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[caption id="attachment_5617" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Winnipeg prepares to leave the drydock.[/caption] On Thursday, Nov. 28, HMCS Winnipeg emerged from the Esquimalt Graving Dock repaired and ready to take on the challenges of trials and an operational programme that commenced in the New Year.  Its five week and five days in the graving dock was related to damage sustained during the allision with “American Dynasty” in April. Winnipeg had just moved to dockyard from Victoria Shipyards Limited, having completed a docking work period, and was in the midst of its post docking extended work period when the allision occurred.  “American Dynasty” struck Winnipeg on the port bow causing it to strike the jetty, which resulted in further damage to the starboard side, starboard quarter and stern flap. On Oct. 25 it entered the graving dock to allow Victoria Shipyards Limited to conduct structural repairs suffered during the allision.     Concurrent to these repairs, Winnipeg received maintenance on its sonar, various underwater sensors, and completed a thorough cleaning of the props. Victoria Shipyard’s staff rectified damage to areas on the starboard side, just outside of the oparations room and the main cafeteria, while Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton had repaired the damage done to the port side and transom prior to entering the graving dock. In total, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton and Victoria Shipyards Limited replaced nine vertical structural beams that form the structure of the ship, nine longitudinals that form the horizontal frames of the structure of the ship, three bulkheads and five sections of shell plating. As well they had to repair two sections of deck and three shock mounts.While the allision of April 23, 2013, setback Winnipeg’s original timeline for commencing sea trials, the exceptional flexibility and superb coordination between the Formation, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton, Victoria Shipyards...

[caption id="attachment_5614" align="alignnone" width="300"] Changes to the base clinic operations will soon include the ability to book sick parade appointments online.[/caption] In the New Year, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members may notice a few differences at the Canadian Force Health Services Centre (Pacific) (CF H Svcs C(P)), colloquially known as the Base Medical Clinic.To increase the efficiency of unscheduled appointments, all unscheduled appointments will be moved to Care Delivery Unit (CDU) 3 in the Clinic’s main building, as opposed to being done separately under the previous Urgent Care model.The change comes following the Defence Reduction Action Plan (DRAP), a nation-wide restructuring program that imposed new funding pressures and resulted in the loss of several Public Service employees.“We had to look closely at how we deliver primary care to ensure it was as efficient as possible,” says LCol Joane Simard, Commanding Officer of CF H Svcs C (P). “Through collaborative consultation and review, we saw changes could be made so we took the steps toward the course we thought will optimize access to care and decrease wait times.”To this effect, CDU 1 and 3 staff swapped locations within the Clinic. CDU 3 and the old Urgent Care Clinic have combined into a Duty CDU to align support to the Fleet and look after unscheduled appointments.LCol Simard wants to assure people that there will be no noticeable difference in care at the Base Clinic, aside from some patients going to a different area of the facility to see their physicians.“We are still providing the same level and quality of care by the same physicians,” she says. “This is an efficiency and consolidation process rather than a restructuring.”Changes are also on their way for how CF H Svcs C (P) handles its day-to-day appointments. Currently, CAF members arrive at the hospital at 7:30...

Every year, Department of National Defence’s (DND) shelter charges (rents) must be revised to ensure they reflect local market values for similar homes in the local market. This guarantees fairness and equity for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families regardless of whether they choose to live in the private sector or in DND housing. The Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA), a Special Operating Agency of DND, manages Crown housing on its behalf and therefore administers the rent adjustment process annually in accordance with governmental and departmental policies and regulations. Historically, rent values for DND housing have been appraised by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) annually. The appraisal was based on a number of factors, such as type, size, age, access to amenities, and general condition of the units. In 2013, CMHC announced it would no longer provide appraisal services for residential Crown housing. CFHA and other government departments affected by this change worked with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) to establish an interim, fair solution for this year’s rent adjustment exercise. An indexed value for the housing units was determined by PWGSC, based upon the three previous annual increases. Based on the indexed values provided by PWGSC, the recommended average 2014 rent increases for occupants in B.C. DND housing was 2.2 per cent. CFHA then reviewed the provincial rent control legislations to determine each province’s maximum for rental increases this year to ensure families living in DND housing will not experience a rent adjustment that is too large.For 2014, rental increases in B.C. are restricted to the lowest of the provincial rent control legislation limits of 2.2 per cent, or a maximum of $100 per month regardless of the CMHC appraisal value or PWGSC indexed value. In Esquimalt, this translates to an average increase in rent of...

[caption id="attachment_5576" align="alignnone" width="300"] MCpl Chris Downey treks along the icy Antarctic landscape with his pulk. In the distance is a member of the U.K. team and the film crew.[/caption] When MCpl Chris Downey stepped from the plane into the icy, hostile environment of Antarctica Nov. 25 there was only one thing on his mind: closure.Along with fellow Canadian Armed Forces member Cpl Alexandre Beaudin D’Anjou and other wounded veterans from the U.K., the U.S. and Australia, he landed at the South Pole to tackle Walking with the Wounded 2013 - South Pole Allied Challenge.A week later three teams embarked on one of the most high profile and toughest expeditions of modern times -  walking 330 kilometres to the geographic South Pole in a treacherous environment. But for MCpl Downey, it was also about remembering and saying good-bye to a fallen comrade. “When I initially heard about the expedition through Solider On I couldn’t pass it up,” says MCpl Downey. “I’ve always had a thirst for adventure and after my time in Afghanistan I had a debt to repay, even if it was a personal one.”Three years ago, on May 3, MCpl Downey witnessed the death of his friend PO2 Douglas Craig Blake. The two were assigned to dispose of an improvised explosive device (IED) located 25 kilometres from Kandahar, Afghanistan. The terrain was so rugged they had to leave their vehicle and hike to their destination. When the mission was complete, they began the walk back to their vehicle. For PO2 Blake one step would be his last. A nearby IED detonated and killed him. MCpl Downey was severely wounded. He suffered shrapnel wounds, burns and lacerations to his thighs, upper body and face, a collapsed lung, a broken and shattered jaw and right hand, two aneurysms, the loss...

If you have been listening to news reports, there are now several areas where significant outbreaks of influenza have been recorded across Canada. It is not too late to get vaccinated against flu and it is highly recommended! Remember: just because you’ve had the flu shot in previous years or even been sick this year does not mean you’re protected. The flu shot does not contain flu virus and there is no way to get the flu from receiving the shot.Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) – generally known as the Base Hospital – will continue to provide walk-in vaccination to any member who requests it. Because of the circumstances of this year’s H1N1 strain of flu, we will also provide travelling clinics to interested units. If your unit will be participating in this effort, you should hear from your Chain of Command on the dates and times. DND employees and civilian family members are also encouraged to use local public health resources including flu clinics at community drug stores and public vaccine parades to receive this year’s flu-shot. Affects younger peopleThis year’s H1N1 strain of influenza has produced more sickness in adults aged 20-64 years of age than in the elderly. Youth is no protection from the flu and our close quarters environments – indoor offices; confined ships quarters, busy shops – are all perfect places for flu virus to spread from person to person. The influenza vaccine is an important part of reducing your personal risk of illness and reducing the risk of bringing sickness home to family members. Reducing risk of infectionFlu is contagious very early after a person is infected – sometimes even before the earliest symptoms start. Therefore, one of the best infection control strategies is to limit exposure to others when sick to prevent...

[caption id="attachment_5570" align="alignnone" width="300"] SLt Tyler Cole (centre) conducts routine preventative maintenance on the India Band radar with technicians MS Casey Clarke (left) and MS Nicolas Ferraro (right) on HMCS Protecteur.[/caption] A lot can change in seven weeks, as members of HMCS Protecteur learned during their recent task as the duty tanker for SOCAL Oiler 2013. There were the usual challenges of maintaining a 44-year-old ship, which the crew was up to managing; however, half-way through the trip the Combat Systems Engineering Department had to think outside the box to keep the ship navigationally safe due to the degradation of India and Foxtrot Band radars. While alongside San Diego, CA, SLt Tyler Cole, a Phase 6 Combat Systems Engineer (CSE), worked closely with the Logistics Department on board and at home in Esquimalt to procure and install a new X-Band Furuno radar. SLt Cole was particularly interested in this assignment. “It’s not every day that I have the opportunity to be involved in such a big project,” he said.He has been in the military for two years, but his interest and experience in naval engineering stems from his time as a session professor at Memorial University. “I was completing my last year of my Masters in Ocean Naval Architectural Engineering under Dr. Wei Qiu in hydrodynamics. I taught Advanced Marine Ocean Vehicles and Marine Propulsion,” he explained. Before returning to complete his Masters, SLt Cole worked as a Project Engineer at BMT Fleet Tech, where he worked on the Ice Breaking Emergency Evacuation Craft Project as a junior engineer. Once he finished his schooling, he then worked for the Sustainable Technology for Polar Ship Structures Project at Memorial University under Dr. Claude Daley and Dr. Bruce Colbourne. As a CSE, SLt Cole has the opportunity to use his educational background...

[caption id="attachment_5528" align="alignnone" width="300"] Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton employees put in a combined 27,000 hours of work to ensure HMCS Regina would be ready for Operation Artemis.[/caption] It will be a point of pride for Fleet Maintenance Facility (FMF) Cape Breton when HMCS Regina leaves its homeport for international waters this week.Throughout the warship are the results of more than 27,000 hours of hard work preparing the ship for Operation Artemis, a major deployment to the Arabian Sea to participate in maritime security and counter-terrorism operations. “It is no small task preparing a ship for deployment,” says Lt(N) Mohamed Gudal, Deputy Program Manager for FMF. “It takes the combined efforts of many of our shops to get a ship technically ready, and it’s usually done under a very tight schedule. It’s the kind of work we pride ourselves on.”The FMF team prepared Regina for its operation during the ship’s Short Work Period from Oct. 21 to Nov. 29, 2013; 135 jobs were completed. These jobs ran the gamut of mission fits, new system installations, communications fits, system upgrades, diesel generator repairs and upgrades, and inspections and certifications.“Our ability to work together and provide all facets of a job together is our greatest strength,” says Lt(N) Gudal.One of the largest jobs was the upgrades to Regina’s diesel generators. These generators provide power to the ship’s system and are integral for its operation. “We conducted work on Regina’s diesel generators that implemented product improvements to ensure enhanced reliability for the generators,” says John Yardley, Work Centre Supervisor of the Diesel Shop at FMF. “Necessary materials were obtained, and in partnership with industry, the required work was carried out.” The Diesel Shop partnered with Wartsila Canada, a Finnish corporation that manufactures and maintains combustion engines. They split up work on the generators...

[caption id="attachment_5525" align="alignnone" width="300"] Christine Duggleby reads an Imagination Library book to daughter Ellorie and son Conall at the Colwood Activity Centre.[/caption] Since its start in August 2010, military families at CFB Esquimalt have signed up 329 newborns for the MFRC’s Imagination Library.  PO1 Jeremy Duggleby and his wife Christine’s son Conall has received over two dozen books from this program through the first two years of his life. “We know that reading is important,” says Christine, who describes her family as already having a love for reading. “A book is a gateway to imagination.”Conall is not the only child enjoying the books in the Duggleby house. His four-year-old sister Ellorie enjoys the monthly treat as well, often paraphrasing the stories to her younger sibling.  “My kids love feeling they are getting something special in the mail each month,” says Christine. “For them to have a new book is fantastic. It gives them a glimpse into a new world. It opens them to new authors and stories we might not gravitate towards.”She believes the books available through the Imagination Library act as “springboards” for growth in each of her children. She says it “helps facilitate dialogue” with their children and aids in their problem solving. It also spurs their curiosity. When they read the children a story of how Spot went to the library, they want to go to the library and check out more books featuring Spot.    Andrea Callaghan also sees the benefits of the program for her family. “We love the Imagination Library,” she says. “My oldest daughter associates receiving a book in the mail to reading with her father. This is great when he is home, but when he is away she stacks the books and looks forward to reading them with him when he gets back....

[caption id="attachment_5522" align="alignnone" width="300"] RAdm. H.S. Rayner is seen here inspecting the Guard and pauses to speak to Guard Officer Lt. Hector Renton.[/caption] Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Rainbow recently turned 95 and celebrated with a special parade at Government House. The cadets were inspected by Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon and Commander Maritime Forces Pacific Rear Admiral Bill Truelove. The Lieutenant Governor presented the band with a Drum Major’s mace and five silver bugles. In addition, 11 cadets received bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh awards.   It has been 43 years since Rainbow last paraded at Government House. 95 years of training youth Founded in 1918, Rainbow was originally called the “Boys Naval Brigade.” Many of those first sea cadets went on to join the RCN Volunteer Reserve when it started up in 1923. In that same year, the name was officially changed to the “Sea Cadet Corps.” Since the beginning, Sea Cadets have been supported by the Navy League of Canada, itself founded in 1895. Early training was very hands on with lots of sailing, boat pulling, seamanship, camping, and of course parade-ground work. The Sea Cadet program grew throughout the great depression and Second World War and spread across the country. In 1941, the RCN officially partnered with the Navy League to jointly support Sea Cadets, and in 1942 King George VI bestowed the honorific “Royal Canadian” to the Sea Cadet Corps and became their first Admiral. After the war the old RN/RCN establishment at Comox was commissioned as HMCS Quadra in 1952.  Since then, tens of thousands of cadets have spent summers training at Goose Spit in Comox Harbour. Following unification in the late 1960’s, Sea Cadet Officers were formally commissioned into the reserves as members of the Cadet Instructors List. It is now called the...

[caption id="attachment_5419" align="alignnone" width="600"] Capt(N) Luc Cassivi, Vicki Laidlaw, Honorary Capt(N) Cedric Steele, and RAdm Bill Truelove present Interim CEO of United Way Greater Victoria, Heather Gardiner, and Health Partners Campaign Manager, Ellen Louie with a cheque for $555,000 during the closing ceremonies for the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign held at the Naden Drill Shed at CFB Esquimalt on Dec. 16.[/caption] Members of the Defence Team gathered at CFB Esquimalt last Monday evening to mark the conclusion of their annual Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) during the official opening of the Navy Holiday Village at the Naden Drill Shed. Capt(N) Luc Cassivi, Base Commander, presented a big cheque during the opening of the Holiday Village in the amount of $555,000 to Heather Gardiner of the United Way of Greater Victoria and Ellen Louie of Healthpartners. The figure was followed by a “plus sign” to indicate further unit contributions continuing to arrive. “Our organizers and volunteers did a fantastic job throughout this year’s campaign. There was great unit participation across the Formation and a lot of excitement generated throughout,” said Capt(N) Cassivi. “I am also very pleased to see so many members of the community here for the cheque presentation and to connect with their navy at our Navy Holiday Village.”    The local Defence Team, comprised of Canadian Forces members and civilian employees working at more than 100 Department of National Defence (DND) units within the Greater Victoria Area, has been a leading contributor to the United Way of Greater Victoria. These contributions are the result of countless hours worked by volunteers who each year make the campaign a success. The United Way of Greater Victoria will distribute the local Defence Team’s donations to the registered Canadian charities. The campaign began Sept. 19, raising contributions through...

[caption id="attachment_5421" align="alignnone" width="600"] HMCS Yellowknife is welcomed back to CFB Esquimalt by the Admiral after three months at sea with Operation Caribbe.[/caption] HMC Ships Edmonton and Yellowknife, along with HMC Submarine Victoria, returned home last Thursday after completing deployments in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the end of a very successful year for Operation Caribbe 2013. It was late fall when Yellowknife and Edmonton left Esquimalt harbour for what would be a fruitful operation combating transnational organized crime off the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Central America. Brimming with anticipation, the two reserve crews sailed away in their Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels Sept. 23 for their three month deployment. The transit was 3,200 nautical miles south to the west coast of Central America. The mission:  Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to the international campaign against illicit drug trafficking in that region. While en route, the ships’ crews completed work-ups tailored to the unique requirements of their upcoming mission. Following a quick stopover in San Diego to pick up United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments, the MCDVs joined a two-day exercise dubbed North American Maritime Security Initiative (NAMSI) between the Canadian, Mexican, United States Navies and the U.S. Coast Guard. That exercise challenged the Canadian, U.S., and Mexican forces to plan and execute a combined response to a maritime security threat. Several objectives were met including coordinated planning, seamless information sharing, and command and control during the detection, interdiction and disposition of a vessel engaged in illicit activities. With training complete, the Canadian MCDVs continued south to the Mexican Naval Base in Ensenada, Mexico. Sailors were introduced to Mexico’s multiple counter-narcotic practices, such as their road search procedures and canine unit, as well as a tour of their Coast Guard vessels and Russian built Mi 17 helicopter. Each country joined in hospitality celebrations, with Admiral Victor Uribe Arevalo of the Mexican Navy awarding Yellowknife a plaque in commemoration of their involvement in NAMSI. In return, LCdr Brad Henderson, Commanding Officer...

Last week, beneath the cold waters of CFB Esquimalt, divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) (FDU(P)) moved about like sub-aquatic bees. They were replacing the sensitive sonar domes of HMC Ships Regina and Winnipeg, and, according to MS Marc-Andre Bibeau, what is a relatively simple task in dry dock, is complicated beneath the waves. “You have to worry about a laundry list of things you don’t need to think about on land,” says MS Bibeau. “For example, if you drop a tool on land you can just pick it up, but if you drop something down there it’s gone.” Six bolts securing the six-foot-long, eight-foot-tall fibreglass dome were removed with a two-handed speed wrench. The old dome was then lowered onto a supporting structure of legs assembled underwater by the divers to ensure it wasn’t damaged. Crane operators then removed the old dome. A new one was then lowered into the water, manoeuvred into place and secured by the divers. “It’s a nice bit of team work between the divers and the guys up top,” says MS Bibeau. “There’s a lot of moving pieces in terms of workers, so it’s good to have everyone on the same page.” When it comes to the physical aspect, MS Bibeau says the difference between surface and sub aquatic can be strikingly apparent during the most routine parts of the job. “It’s an added complication, because you need leverage to use a speed wrench,” says MS Bibeau. “Anything that requires leverage down there is challenging. You’re basically weightless, so you have to secure yourself or find your own leverage. It can put you in some strange positions sometimes.” He says while all the added complications may make the job seem overwhelming his team is skilled and used to this sort of task. “The domes have to be replaced around once a year, so this isn’t out of the ordinary for us,” he says. “We’re happy with the work we’ve done on it, and we’re...

[caption id="attachment_5376" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ken Lidstone poses with his larger than life Santa and reindeer cut outs. They are just a few of the many cut outs that will adorn the Navy Holiday Village.[/caption] Piles of fluffy cotton snow, cheerful holiday music from the Naden Band, and a cast of colourful characters festoon the Naden Drill Shed this week during the inaugural Navy Holiday Village.Last week volunteers decked the hall with boughs of holly, decorated Christmas trees and created a winter wonderland walkthrough for the public to enjoy. “We wanted to come up with a replacement for the Navy Lighting Contest, and we thought this was a great opportunity,” says Ken Lidstone, primary designer of the village. “With dockyard under construction, we wanted to centralize the celebrations, and I think we’ve outdone ourselves.”Among the decorations, including an installation from the CFB Esquimalt Model Train Club, are hundreds of cartoon cut-outs constructed by Lidstone himself. The craftsman has been constructing these plywood characters for the past 35 years.“It’s just a small hobby of mine,” he says. “I’ve created about 250, but plywood doesn’t last forever so I’m currently at around 100.”Lidstone’s collection runs the gamut from the Grinch to Bugs Bunny to Santa and his Elves. “I wanted to contribute in any way I could, and this is something I love doing,” he says. “Seeing children smile when they recognize characters they love fills me with such joy.”Outside, visitors will see a lighted truck display and naval ships lit up from afar. “The view from the bluff at the Drill Shed is beautiful, and with the lights on the water it’s just wonderful,” says Lidstone. “It’s a great way to cap off the event.”Cdr Wes Golden, Base Administration Officer, says he is thrilled by the work and effort put in by...

[caption id="attachment_5373" align="alignnone" width="300"] VAdm Norman addresses sailors of the Royal Canadian Navy during a ship visit.[/caption] The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has a new roadmap to establish the navy’s direction and strategic priorities for 2013 to 2017.The RCN Executive Plan, launched in early December by Vice-Admiral Mark Norman, Commander RCN, will help guide the organization through the most intensive period of transition and renewal ever in its peacetime history.In the Executive Plan, VAdm Norman sets out his four main priorities: to ensure excellence in operations at sea; to enable the RCN’s transition to the future fleet; to evolve the “business of our business”, leading to more effective management of resources; and finally, to energize the entire RCN institution.VAdm Norman is confident the Plan will allow the Navy to realize these goals. To this end, the RCN has set in motion a series of changes in its governance, readiness processes and structures as it seeks better, leaner and smarter ways to deliver on its mission. These changes, collectively known as “Navy Renewal”, represent the RCN’s contributions towards the broader Defence Renewal effort.“The organizing principle for Navy Renewal is ‘One Navy’, by which we will realign the RCN’s core readiness functions and processes around pan-naval authorities who will exercise their responsibilities on behalf of the entire RCN regardless of where they are located,” VAdm Norman explains.The creation of pan-naval authorities includes a clear separation of roles and responsibilities between the strategic and operational levels of command. The Naval Staff in Ottawa is being realigned toward its corporate functions, such as ensuring the delivery of the future fleet, and further decentralizing operations to the coasts.At the operational level, functions are being delegated to one of the two coastal commanders. Commander Maritime Forces Pacific will assume responsibilities for Naval Training Systems, individual training...

[caption id="attachment_5370" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Wesley Chao spent an unplanned night in the woods near Shawnigan Lake after a mushroom picking trip went awry.[/caption] When LS Wesley Chao drove up to Shawinigan Lake a month ago seeking the elusive and highly sought after pine mushroom, he didn’t expect to stay overnight. But inattention would leave him no choice but to brave the night in the wilderness.“The pine mushroom only grows in abundance in a few places on the island, and one of those places in Shawinigan Lake,” says LS Chao, a Weapons/Engineering Technician aboard HMCS Calgary. “I love pine mushrooms, so I thought I’d head up and see what I could find.” So he piled into car with friends and took to the hills around the lake where pine mushrooms are known to grow. The day expanded to a fairly profitable mushroom hunt, with LS Chao collecting upwards of 10 pounds of the tasty and expensive fungi. “I was having a great time. I was so engaged in the picking I started wandering higher and higher up the hill,” he says. “According to my compass I was going west, so I figured I had a pretty good idea of where I was.”The day wore on and the sun went down as LS Chao continued his hunt. Once it started getting dark he began to head in the direction of his car, or where he thought he had parked his car.“I should have gone northwest, but instead went west. I found a small path through the trees I thought would take me back, but it didn’t,” he says. “My two friends knew their way around so they made it back first; I was calling out to them but they were too far away.”With his compass, his mushrooms, and the night quickly...

[caption id="attachment_5332" align="alignnone" width="300"] Sgt Michael Oliver (right) was selected from numerous nominees as the senior MP of the year for 2013, and was awarded with a recognition certificate by the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal Colonel Rob Delaney, CD, (left) on Nov. 26.[/caption] One CFB Esquimalt Military Police (MP) officer had his overseas work nationally recognized when he was given the title of Senior Non-Commissioned Member (NCM) of the Year.The award came as a surprise to Sgt Mike Oliver, who was deployed to Afghanistan for the eligible period.“It’s not often people get this award as part of a deployment,” he says. “I’m very proud of the work we did over there so to receive this acknowledgement feels really good.”Sgt Oliver was posted in Kabul, Afghanistan, from February to November of 2012. There he was employed as the Close Protection Platoon 2IC, escorting and protecting high value personnel such as politicians, dignitaries, and senior ranking military officials. “It was a very high tempo deployment,” says Sgt Oliver. “You never really knew what was going to happen, but you went out everyday well prepared and relied on your training. Our whole team made it back home and that’s what counts.”While he was the one on the ground every day in Afghanistan, Sgt Oliver says the struggle was just as real for family and friends back home. Without the support system of his family in place he says the experience would have been much different.“The courage and strength displayed by my wife Tracey allowed me to focus on successfully completing my mission and coming home safely,” he says. “I really can’t overstate how appreciative I am of her unwavering support.”The nomination comes from the ranks of Military Police across Canada of which Sgt Oliver says there are many worthy of the accolade. “We’ve...

[caption id="attachment_5329" align="alignnone" width="300"] Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) trainees Nolan Miles, Gerry Jomphe, and PO1 Dan Moeller erect a temporary shore to stabilize a simulated collapsing building during training Nov. 28.[/caption] On top of a pile of a rubble, amidst the clanging of sledgehammers and the pounding of nails, 25 people train for the worst.They’re a part of the CFB Esquimalts Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) annual training, and right now they’re stabilizing a “collapsing” building.“Simulations and scenarios help give the training a more practical edge,” says Glenn Cooper, USAR Team Commander. “When they have a clear goal ahead of them it’s easier to put their training and techniques to the test.”Standing in for the collapsing building is an old concrete shed at the USAR facility near Work Point. Temporary shoring materials are being erected using wooden beams, steel pegs, nails, nail guns, sledgehammers, and saws. “This is a very basic skill for USAR. Obviously, it’s not safe trying to get people out of a building about to fall on your head, so you have to make it safer,” says Cooper, who has been with USAR since 1999. Building stabilization is just one part of the two-week long program. Trainees also learn the basics on breaching, the use of heavy tools to break through wooden, concrete, and even metal walls in the event someone is trapped inside a structure. “There are myriad skills needed in an USAR situation,” says Cooper. “With this team training we hope to lay the groundwork so they are better prepared when we send them for certification training.”The training draws personnel from across DND, civilian and military. For PO1 Dan Moeller the training is a way of ensuring his skills are up to snuff should the real thing ever happen.“We’re taught if anything does actually...

The Christmas and New Year holiday season is an opportunity to spend well-deserved time with friends and family and to recharge for the new year. While the majority look forward to the holiday period, there are some that find it challenging. As a defence community, we have a responsibility to look out for those around us especially those who may be away from home or experiencing difficulties during this holiday season.To decrease stress and ensure your holiday season is enjoyable the following helpful tips will prove invaluable:•    Practice moderation.  Alcohol should be used responsibly as excessive use can impair mood, thinking, behaviour, and judgement. If you plan to drink, do so responsibly and plan ahead to get home safely.•    Maintain a routine.  Adequate sleep, regular exercise, healthy eating and setting healthy boundaries are the key to maintaining a Sense of well-being. Having a routine will help you cope with the potential stressors of the holiday season as well as effectively balance your needs with the needs and expectations of others.The military and civilian community are fortunate to have a tremendous number of resources for those that may encounter difficulties during the holiday period. CFHSvcsC (P) will maintain services throughout the majority of the holiday season and will post their hours of operation on the marpac webpage. The website will also include a list of other military and civilian community resources that are available during off-hours.  In case of emergency or after hours need for urgent medical treatment, members should call 911 and attend the closest hospital.If you, a family member, friend, shipmate, or co-worker are experiencing feelings of stress, anxiety, sadness, anger, etc., please refer yourself or others to the many health professionals that are available to support and assist. The following is a list of available resources:•    Urgent Care...

[caption id="attachment_5290" align="alignnone" width="300"] HMCS Chicoutimi undocks from the Seaspan careen at Ogden Point on Nov. 26.[/caption] After a lengthy time ashore, HMCS Chicoutimi is finally back in the water.The Victoria-class submarine was undocked Nov. 26 from Victoria shipyard and will continue system testing through Babcock Canada, and crew training for its 2014 return to operational readiness.“We’re very excited to take the next step in Chicoutimi’s preparation,” says LCdr Tim Markusson, Commanding Officer of Chicoutimi. “It’s been a long time coming and we’re thrilled to be moving forward.”Chicoutimi was docked in 2004 following a fire that claimed the life of Lt(N) Chris Saunders. The fire also gutted portions of the boat. In the nine years that followed the fire, the submarine has undergone extensive repairs, upgrades, and refits.“I head down to see Chicoutimi once a week, and now just walking around it looks like a submarine again,” he says. “The work has been completed skillfully and beautifully. I couldn’t be happier with it.”With the 2014 operations date approaching, LCdr Markusson says the crew of Chicoutimi is getting in sailing shape. “We’ve had several trips to Halifax to work on the trainers and while alongside we’ve been discussing the aspects and procedures of our operation,” says LCdr Markusson.Over the Christmas period Babcock Canada will continue systems testing and then turn over the submarine in early 2014. Before then, there are many small details that need to be attended to by LCdr Markusson and his team.“It’s the bits and pieces which need to be handled,” he says. “Things like outfitting the bunks with mattresses, and installing televisions in each mess. This takes an operational submarine and turns it into a home away from home for the crew.”With the future of Chicoutimi laid out before him, LCdr Markusson is excited to see what’s...

[caption id="attachment_5287" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cadet CPO1 Dennis Roberts, Coxswain of HMCS Rainbow, was in the media spotlight upon disembarking from HMCS Protecteur after six weeks at sea.[/caption] HMCS Protecteur sailed back into Esquimalt Harbour Nov. 18, returning nine Sea Cadets from a once-in-a-lifetime training opportunity.“It was quite unique and really cool,” says CPO1 Dennis Roberts, 18, Coxswain of HMCS Rainbow.Sea cadets from British Columbia and Alberta joined Protecteur’s crew on Oct. 12 for a six-week trip to see the work of sailors in a Royal Canadian Navy ship.Senior sea cadets, aged 16 to 18, were integrated into all crew responsibilities, from deck, air detachment, logistics, marine systems engineering, combat systems engineering and combat.The group also conducted cleaning stations, painted the ship and participated in the Remembrance Day ceremony. They toured the retired USS Midway and the USS Kidd.While in the port of San Diego, the sea cadets explored some of California’s attractions, such as the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Disneyland and Universal Studios, and even got to spend a couple days on the beach.But even better than basking in the sun was taking a tour of California’s coastline in a Sea King helicopter.“That was the highlight of the trip,” says CPO1 Roberts, who is in his last year of cadets. He joined when he was 12 years old.The sea cadets who joined Protecteur were selected based on recommendations from their commanding officer.“Dennis is a cadet that I would have had no hesitation in recommending for a deployment such as the recent Protecteur one, as he is always willing to learn,” said Lt(N) Jean Ann Cyr, Staff Officer 3 Sea for Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific). “I knew he would make the most of the opportunity.” -Larissa Johnston, Navy Public Affairs

[caption id="attachment_5284" align="alignnone" width="300"] Royal Roads Military College drummer from 1971-72.[/caption] Shaggy-haired 1970s recruits getting their first military haircuts. Muddy runners completing the obstacle course. Uniformed cadets at the formal dance. These were some of the people photographed each year at the former Royal Roads Military College.  Until now, most of these exceptional images were accessible only in photo albums, preserved in the Royal Roads University archives. This month the archives completed digitizing over 1,200 pages from these albums covering 1963 to 1988. Now the photos are searchable by year and fully accessible online through the library webpage: http://library.royalroads.ca/archives/annual-photograph-albums-royal-roads-military-college-1963-1988.  These digitized photo albums offer a chance to reflect on the discipline, teamwork and commitment of Royal Roads cadets, and leadership traits encouraged and admired today at RRU as part of a growing educational legacy, said Paul Corns, associate vice president of Community Relations and Advancement at Royal Roads University.   The majority of the photos in the digitization project were taken by RRMC staff photographer Len Watling, who first spent nine years with the Royal Canadian Navy at HMCS Naden as a darkroom technician before joining the staff of Royal Roads in 1964. Watling was an exacting artist who started his photographic business in 1941 while still a teenager. He routinely ran obstacle courses and hung out of helicopters to get the right shots of cadets.  These unique albums are the most requested items in the RRU archives, often displayed during events such as homecoming, said RRU archivist Caroline Posynick. Now that they are digitized, the albums are much more accessible, and the public can flip through them at home on their computers. This will bring the experiences of cadet life into sharper focus for anyone interested in military heritage.The $16,000 project was partially financed by a B.C. History Digitization Program...

[caption id="attachment_5248" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cpl Brown and a colleague, both DART combat engineers, conduct road tree removal to provide access to Dona Victoria Cortes Dais Memorial School in Pontevedra, Philippines.[/caption] With gusts reaching 380 kilometres per hour, Typhoon Haiyan was one of the strongest typhoons ever recorded. Setting off landslides, knocking out power in several provinces and cutting communications in the country’s central region of island provinces, the tropical super storm has affected an estimated 11.3 million people across the Philippines.It has caused significant loss of life, a large number of injuries and damage to many homes and infrastructure. In response to the humanitarian situation, Canadian Joint Operations Command implemented Op Renaissance 13-1, deploying more than 300 CAF personnel to provide primary medical care, engineering assistance and safe drinking water.  “One of our primary tasks is to open roads that have been blocked by the effects of the typhoon,” said Task Force Commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Walter Taylor. “We have engineers that are operating heavy equipment as well as chainsaws and electrical experts who will be removing a lot of the rubble that’s blocking the roads and permitting the humanitarian actors, the non-government organizations and the UN agencies, access to those villages to distribute relief supplies.”  The production of potable water is one of the most important contributions of the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). The Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit is set up and maintained by the Water Production Detachment of the DART Engineer Troop and, under ideal conditions, can purify up to 50,000 litres of safe drinking water a day. “Agricultural fields, crops have been blown away; storm surge has flooded the fields with sea water; and fishing boats have been destroyed,” said LCol Taylor. “So the people are really at a loss not only for their homes, but for...

[caption id="attachment_5245" align="alignnone" width="300"] A People’s Choice Award winner during last year’s Canadian Armed Forces Photography Contest, “Eskimo Girl” is Able Seaman Rommel Billanes’ first submission to the annual contest.[/caption] Able Seaman Rommel Billanes has, for the second time, been recognized during the Canadian Armed Forces’ Annual Photography Contest for being one of the major award winners in Best in Show (Advanced Category), with his photograph entitled “War Child.”This year he won first place in Portrait, third place in Special Effects, and an Honorable Mention in Environment, all in the Advanced Category. Last year he took home several awards in the Amateur Category, including Photographer of the Year (Novice Level), second place in Portrait, second place in Animal, third place in Open Theme, and the People’s Choice Award for his photograph “Eskimo Girl.”AB Billanes uses his self-taught photographic proficiency to take photos alongside the Image Technician during events such as Family Days, Fleet Mess Dinners and Remembrance Day ceremonies onboard HMCS Protecteur. He has been interested in photography since he was in college, but, he says, “The turning point was in 2011, when I got posted to CFB Esquimalt after my BMQ. I was away from my family in Ontario, so I decided to buy a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera to make myself busy and express my creative skill.”It was at that time he read a notice in The Lookout that the Department of National Defence holds an annual contest for both amateurs and professionals. “I decided to try my luck by submitting various images of different themes,” he said. “I won second prize in the Amateur category in Portraits, entitled ‘Little Miss Sunshine,’ and I also bagged the People’s Choice Award out of 48 entries.”Like last year, AB Billanes had the opportunity to include his daughter in the...

[caption id="attachment_5242" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cdr (Ret’d) Dan Fitzgerald takes the captain’s seat as Commanding Officer during training in the Navigation Bridge Simulator.[/caption] In a small room in Work Point’s Collier building, Cdr (Ret’d)  Dan Fitzgerald directs his bridge crew from his captain’s chair to bring a Halifax-class frigate into port.Before them is a 330-degree realistic computer-generated field of view. So real, virtual ships can even roll and pitch to feel like it’s moving. A total of eight bridges, six visual and two radar used for navigation exercises, reside in the Naval Officer Training Centre’s Navigation and Bridge Simulator (NABS).The simulator was required after the disbanding of the destroyer training squadron. It was integrated into NOTC in 1997 as a way to train bridge officers without the expense of using a real ship. The simulator offers training programs for all levels of bridge officers, from those who have never set foot on a bridge to the most experienced naval officers.  To keep it real beyond the virtual ship, NOTC has hired retired Commanding Officers to aid in the training. “Every real ship has a CO, and when we train we treat NABS as a real ship,” says Capt(N) (Ret’d) Ken Watson, manager of NOTC’s simulation department.The NABS Mentor program was developed as a way to fill crucial leadership roles during training that were previously filled by less experienced training staff.“We had training officers who lacked experience as a CO making decisions a CO wouldn’t make,” says Watson. “We thought there must be a way to have the leadership in place to make the training more realistic, and the NABS Mentor Program was born.”The program places experienced retired Royal Canadian Navy Commanding Officers in the simulator with trainees.Mentors are casual employees of NOTC Venture. Watson himself was Commanding Officer of HMCS Yukon...

[caption id="attachment_5197" align="alignnone" width="300"] The 19 Wing Operation Team takes a turn in the 30 second challenge, hauling a 35 tonne aircraft down the tarmac.[/caption] Cheers echoed across the airfield as 12 teams at 19 Wing Comox competed to pull a 35-tonne CC-115 Buffalo search and rescue airplane across the tarmac during a GCWCC event on Wednesday, Nov. 13.“We had approximately 120 military and civilian participants involved in the Buffalo Pull,” said event co-organizer, Captain Jeremy Maltais, chair for the Government of Canada’s Workplace Charitable Campaign (GCWCC) at 19 Wing Comox. “It was a great team-building event that promoted physical fitness, while raising $1,350 towards our $45,000 goal for the GCWCC.”Following a group warm-up led by Personnel Support Program fitness staff, the competition began with the goal of seeing which 10-member team could pull the aircraft farthest in 30 seconds.“Teams found that once the airplane’s wheels started to turn, momentum was easy to sustain, but getting a 35-ton airplane to roll from a dead stop was difficult,” said Sergeant Cesar Esteban, co-chair of the 19 Wing GCWCC. Following the competition, the Combined Aircraft Servicing team, made up of technicians from 19 Air Maintenance, 407 and 442 Squadrons was named the winner, pulling the aircraft 100 feet. A celebratory fundraising lunchtime barbeque was also held following the event.  “This type of activity generates a lot of friendly competition among the units and squadrons on base, and is also a lot of fun,” said Capt Maltais.While 19 Wing members are committed to helping their communities throughout the year through volunteering, the importance of the Workplace Charitable Campaign cannot be understated given that many people in the Comox Valley are touched by at least one of the several organizations supported by the Comox Valley United Way.  The Buffalo Pull was just one of...

[caption id="attachment_5194" align="alignnone" width="300"] Vice-Admiral (Ret’d) Nigel Brodeur (left), son of Rear-Admiral Victor Brodeur, presents replicas of his father’s medals to Bertrand Dupain, principal at L’école Victor Brodeur.[/caption] In a small Remembrance Day ceremony at l’école Victor Brodeur in Esquimalt a piece of history was passed down.A set of miniature medals, replicas of those worn by the school’s founder and namesake, Rear-Admiral Victor Brodeur, were presented to the school by Rear-Admiral Brodeur’s son, VAdm (Ret’d) Nigel Brodeur.“This school meant a lot to my father,” says VAdm Brodeur, who retired as Vice-Admiral and Deputy Chief of Defence Staff in 1987. “I thought it was only right to pass on a tangible connection between him and his legacy.”The medals are one quarter scale replicas of the medals Rear-Admiral Brodeur acquired during his 37 year career as an officer in the Royal Canadian Navy, including service medals for the coronation of King George V, Croix de Guerre avec Palme en Bronze from France, and the Second World War Victory Medal.The presentation was conceived as a way for VAdm Brodeur to acknowledge, strengthen, and solidify the bond between his family and the Francophone community in Esquimalt.“My father started this school as a way to help a community which was, at the time, small and unsupported,” say VAdm Brodeur. “To see his dream reach this point, to have a thriving and exuberant Francophone community in Victoria, is everything my father could have hoped for and more.”Principal Bertrand Dupain says the presentation came as a welcomed and flattering event.“It’s an honour to have something so rich in history and personally important to our school’s founder,” he says. “While the school may not be in the form Rear-Admiral Brodeur originally envisioned, it holds the same values and goals, and we hope he would be proud.”The medals also...

[caption id="attachment_5191" align="alignnone" width="300"] Sgt Dominix demonstrates how to properly search a vehicle.[/caption] Sgt Frank Dominix and MCpl Jodi Woolridge from the Military Police Unit Esquimalt instructed crews from HMCS Whitehorse and HMCS Nanaimo on security procedures pertaining to persons, baggage and vehicle searches Oct. 22. The training was custom tailored to meet the crews individual needs based on their current in-place security policies, Defence Controlled Access Area Regulations, and Inspection and Search Defence Regulations.One key point emphasized by Sgt Dominix and MCpl Woolridge during the training was, as a condition of being given access to a controlled area, a person shall on demand of a designated authority submit to a search without warrant of his/her person or personal property while entering or exiting the controlled area, or any restricted area within the controlled area. If upon entering a controlled access area where a person refuses to be searched, they can be denied entry; however, once inside a controlled access area, they are subject to search by authorized persons who may use as much force as reasonably necessary to carry out that search. These regulations apply when persons want access to Royal Canadian Navy ships and/or jetties which gives access to the ships. During the training, MCpl Woolridge demonstrated proper techniques for searching baggage, while Sgt Dominix provided an informative demonstration of a thorough vehicle search using specialized search mirrors. Members of the audience were able to participate in the training by attempting to find pre-placed items of interest in both the demo vehicle and baggage. As part of the MARPAC Force protection team, the Military Police Unit Esquimalt team continues to assist units with specialized Force Protection training and advice.  -Military Police Detachment

[caption id="attachment_5162" align="alignnone" width="300"] British Frag 20-lb Mk III Bomb Tail Fin with Arming Vein.[/caption] Two Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technicians from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) were called to help solve a 70-year-old mystery late last month. On Oct. 25, PO2 Shawn Goodine, Maritime Explosive Ordnance Disposal (MEOD) 2 I/C, received a call from the Regional Joint Operations Centre (RJOC), telling him a crashed aircraft, possibly from the Second World War, had been found 10 kilometers northwest of Port Renfrew, B.C. Employees from Teal Cedar Products Ltd. had stumbled upon the wreckage while surveying an area for potential logging. “They thought they saw some military ordnance that resembled tail fins from aircraft bombs within the debris,” says PO2 Goodine. “They weren’t really sure so they called the RCMP for assistance.” The RCMP passed the information on to the PO2 Goodine and early on Oct. 30, MEOD and a member of the RCMP headed to the remote logging area outside Port Renfrew to investigate. The loggers had already surveyed the area and showed the divers every piece of debris they had found on the roughly 130 by 40 meter crash site. “They knew where all the pieces were,” says PO2 Goodine. “So it was basically, ‘Shawn we found this, Shawn we found that. This is the landing gear. This is the piece we think belongs to a bomb.’” As the team worked its way down the mountain slope from the tail section to the cockpit of the plane, they searched for serial numbers and anything else that might help identify the plane, but they found much more. “We found a couple pairs of boots; we found part of a leather jacket worn by the aircrew, and the old style World War Two leather aviator hat. We didn’t find the goggles but we definitely found the leather hat and it actually still had the ear bud still in for comms,” says PO2 Goodine. Unfortunately, there were no clues as to the fate...

[caption id="attachment_5158" align="alignnone" width="600"] One component of the Personnel Support Programs Deployment Support course involved training in sea survival skills. Students practiced safely entering the water in their clothes, moving in the water as a group and turning over the 20-person life raft in the Naden Athletic Center pool.[/caption] Nineteen Personnel Support Programs (PSP) fitness instructors learned what it’s like to be a sailor last week. Coming from bases across Canada, they were part of a deployment training program designed to prepare them to sail in Canadian warships. The five-day course is a follow-up to the successful pilot project developed in 2011. Students learn at-sea survival skills in addition to job-specific training that prepares them to provide fitness and recreation services to ships’ crews. “The course is basically branched in five different areas beginning with the seamanship division of the school here at Esquimalt, providing the critical sea survival training theory in addition to job-specific training from fitness, sports, health promotion and recreation,” says Chris Giacobbi, PSP Training Manager, Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). While the applicants have many of the basic skills necessary to provide fitness services on board the ship, their job stretches beyond that scope. They are also there to help maintain good morale among the crew by organizing recreational activities and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. When they arrive on ship, one of their jobs is to meet  with crew members and conduct a town hall to find out what activities the crew would like to have. The course shows them how to do that and then develop a deployment-long program for the crew. The course also addresses “the inherent barriers of delivering fitness at sea,” says Giacobbi. “For example, elevated sea states, changes to ports itineraries, ship’s company working on different schedules.” In addition...

[caption id="attachment_5153" align="alignnone" width="600"] Corey Hargreaves, a financial counsellor with SISIP Financial Services, is ready to meet the military community and help them make the financial decisions.[/caption] SISIP is laying out the welcome mat throughout November to mark Financial Literacy Month. The financial services company is hosting events all month long to make military members aware of the resources available to them. “Financial literacy is having the knowledge and understanding to make sound, responsible financial decisions,” says Corey Hargreaves, a local Financial Counsellor with SISIP. “Along with financial literacy comes knowing what resources are available and how to use them.” During November, SISIP is setting up at locations around the base to arm military members with the knowledge they need to take control of their finances. There will also be an open house at their office in the Naden CANEX building on Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They will be serving up cake at 11 a.m. Visitors can enter to win an iPad or iPod Nano just for stopping by to say hello at any of these events, but Hargreaves hopes people who come by will seriously consider their financial situations and whether there’s anything they should change. He acknowledges that developing a long-term financial plan can be difficult. “Navigating the financial landscape is intimidating,” he says. “A lot of people don’t even know where to begin.” A great place to start is to create a monthly budget, he says. “The foundation of financial literacy is your budget - how much do you earn and where is it going? And obviously savings too. One of the sound financial principles is to have a savings plan. You’re never going to regret saving money,” says Hargreaves. Some people think of the word budget as negative, but it’s just a...