attachment_6944" align="alignnone" width="300"] David Yates, National Vice-President of the Navy League Cadets, presents CPO1 Charity Cole with the Medal of Excellence Award at the June 1 Annual Ceremonial Review.[/caption] Sometimes it’s good to stand out in a crowd, especially if it’s because of your accomplishments. A few weeks ago 12-year-old Charity Cole soared far above her peers when she was named Top Navy League Cadet of Canada (NLCC), in addition to being the Navy League Cadet of the year for Vancouver Island Division. It was at the June 1 NLCC Admiral Rayner’s Annual Ceremonial Review in Work Point that she was called to the front and given the Medal of Excellence Award. “I was shocked. I heard that I’d won Top Cadet for Vancouver Island, but didn’t hear about the other one until they were presenting it to me,” says CPO1 Cole. “It was a huge honour, and everyone except my Commanding Officer was very surprised.” CPO1 Cole was chosen out of more than 7,000 Navy League cadets across Canada for the honour. Because she was named Top Cadet of both her region and country, the medal features two anchors on the bar instead of the customary single anchor. She is not cut from the usual pre-teen cloth. While most 12 year olds’ eyes are on their cellphone or computer screen, CPO1 Cole has hers set on many horizon-expanding activities. Cadets is just one of a long list of extracurricular pursuits that includes Girl Guides, playing violin, curling, swimming, and volunteering with city organizations. She also plays the bass drum in her cadet corps. Born into a military family - her father is a Sergeant at 443(MH) Squadron and her brother was a coxswain of his cadet corps in Halifax - naval cadets seemed like a good place for...

Pacific Tattoo 2014 features performers from across North America in recognition of the anniversaries of World Wars One and Two. The 3rd Annual Pacific Tattoo, held July 12 and 13 at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, features military and civilian performers from across Canada and the U.S.A, in a theatrical production that honours veterans and recognizes the centenary of the First World War, and the  70th anniversary of D-Day. “We have the familiar tattoo ingredients: military bands, precision marching, pageantry, uniforms, historical recognition, nostalgic music and of course pipes and drums and highland dancers,” says Roger McGuire, producer of the Pacific Tattoo. “Each year the Tattoo incorporates a central theme. This year we recognize anniversaries associated with both World Wars, and we’ll honour veterans who will be in attendance.” New to this year’s event are the New Guard America, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry Drum Corps, and the Band of the 15th Field Artillery Regiment. New Guard America, holder of 13 Guinness World Records and 11 world championship competition titles, is the world’s only internationally touring professional civilian fixed bayonet rifle exhibition drill team.  Widely regarded as the best in the world, New Guard America features six rifle sequences of such extreme risk and difficulty; they are the only drill team in the world to perform them. The non-firing weapons used during their performances are the M1903-03 rifle. These weapons were used by U.S. military during both World Wars. Returning performers include The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy; the Tattoo Pipes and Drums including members of the Canadian Scottish Regiment and Seaforth Highlanders of Canada; and the “E” Division RCMP Ceremonial Troop. Pacific Tattoo organizers are scheduling free daytime performances around Victoria July 9 through 11.  Watch for impromptu “10-minute Tattoo teases” in the Inner Harbour and in Centennial Square....

[caption id="attachment_6880" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAdm Gilles Couturier[/caption] For nearly a year, whenever RAdm Gilles Couturier has travelled, he has packed a large binder dedicated to the summer training goals of 23 nations.The Canadian admiral is the Combined Forces Maritime Component Commander (CFMCC) for Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2014, the largest maritime exercise in the world. Along with the lengthy job title comes the responsibility to make sure everyone who participates in this year’s event sails away with new skills and lots of practical experience. While still fulfilling his duties at National Defence Headquarters, since September RAdm Couturier has been attending RIMPAC planning meetings and poring over documents to make sure he understands what each participating nation is hoping to achieve. His RIMPAC binder, which has been steadily filling up as planning has progressed, will remain by his side until the end of the exercise so he can keep tabs on what all 48 surface ship crews and six submarine crews have done, and what they still need to accomplish. For a sailor who’s been in Ottawa for the past year, it’s a dream job, he says. “It’s back to the navy, and for a navy guy it’s very interesting. It’s operational; it’s all about ships and aircraft at sea and sailors. At the end of the day it’s all about the people, making sure our sailors leave there as better sailors, a better ship’s company able to operate in a multi-national maritime context.” A new role for CanadaNot only is CFMCC a big job, this is also the first time a Canadian has taken on the role. Americans filled key RIMPAC leadership roles up until the last RIMPAC in 2012 when an Australian filled the CFMCC shoes and Canada fulfilled the Deputy Commander role with RAdm Ron Lloyd...

[caption id="attachment_6874" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMC Ships Nanaimo and Whitehorse approach Esquimalt Harbour.[/caption] While the training areas in the waters around Hawaii teem with 25,000 military personnel from all around the world, HMC Ships Whitehorse and Nanaimo will be at work 4,000 kilometres away. Operating out of San Diego, California, the two Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels will participate in scenario-driven Naval Mine Countermeasures exercises with a task force made up of personnel from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. “It’s a great opportunity for us to work with allies we don’t see very often,” says LCdr Jeffrey Hopkins, Commanding Officer of Nanaimo. “They bring in elements to operations we don’t have; and learning how to utilize the specific skills and equipment we all bring is an integral and hugely beneficial part of the exercise.” During the exercises both Whitehorse and Nanaimo will use different specialized mine-detection equipment. Aboard Nanaimo will be a side-scan sonar, a torpedo-shaped piece of equipment that is towed through the water behind the vessel at variable depths, scanning the surrounding area for potential mines. “We don’t get much time with the side-scan sonar so we’re happy to have any chance to brush up on it,” says LCdr Hopkins. “It’s been a while, so we’ve been hard at work training on it and making sure the newer crew members know all the ins and outs.” Whitehorse will be tasked with investigating and inspecting contacts Nanaimo may find. They will do this using a remotely operated vehicle and a Bottom Object Inspections Vehicle (BOIV). “Whatever Nanaimo may find we get a team and equipment in the water to get more complete information on what it is,” says LCdr Michael Sorsdahl, Commanding Officer of Whitehorse. “We will have a team embarked from the Fleet Dive Unit (Pacific) (FDU(P))...

[caption id="attachment_6868" align="alignnone" width="300"] From Left to right: C/MWO Jayden Worth, C/CWO Curtis Whittla (Corps RSM) and C/MWO Tyler Cardinal show their National Star of Excellence Level 4 insignia.[/caption] During the 2483 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, Commanding Officer’s parade on May 27, a very rare event happened.  Three Master Cadets were presented with Level 4 of the National Star of Excellence. This is the highest level of achievement within the Army Cadet Programme in Canada.  Out of 51 Army Cadets Corps in B.C., parading approximately 2,000 Army Cadets, only 10 Level 4 - National Stars of Excellence have been presented so far, three of which are C/CWO Curtis Whittla (the Corps Regimental Sgt-Maj (RSM)); C/MWO Jayden Worth; and C/MWO Tyler Cardinal. The National Star of Excellence (NSE) is a merit and performance-based system of achievement, where progression within the programme is based on the capacity of cadets to collect merit and performance points in various areas of assessment to reach the four distinct levels of excellence.  More points are given for higher levels of achievement within specified training or levels of participation (be it local, regional, national or international levels).   The NSE recognizes senior cadets that display superior involvement in Army Cadet activities and is the most comprehensive Army Cadet Challenge.  Areas of assessments are a combination of compulsory and participation training and events including, but not limited to: leadership, citizenship, fitness and healthy living, community service and community leadership, general cadet knowledge, attendance at compulsory and advanced training, drill, dress, deportment, navigation, wilderness survival, instructional techniques, marksmanship, expeditions, Duke of Edinburgh Awards, music, and participation in optional training teams such as first aid or drill teams. These three cadets displayed impressive level of commitment within the Army Cadet Programme at the Corps,...

Declining enrolment and financial losses have forced the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) to shut down its daycare service at Lampson School.After Aug. 15, the MFRC will no longer offer daycare at this location. “It was a difficult decision and we are very sad to see the daycare close,” says Linda Scott, MFRC Program Manager. “But we are looking forward to having a good last summer with the kids.”Daycare is not a mandated service for the MFRC. In 2009, CFB Esquimalt leased Lampson School from the school board to fill a need for daycare services. However, since 2013, there has been a decline in enrolment of children aged three to five years old, and  an increase in growing deficits from running the operation. “As a non-profit organization, our board of directors had to make the decision that this service is no longer financially viable for us,” says Gaynor Jackson, MFRC Executive Director. “We understand that change is difficult and we are committed to assisting families throughout this process.” Due to annual transitions, the MFRC will be able to accommodate all families currently in Lampson’s Infant Toddler program at their Colwood location. Some spaces will be available in their three to five-year-olds daycare in Colwood as well. Those not accommodated have been provided information on other daycares in the Esquimalt area that have vacancies for September. The closure will also impact casual child care and children’s deployment workshops at Lampson School; however, these services will continue at CPAC in Colwood. Parents may contact the MFRC directly with questions or concerns or visit www.esquimaltmfrc.com for more information.