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[caption id="attachment_4168" align="alignnone" width="300"] MCpl Dan Marcil and Cpl Alistair Stewart, members of 11 Service Company, answer questions from the public after the Victoria Day Parade.[/caption] It was not just school bands and fancy cars parade-goers watched  during the Victoria Day parade. They also took in 11 Service Company soldiers forming back into ack ack formation from box formation as they drove past the 150th Victoria Day Parade Reviewing Stand. Being near the front of the parade meant it was a great opportunity for the public to see the unit’s vehicles. Through coordination with CFB Esquimalt, MCpl Dan Marcil and 2Lt Tyler Baldwin organized the details in 11 Service Company’s participation at this year’s Victoria Day Parade. Fifteen other soldiers from 11 Service Company also participated.Unit members remained at the legislative buildings after the parade and talked to visitors - some local and others sightseers from the United States and elsewhere. Vehicles and soldiers remained on display for three hours after the parade before heading back to Ashton Armoury.-Sgt Les Gardner, 39 Service Battalion PA

[caption id="attachment_4112" align="alignnone" width="300"] The new fire hall and emergency response centre opened June 7. This four-floor state-of-the-art building is 44,000 square metres, and would serve as a command platform after an earthquake or natural disaster.[/caption] It was a small parade, but one filled with pride as 30 fire fighters marched last Friday from their old fire hall in dockyard to their new digs on Esquimalt Road. As they strutted up to the massive candy-apple-red building, with Rick LeQesne leading the way, RAdm Bill Truelove, VAdm Paul Maddison and Associate Minister of National Defence, Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay were their to greet them. The special march was part of the grand opening celebrations of the new Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre.The ringing of the fire bell three times by the Minister signified the building was officially in service. “Our government’s investment in critical infrastructure for our Canadian Armed Forces are helping to ensure our military and civilian personnel at CFB Esquimalt will have state-of-the-art equipment to assist them in carrying out their critical duties in the defence of Canada,” said Minister Findlay. “Investments like this in defence infrastructure are vital to ensure that members of can train and work together towards our defence objectives.”The new fire hall is 4,438 square metres with two stories and five drive-through bays for emergency vehicles.This project’s overall value is estimated at $27.3 million, which includes all aspects of the project, such as studies, design, construction, administration, contingencies and taxes. “The staff are ecstatic with this state-of-the-art building,” said Fire Chief Steve Mullen. “We are able to consolidate all our equipment and personnel in one building now. The living space, storage and working space are a lot more spacious and there is more room to work.”Aside from being the fire hall, the building will also...

[caption id="attachment_4109" align="alignnone" width="300"] Front Row: Clearance divers from Fleet Dive Unit (Pacific) participating in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) 13 on the flight deck of USS Ponce, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, on Sunday, May 12. The Canadian dive team, specializing in Explosive Ordnance Disposal, joined USS Scout, an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship, to support the neutralization of simulated ordnance during IMCMEX.Back row: The Canadian Underwater Mine Countermeasures Command Team.[/caption] Seven clearance divers from Maritime Forces Pacific have just returned from the Kingdom of Bahrain, where they dove in the warm, clear Persian Gulf during the 2013 International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCM).The annual gathering of 41 nations and more than 6,500 participants took place May 3-30 to address tactics and practices for maintaining freedom of navigation and open sea lines of communications from the threat of sea mines. Fleet Diving Unit Pacific’s (FDU (P)) team was the Canadian dive component for the exercise, joining nine other dive teams that specialize in explosive ordnance disposal.“Divers are usually the last resort in an underwater situation,” says CPO2 Robert DeProy, Operations Chief at FDU (P). “There is a lot of technology used in mine hunting, but when it comes to identifying threats nothing beats a pair of human eyes.”Divers were posted aboard USS Scout, a United States Navy Avenger-class Mine Hunter, and were on hand to investigate possible mines and strange formations picked up by the ship’s sonar.“It was a really great experience. Diving in Bahrain is way different than diving here,” said Lt(N) Demetris Mousouliotis, FDU (P) team leader for the exercise. “The water is so warm and so clear that we were diving in a fraction of the equipment we use in our homes waters. The team loved it.”In the cold Pacific waters clearance divers wear heat retaining suits, but...

[caption id="attachment_4105" align="alignnone" width="300"] Vadm Paul Maddison, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, arrives on board HMCS Calgary as part of his week-long tour.[/caption] Last week, VAdm Paul Maddison made a special week-long trip to Victoria, a sort of finale tour to his tenure as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. In two weeks, he will retire, ending a 30-year naval career. However, before he officially hangs up his uniform, he wanted to visit his naval community and share a few key messages. At CFB Esquimalt, this included a series of town halls.  “As Commander I have visited Quebec, Halifax and about nine or 10 Naval Reserve Divisions across the country, but I saved the best one for last,” he told the Chiefs and Petty Officers gathered at the Pacific Fleet Club. “It’s been almost two years since I’ve been here, and a lot has happened in that time. Today I want to talk about the four principal themes that shape the Canadian Navy: purpose, platform, people and pride.”With the full attention of everyone in the room, he went on to explain those themes.Purpose, he says, is protecting the seaways, and ensuring the safe travel of goods.  “Our economy floats on salt water,” he explained. “…Most Canadians can’t imagine what we do at sea, but if we explain it to them, they understand we have ships for a reason.”He also reminded his sailors of the need to thwart the travel of illegal goods, something the Royal Canadian Navy is actively engaged in through various operations, such as HMCS Toronto’s work in the Arabian Sea, and HMCS Regina and HMCS Ottawa’s drug busts earlier in the year. “That is why, as Canadians, we need to have a navy ready to fight if we need to. It is our purpose. The future...

[caption id="attachment_4073" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Greg Walker, Combat Systems Engineering Officer aboard HMCS Toronto, stands with seized narcotics primed for explosive destruction. The massive haul of seized narcotics is Toronto’s fourth major interdiction in two months.[/caption] HMCS Toronto successfully disrupted its fourth narcotics shipment in two months as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Arabian Sea. During the search and inspection of a vessel by the ship’s naval boarding team on May 23, Toronto’s crew recovered approximately 300 kilograms of heroin. The narcotics were recovered without incident and will be destroyed.“The success of this operation truly shows the level of cohesion between the ship and our partners,” said Commander Jeff Hamilton, Commanding Officer of HMCS Toronto. “Toronto continues to operate effectively with our Combined Task Force 150 partners to combat transnational criminal and terrorist organizations at all levels, ensuring the seas remain open and secure for legitimate purposes.”Since ship and crew departed Halifax in January, Toronto has recovered roughly 1,300 kilograms of narcotics. On March 29, a massive narcotics shipment in the Indian Ocean was disrupted when the ship’s naval boarding team recovered approximately 500 kilograms of heroin. The crew recovered 317 kilograms on May 6, and an additional 195 kilograms on May 10.Narcotics smuggling in the Arabian Sea and surrounding region is a recognized source of funding for terrorist organizations. By patrolling some of the world’s most important shipping routes, coalition ships are denying financial resources to extremist groups, and helping to keep drugs off of Canada’s streets.“I continue to be impressed with HMCS Toronto’s efforts in the Arabian Sea region. Over the course of their deployment they have consistently made a valuable contribution to the international fight against terrorism,” said Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “Their dedication to Canada, allies and regional partners has been second-to-none.”Toronto...

[caption id="attachment_4070" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cpl Dominic Pare pauses for a photo at the helm of HMCS Oriole. The ammunition technician from CFAD Angus at CFB Borden was on Oriole for just three days before joining the crew for Swiftsure.[/caption] The best way to learn is to do, or so a group of ammunition technicians from Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD) Angus, at CFB Borden, learned when they crewed HMCS Oriole for Swiftsure 2013.The group, here for adventure training, arrived at CFB Esquimalt May 20 and hit the water, many for the first time, the next day. “I didn’t think I’d ever be working on a sailboat, let alone racing one,” said Cpl Dominic Pare, an ammunition technician. “As an army guy I’m used to working on dry land. Being out on a heaving boat has really changed how I see the navy and the kind of conditions they work in.”Cpl Pare was prepared for this year’s Swiftsure Yacht Race alongside his fellow ammo techs with just three days of intensive, on-the-water training.“It was a very challenging experience but very worthwhile,” he says. “When everyone is working together and crewing their individual stations, it feels like a well oiled machine. It’s a rewarding feeling.”LCdr Jeff Kibble, captain of Oriole, says this year’s crew exceeded expectations.“I’ve worked them hard but in three days they came together like a real crew,” he said. “We crammed 30 days of training into a three-day period, and the crew fared very well.”Following their quick trial-by-fire period, the newly minted crew was thrust into action. The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is a gathering of sailors from around the world. Participants take part in a number of races throughout the Juan de Fuca Strait. Challenges range from the Juan De Fuca Race that spans 79.7 nautical miles, to...

[caption id="attachment_4067" align="alignnone" width="300"] CPO2 Mike Babcock is the regional naval attractions co-ordinator for B.C. and Alberta. This summer he will travel with the bus to the Calgary Stampede, Klondike Days in Edmonton, the PNE in Vancouver and the Abbotsford Air Show.[/caption] The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is looking to hire 500 regular force and 360 reserve sailors per year over the next three years.To showcase the face of the navy to the public and help entice potential recruits to a career on the ocean, the RCN, coordinated through Naval Reserve Headquarters in Quebec City, uses five modified commercial buses for total-force naval attraction activities. This is in addition to, and augments the established CF recruiting group organization.“The buses were initiated by the regular force in 2007 to better assist in reaching out to the public and to combat maritime blindness,” says CPO2 Mike Babcock, One Navy Visibility and Attractions Regional Outreach Coordinator for B.C. and Alberta. “We use this piece of kit as a mobile information kiosk to tell the navy story.”Busses are rolling billboards whose interiors house a series of interactive computer systems that showcase the navy’s many responsibilities, operations, and employment opportunities. A 12-seat theatre in the rear plays a wide variety of video productions from the Truth, Duty, Valour series to the latest RIMPAC exercise. In the middle section, a push-button video display with headphones provides job-specific information about all naval occupations.“It’s a brilliant idea that allows people an inside look at what we do in the navy,” said CPO2 Babcock. “Most people are quite surprised at what they find when they walk into the bus. The feedback we receive is very positive.” This summer CPO2 Babcock will travel to events across B.C. and Alberta to connect with Canadians.“When we go to the PNE in Vancouver...

[caption id="attachment_4006" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Paul Johnson indicates how close the Mark V Zodiac boat is to the shore as he helps bring a wave of Royal 22nd Regiment soldiers to land on a beach during Exercise Trident Fury 13 (JOINTEX).[/caption] During the May long weekend, army personnel from Valcartier, Quebec, joined local navy and air force elements to practice amphibious landings in a joint exercise (Joint Ex) designed to heighten interoperability between Canadian assets.On May 18, more than 130 army soldiers deployed in Mark V Zodiac boats from HMC Ships Ottawa and Algonquin bound for a remote beach off William Head.Once on shore their mission was to evacuate Canadian citizens from a mock hostile environment scenario and then safely transport them to awaiting Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel HMCS Saskatoon.“We are very excited to take part in this exercise as we have been training since March,” said Battery Commander, Maj Sabastien Lemieux. “Amphibious operations involve taking a land element and projecting it to the shore. Usually we train on a unit level with army pretending to be navy. Since we have arrived on May 7 joining Trident Fury, we have learned the mechanics behind the maritime operations, and all the tactics and planning sequences of the maritime elements that need to be done in order to make the ship project the force to shore.”The soldiers from Third Royal 22 Regiment Valcartier usually practice this type of training on the St. Lawrence River, and this is the first time it has been done using joint operations.  During the exercise Cmdre Scott Bishop and fleet staff sailed in Algonquin to oversee command of Joint Ex.Sea King helicopters deployed from Ottawa and Algonquin monitored the situation on the ground. “One challenge we have in an exercise like this is getting a ship to...

[caption id="attachment_4003" align="alignnone" width="300"] MS Mia Lynch discusses the leadership performance of NCdt Benjamin Mason of HMCS Scotian. NCdt Mason had just completed his tasking during the Leadership Potential Assessment Course during the Basic Military Officers Qualification, an 11-week course at Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt.[/caption] The famous coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.” Lombardi’s comment was in reference to football, but it holds true for the Canadian Armed Forces and the Naval Reserve.If leaders are made then somewhere, someone is making them. That somewhere is the Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) course at Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt, and those “someones” are MS Mia Lynch and PO2 Robert Templeman.MS Lynch from HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottown, PEI, is in her second year instructing BMOQ. “It’s a lot of work,” she says, “But it is so rewarding seeing them on the parade square for their graduation and seeing the transformation.”As the students practice drill in the distance MS Lynch adds, “At first the students don’t understand our insistence on the little things such as tucking in their shoe laces or not having threads hanging on their uniform. We’re helping them create a mindset of paying attention to details.” A smile crosses her face as she says, “If you can’t handle the little things, you’re not going to be able to lead a group of subordinates in a mission.”This is the first year instructing on BMOQ for PO2 Templeman. He is member of HMCS Nonsuch in Edmonton and is taking a break from his civilian job as an electrician. A 16-year veteran of the Naval Reserve, PO2 Templeman has served on ship and participated in domestic operations such as assisting Manitoba flood victims on Operation...

[caption id="attachment_4000" align="alignnone" width="300"] Melanie Williamson, Miss Canada International 2013, takes over as lookout on HMCS Calgary.[/caption] Miss Canada International 2013 winner, Melanie Williamson visited Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Tuesday, May 21. She went on board HMCS Calgary with previous Miss Canada International 2003 winner Lorenza Sammarelli. Williamson showed up in Calgary’s colours, blue and gold. Williamson was born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, and this was her first exposure to the navy.  She was engaging and attentive and had a wonderful time experiencing the Royal Canadian Navy first-hand.HMCS Calgary recently came out of refit from a mid-life upgrade and modernization Frigate Equipment Life Extension programme. The crew were happy to show off their new ship to both Miss Canada winners. They were taken to the flight deck, operations room and the bridge for a chance to see how Calgary runs and what the ship’s crew do at work.

[caption id="attachment_3960" align="alignnone" width="300"] About 15 members of the Senior Command team familiarized themselves with the New Force Fitness test last Monday at the Naden Athletic Centre. CPO1 Paul Helston, Capt (N) Bob Auchterlonie, and Capt (N) Mike Knippel in prone position awaiting the start of the intermittent shuttle run.[/caption] Last Monday morning, 15 senior leaders, including RAdm Bill Truelove, donned their PT attire and trialed components of the new FORCE Fitness Evaluation at the Naden Athletic Centre. With stopwatches in hand, Personnel Support Programs fitness instructors coached and timed them on all four components of the FORCE evaluation. “It’s demanding and reflective of the challenges one could face in any element we encounter in the Canadian Forces,” said RAdm Truelove, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific. “It will be great to see the Formation rise to this new challenge. I found it used different muscle groups and interesting techniques with rushes and lots of lower body strength. Well done to the PSP staff for rolling it out. It’s nice to be here today with senior leadership doing this test.” The evaluation has four components including a sandbag lift (30 lifts in three minutes and 30 seconds or less), intermittent loaded shuttles (five loaded and five unloaded in five minutes and 21 seconds or less), 20 metre rushes (dropping to the prone position every 10 metre and completed in 51 seconds or less) and the sandbag drag (continuous test with no time frame). Between each component there is a five minute rest and typically the test must be completed in the order noted above; however, members may start at any point. “Today we had quite a range of age, demographics, and fitness levels and everybody made it,” said Base Commander, Capt (N) Bob Auchterlonie. “The common task approach is great. I...

“The success of this operation demonstrates the professionalism and tenacity of Toronto’s crew,” said Cdr Jeff Hamilton, Commanding Officer of HMCS Toronto. “Our operations are achieving effects by helping to disrupt terrorist networks, and to enhance coordinated, multinational efforts to understand and map the way these groups resource themselves. Our presence in the region also gives our country the flexibility and capability to respond quickly to emerging crises in the region.”

The largest joint Canadian-United States military exercise on the West Coast.

[caption id="attachment_3911" align="alignnone" width="300"] Laden with gear, Amphibious Scout Team 1 swims ashore during littoral exercises off Metchosin.[/caption] When spending a sunny spring day at the beach, one seldom expects to see groups of armed military personnel trudge up out of the surf.That’s what beach-side revellers in Metchosin would have seen last week as military members from the U.S. and Canada performed amphibious littoral exercises.“Littoral exercises take our troops from the wet to the dry,” said Lt(N) Michael St-Pierre of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) (FDU(P)). “This is a brand new type of exercise for the Canadian military. We’re writing a whole new book here.”The exercise was part of Jointex 2013, the first in a series of nation-wide joint training and readiness events designed to change how the Canadian Armed Forces train, develop and learn to prepare for future operations.. It also marked the start of Trident Fury 2013, a biennial and joint naval exercise hosted by Maritime Forces Pacific and conducted with the United States.Boats laden with FDU(P) Clearance Divers and Canadian Army Patrol Pathfinders from the Royal 22 Regiment of Valcartier, Québec zipped up the coast towards Race Rocks and Royal Beach. Once they reached their embankment points they tumbled into the water, gear and all. From there it was a 30-metre swim to the beach, where they set up a perimeter, doffed their aquatic gear and transitioned to land-based operations.The mixed group of navy and army members is being called Amphibious Scout Teams (AST), a newly formed type of task group created to address the stark division of labour found between marine and land-based operations.“The skills needed for those two kinds of operations don’t overlap, so we came up with a composite team to bridge the gap,” said Maj Chris Comeau, the lead Army planner for Jointex Stage...

[caption id="attachment_3908" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt Fahim Awan, LS Luis Lemus, MCpl Brad Axworthy, and MS Sarah Zimmer hold up boots and a sign, ready for their fundraising drive.[/caption] The third annual Nijmegen boot drive in support of the Military Families Fund and Soldier On is taking place May 14 from 6:30 to 8 a.m. at the entrance gates to Dockyard, Naden and Colwood.“We are hoping to raise between $5,000 and $6,000 this year for these charities,” said Nijmegen team leader, CPO2 Chris Koblun.The Military Families Fund provides financial assistance for emergencies caused by the conditions of military service while the Soldier On Fund helps offset the costs for injured soldiers to maintain an active lifestyle.“When we initially did the boot drive, we were blown away with the support from the DND community and in one and a half hours our marching team collected more than $6,000 in donations. Last year we did it again and raised roughly the same amount. It’s for a great cause and we’d like to thank everyone for their continued support,” he said.The Nijmegen team began training at the end of February and just completed their first 40 kilometre march. To date, they have marched more than 400 kilometres.“The 40 kilometre back to back march takes place June 6 and 7 with team selection happening on June 10 when nine marchers will be selected from 20 candidates for the team,” said CPO2 Koblun. As Nijmegen approaches, the team trains five days a week, marching 60 kilometres.The 97th annual Nijmegen march takes place July 16 – 19 in the Netherlands and is the largest marching event in the world involving over 45,000 military members and civilians. Canadian military members will march 160 kilometres over four days in CADPAT carrying a backpack weighing at least 10 kilograms. -Shelley...

[caption id="attachment_3905" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Litter helps fellow diver LS Marc Andre Ouimet get into the water for a dive.[/caption] Nine sailors are hoping to join an elite group of divers this August by enduring the rigours of the year-long Royal Canadian Navy Clearance Diving Officer/QL5A Clearance Diver course.Last Tuesday off Brentwood Bay, Lookout joined the sea portion of the CUMA Rebreather phase from this specialty course to talk to the trainers and divers to find out more about this specialized dive training, which is only offered at Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)).“There are only 120 clearance divers in Canada,” said senior dive instructor PO1 Sean Ratz. “The students find this course challenging, rewarding and they also love bonding and working as a team,” he said. “It’s a difficult course, and the learning curve is steep.”Seven Leading Seamen and two officers, including one exchange officer from the Irish Navy, are taking this course.The course began in September and since then divers have conducted pool training at Commonwealth Pool, navigated a one kilometre underwater rope course and completed a series of work-ups for deep dives to 21, 30 and 45 metres. They have also learned to use new equipment and apply theories learned in the classroom. Now at sea for a two week course, they are aiming for the maximum depth of 81 metres using Canadian Underwater Mine Apparatus (CUMA) rebreather dive gear. The CUMA Rebreather uses a mix of helium and oxygen, which allows people to dive much deeper than traditional SCUBA air supply. “The CUMA rebreather allows you to dive deeper and are much quieter and less invasive acoustically and magnetically,” said Irish exchange officer SLt Shane Mulcahy. “We have naval divers in Ireland, but there is no rebreather training like this. This training allows us to carry out...

[caption id="attachment_3877" align="alignnone" width="300"] Fitness and Sports Instructor Matt Carlson (green shirt) leads the Run to Succeed group through Dockyard.[/caption] Are you ready to take your personal running goals to the next level? Whether you would like to run stronger and faster, or focus on injury prevention and running form, two new lunchtime running clinics have been set up to help members of all levels achieve their targets and run their best in the upcoming June 23 Navy Run.Every Monday and Wednesday on base, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., PO1 Chris Fraser leads the Learn to Run clinic, while Fitness and Sports Instructor Matt Carlson leads Run to Succeed.“This is a way for people to prepare to meet their goals and try to improve on what they have already accomplished,” says PO1 Fraser.Both groups meet outside the Dockyard Gym for a warm up and hour long run clinic.“For participants just beginning to run it’s important to run in a safe and progressive manner, and also be in a relaxed educational environment,” said PO1 Fraser. “Some people find running five or 10 kilometres is challenging, and this clinic will help them prepare so they can have a positive experience. Learn to Run is focused on participation and completion rather than speed. It’s about learning in a safe proactive manner and finishing the distance.”Run to Succeed is for those who wish to run their best Navy Run ever. “This is a group designed for the runner who is looking to run their fastest and we are focusing more on speed,” said Carlson. Topics include intervals, learning how to pace properly, running up hill and nutrition. “We set this running clinic up as a way to promote the Navy Run and a way to get people ready for the run. Injury reduction...

[caption id="attachment_3874" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Wolls (foreground) and MS Ferguson from HMCS Algonquin clean the grounds of Honour House in New Westminster April 26. The crew members, along with four of their counterparts took the day to give back to the community by assisting Honour House volunteers with yard maintenance and clean up duties.[/caption] Canadian and American Navy sailors teamed up to support six different charities as part of the Vancouver Port Visit April 26-29. Eighty-two volunteers from USS Lake Champlain, HMC Ships Algonquin, Victoria, Nanaimo and Saskatoon did everything from mowing lawns to motivating new Canadians.Six sailors spent a day improving the grounds of Honour House, a home away from home for Canadian Armed Forces personnel, first responders and their families while they are receiving medical treatment in Vancouver. The home was selected to be part of the 2013 New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour. Although the interior of the home was in good shape, the exterior needed a facelift. RAdm Truelove also paid a visit to Honour House. He met residents and thanked volunteers who provide regular support to the facility. Five female sailors from HMC Ships Nanaimo, Saskatoon and Algonquin spent a day volunteering at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Emergency Shelter. They donated clothing and goods, organized the storage rooms and helped with meal preparation and serving. Meanwhile, three other sailors spoke about their experiences as new Canadians and being in the Navy at S.U.C.C.E.S.S., an immigration settlement and integration agency. Seventy-five sailors from Patrol Craft Training ships, HMC Ships Nanaimo and Saskatoon, and USS Lake Champlain braved April showers to rehabilitate Heywood and Doran parks in North Vancouver. They removed invasive species, planted natural vegetation and cleaned up litter. “It was so great to have so many volunteers from the navy show up”, said Stephanie Levy, Evergreen...

[caption id="attachment_3871" align="alignnone" width="300"] Base Commander Capt(N) Bob Auchterlonie (foreground) and CFSA Commodore CPO2 John Haggis greet Dick Mills, owner of Jetstream.[/caption] Despite rough winds and grey skies, dozens of sailors gathered on the lawn of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) for their annual opening ceremony.Recreational sailors, both civilian and military, met April 28 for the opening of CFSA’s 65th sailing season.The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy was on hand, playing both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems to acknowledge American sailors present at the event. Following the recitation of the Prayer of the Sea, CPO2 John Haggis, Commodore of CFSA, gave a short presentation.He presented CFSA’s past commodores with specially made ball caps to acknowledge their service to the specialty club.“These are the people that made this association what it is today,” said CPO2 Haggis. “It’s not much, but it’s a small token of appreciation for all they’ve done and what their work has meant to us.”Base Commander, Capt(N) Bob Auchterlonie was also present to give a short speech, which he started with a humorous admission.“I own a power boat,” he admitted to the crowd of sailing enthusiast. “I hope you won’t hold it against me.”Capt(N) Auchterlonie spoke about the appreciation the Canadian Armed Forces has for the CFSA and the work they do in the community.“The sailing programs available for youth are exceptional, as is all of the work the CFSA does in the community,” he said. “This is an exceptionally well run organization, and the work John and his folks are doing is tremendous.”The CFSA’s traditional sail past, in which members sail their boats past the association’s Commodore for inspection, was put on hold this year due to winds that reached up to 30 knots.Choppy waters made the often delicate and synchronized nature of...

[caption id="attachment_3825" align="alignnone" width="300"] Seattle-based fishing trawler American Dynasty took a bite out of HMCS Winnipeg last week.[/caption] Last Tuesday, just after 8 a.m. Colours, HMC Dockyard’s normally calm environment was turned into one of tension when the Seattle-based fishing trawler American Dynasty slammed into the docked bow of HMCS Winnipeg.The sound of the collision echoed throughout C jetty and a large spray went over the bow of Winnipeg. The force of the impact pushed her stern into the jetty. Minutes later the area was transformed into an emergency response scene with the military police and firefighters managing the location.Several people were sent to hospital, but no serious injuries were reported.Dockyard workers stood behind the military police barricade wondering what had happened to create this bizarre mishap.“Nobody knows exactly what happened,” said Brian Carter, president of Seaspan Shipyards. “The fishing trawler American Dynasty was being moved into the Esquimalt Graving Dock for normal maintenance, and two tug boats operated by Seaspan Marine were manoeuvring the ship when it collided. Details will surface after an investigation is complete,” he said.“Safety and care of our employees are core values at Seaspan and we are committed to understanding what happened in this incident so we can make sure it never happens again,” he added.Winnipeg is in the final stages of the Halifax Class Modernization (HCM) Frigate Life Extension (FELEX). Before the collision there were 65 Victoria Shipyard employees on board Winnipeg working alongside some of the ship’s crew. It took the majority of the day to investigate and formulate a plan to dislodge the embedded trawler from Winnipeg’s bow. The ships were finally separated at 5:30 p.m.An investigation from the Transportation Safety Board is currently being conducted.“At any Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigation there are three phases,” explains TSB spokesperson Chris Krepski. “Right...

[caption id="attachment_3821" align="alignnone" width="300"] Military doctor Lt(N) Jodylynn Dans gives Cpl Rhonda Tiekenheinrich a check up at the Base Clinic.[/caption] The lack of family doctors in Canada has had a direct impact on Canadian Forces families across the country.The shortage has become such a concern for military leadership that finding a solution has been made a priority.“We have a lot of families, many of whom are in the point in their life when they’re having children, or are raising young kids that have health care requirements,” says LCol Nick Withers, Pacific Formation Surgeon. “We want them to have the care they need.”A 2011 study called “An Examination of Canadian Forces Spouses’ Access to a Family Physician” determined that 27 percent of Canadian Forces families do not have a primary care physician compared to the national average of 16 percent (StatsCan 2010).  LCol Withers says this is because of the transient lifestyle inherent to CF families.“Many CF families will move every few years to another posting,” he says. “Because of this it’s all but impossible for many to get to the top of a family doctor waitlist, and it’s a concern that their health will suffer as a result.”To combat the shortage, Health Services and the National Defence have been working with the national medical community to find a solution.“We want to work out a way to expedite the process for CF families, since the shortage affects a much higher percentage than the average population,” says LCol Withers. “We’ve had some good feedback so far from medical professionals. Hopefully we can come to an agreement.”LCol Withers says one proposed solution would be a “save-the-space” type of plan, wherein if a CF family on a waiting list were deployed another CF family could take their place on the list.“It would help get...

[caption id="attachment_3817" align="alignnone" width="300"] LCol Chris Linford wrote a book about his journey with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This book called Warrior Rising - A Soldier's Journey to PTSD and Back will be launching this spring. Seen here he holds the book cover and his dog Murphy, who served as a comfort dog during his illness.[/caption] LCol Chris Linford is using his experiences with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to help others fight this illness through a book he penned.Warrior Rising – A Soldiers’ Journey to PTSD and Back is his way of passing on the information and tools used during his healing process.“I wrote this book to help other veterans recover from this injury. I wrote it for their families and also for the clinicians who treat the injured veterans,” he says. “My book touches on my deployments and recovery. It chronicles my traumas, how they made me feel and how they impacted my personality and my family.”His PTSD stemmed from two deployments: Rwanda and Afghanistan.First, in 1994 as a nursing officer, he was deployed to Rwanda to help manage a cholera epidemic. “Our personnel were not prepared to witness the amount of deaths and severe injuries we observed, and it was extremely difficult as most of the deaths were children under the age of five,” he said. After the deployment, and for the next 10 years, he suffered from PTSD. He knew he had it, but he was at a loss for what to do. He fought the stigma. Eventually the illness led him to insomnia. Finally, he sought medical care. He was put on medication while receiving treatment with the Canadian Forces for PTSD and depression. After a year and a half he thought he had beaten it. Then his illness returned in 2009 during a...

[caption id="attachment_3777" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt(N) Art McDonald and RCN Command Chief CPO1 Tom Riefesel accept the J.J. Kinley Award from VAdm Ron Buck (Ret’d), National President of the Navy League of Canada, on behalf of HMCS Ottawa.[/caption] The crew of HMCS Ottawa received a prestigious commendation last week when the commanding officer, Cdr Scott Van Will and his crew were honoured with the J.J. Kinley Award.  Capt(N) Art MacDonald and RCN Command Chief CPO1 Tom Riefesel accepted the award from the National Board of Directors of the Navy League of Canada (NLC) on behalf of Ottawa.“Ottawa was chosen largely due to the recent work off the coast of Coast Rica as part of Operation Carribe, and in seizing over $26 million worth of cocaine,” says Louise Mercer, Vice President of Maritime Affairs. “Cdr Van Will and his crew demonstrated their commitment to Canadian and North American security, and solidified the many opportunities Canada leverages to partner with other nations and organizations to suppress criminal activity at sea, and keep illegal drugs off our streets.”The J.J. Kinley Award is presented each year by the NLC to members, employees or units of the Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans or the Canadian Forces who have made contributions to support naval and maritime interests.The nomination process for the award is handled exclusively by Navy League Executives, past presidents and the Royal Canadian Navy.According to Mercer the choice was not hard.“Ottawa played a major role in suppressing trafficking in international waters and airspace,” she says. “It’s easy to reward and recognize heroism. It’s only difficult because other ships are also engaged in equally valuable work with strong crews.”CPO1 Sid Tobias, Coxswain in Ottawa, says the award came as a surprise to the crew.“The crew was more than happy to receive the award....

[caption id="attachment_3774" align="alignnone" width="300"] AB Sarah-Mae Pyndus shows off her 2013 Boston Marathon medal. She crossed the finish line with a personal best time.[/caption] Before the turmoil and ensuing tragedy from the bombings overshadowed the Boston Marathon, AB Sarah-Mae Pyndus was enjoying a moment of triumph. As she crossed the finish line on Boylston Street, she glanced at the clock: 3:22:32; it was a personal best. She had beat her previous record by more than 35 minutes. This was her third time tackling the long-distance running event.She placed 6,428 out of 23,336 participants, and placed in the top 11 percentage for her division – female 18-40. “I don’t run for myself,” said the 25-year-old who works as a naval communicator in HMCS Calgary. “When I run, I think about my family, my boyfriend and my ship. I’m really running for them. Every time I cross a mile marker I think of everyone who is watching me and I want to make them proud.”The marathon started 42.195 kilometres outside Boston at the town of Hopkinton. Runners were bussed to the start line. AB Pyndus describes running as both a physical and mental battle. “I knew my race was going well. Usually, by mile 20, I go through a point when I want to stop, walk, or give up and that is the mental wall you hit, but in this race I didn’t have that wall. I was really enjoying myself. I was in pain, my body screamed at me, and my knees, shoulders, and ankles were so sore, but then it went away,” she says.Upon completing the run, she grabbed a tin foil race blanket to keep warm, ate some energy food and walked to the John Hancock tower several blocks away for a post race massage.“About five minutes into the...

[caption id="attachment_3771" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ralph Zbarsky brought a picture of his uncle Ralph Zbarsky to the memorial ceremony. Zbarsky was one of the survivors awaiting rescue on a Carley float, but because help took so long to arrive, like many sailors, he died from hypothermia.[/caption] Veterans, serving military members, dignitaries and family of the crew of HMCS Esquimalt gathered outside Esquimalt City Hall April 16 to commemorate the sinking of the last Canadian warship lost to enemy action during the Second World War, and to honour the lives of the men who died.“On April 16, 1945, HMCS Esquimalt was torpedoed at Chebucto Head, Nova Scotia. From where we are in Esquimalt this would be about the distance of Race Rocks. She was sunk within sight of home,” said Base Commander, Capt(N) Bob Auchterlonie to the crowd. “For those individuals who were there, the sinking was an experience they will never forget, and neither should we forget their sacrifice.”The Bangor-class minesweeper operated on the Atlantic coast conducting anti-submarine patrols in the approaches to Halifax Harbour. In the early morning of April 16 it was torpedoed and sunk by U-190. The explosion knocked the power out making it impossible for the crew to send out a distress signal. It listed heavily to the starboard pushing the lifeboat underwater, but the crew managed to get four Carley floats away from the sinking ship. Within five minutes it was gone, sinking into the harbour and taking with it 28 sailors. With no distress signal to alert the mainland of their situation, the survivors spent six hours adrift in the frigid waters. Sixteen more died from exposure leaving only 27 men when help arrived. “The last of the 27 surviving members passed away last year. Today we remember the 44 sailors who perished and celebrate...

[caption id="attachment_3729" align="alignnone" width="300"] Personnel Support Programs fitness and sports coordinator Matt Carlson leads Operation Powerfit, an inclusive and extensive workout regimen. Here, he uses a Bosu ball to augment the traditional push-up.[/caption] In the Canadian Forces maintaining fitness is part of the job, but for some it’s hard to find fun, inclusive ways to work out. For those wanting a full body workout, there’s Operation Powerfit. “I wanted to create a new fitness experience for people to get excited about,” says Matt Carlson, Operation Powerfit instructor and certified personal trainer. No two classes are the same in Operation Powerfit. What’s important is to encourage your body to break out of its usual routine, says Carlson.This variety is key to what makes Operation Powerfit so effective. “Doing the same workouts all the time can cause your energy to level off and stagnate,” he says. “With Powerfit I like to keep the workouts both enjoyable and challenging so my participants are constantly engaged and always looking forward to the next session.”The gear used in Powerfit is as diverse as the workouts, and includes bodyweight resistance, free weights, kettle bells, and Bosu balls. “Great things can be achieved in a workout so long as you have great technique,” says Carlson. “Keeping your equipment varied as well as your workouts adds an extra layer of adaptation for your body that can produce very positive results.”This round of classes takes place from May 7-30. Classes are Tuesdays and Thursday from 4:15-5:15 p.m. in the NAC upper gym. Any one is welcome: Canadian Forces, DND employees, and civilian. Classes are $80 for eight classes for CF and DND members, and $90 for eight classes for civilians. For those who can’t commit to the full month but would still like to participate, drop in sessions are...

[caption id="attachment_3726" align="alignnone" width="300"] A restored depth charge thrower is just one of many artefacts on display at the museum’s Battle of the Atlantic Gallery.[/caption] Visitors to the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum can now learn about the Battle of the Atlantic and life on board a Corvette class warship. A section of the museum has been re-designed with new exhibits and artefacts from the museum’s own collection that reflect many aspects of nautical life during the Second World War. “The museum’s new galley provides visual and documentary insight in the long-running sea battle that definitively shaped Canada’s navy,” says Claire Sharpe, exhibit designer. She researched and wrote the gallery’s text panels, selected the images, and worked with graphic designers and local signage companies to bring her vision to life. A realistic cutaway of a warship deck is the most visually compelling exhibit, complete with crew mannequins, rust and railings. Plus people can see a restored depth charge thrower used to thwart German submarines, Carley float, life raft, rations and authentic uniforms. An important component of the gallery is the award-winning film series “Convoy” that tells the epic story of the Battle of the Atlantic within an international context. “It’s an important part of the Canada’s naval history and we wanted to show it the proper respect,” says Sharpe.The gallery was a two-year project with many hands bringing it to fruition, including hull technicians from Fleet School, Integrated Personnel Support Services Centre personnel, Construction Engineering, and Sharpe’s husband Greg. A local engineering company manufactured fake depth charges and a davit for the life-scale corvette display that anchors the gallery. It’s the details that have made all difference, such as painting the room in the disruption pattern colours – western approaches blue, green and white - used to mislead wartime...

[caption id="attachment_3723" align="alignnone" width="300"] LCol Steven Richards, Deputy Director of Military Prosecutions (West), is hard at work in his brand new office in Naden Building N30.[/caption] The opening of the Regional Military Prosecutor (RMP) office at CFB Esquimalt last summer was a clear sign this resource was much-needed locally. But finding a place to house the RMP (Pacific) office and the Deputy Director of Military Prosecutions for Western Canada, LCol Steven Richards, has taken a little time. Good news, he’ll no longer be rooming with the Assistant Judge Advocate General (AJAG) staff. The finishing touches are complete in his new three office space in building N30, and with it will come more staff to help him prosecute cases. “I’m the only one here right now, so it’s been a busy year,” says LCol Richards. “We’ve prosecuted around a dozen cases in the Pacific Region so far and advised on many more, and that’s just this year. So I’m excited for the new staff to arrive.”He’s expecting a Regional Military Prosecutor in July, and a civilian legal assistant to compliment his roster. The RMP is a branch of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) that, much like AJAG, provides legal counsel and services to the Formation. While AJAG deals with a wide range of legal subject areas, including laws pertaining to the conduct of military operations, the RMP is focussed specifically on military justice, including prosecution of court martial cases.“When the Commander MARPAC reviews a case and thinks it may require a court martial, he sends it to our office,” explains LCol Richards. “Once we take a look at the evidence and the circumstances of the offense, we decide whether or not charges should be laid to be tried by court martial, and if so what those charges should be.” The branch...

It’s been decades in the making, but has finally come to fruition. Safety and security-oriented access rules have been defined around Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) buildings in what is now called the ship repair zone (SRZ). It’s the latest advancement in the massive facility consolidation project that began more than a decade ago. To improve safety and security of the area, the zone is now only accessible to FMF CB employees and those conducting business with the unit. The zone includes the main structure - D250, D252, D190A, D215, D149 and smaller outlying buildings. “I have seen too often people wearing flip flops while using the FMF CB buildings as a shortcut to transit the yard - this is a safety issue, plain and simple,” says Capt(N) Don Smith, Commanding Officer of the FMF CB. “Our number one concern is ensuring no one gets hurt, and to do that everyone needs to keep up with some simple safety regulations.  Also we must control access to the weapons systems and classified information needed to support the operational capabilities of the Fleet.” People needing to enter the area must report to the commissionaires’ desk in D250 with valid ID. They’ll be given a visitor pass if they are not in possession of an access badge. Visitors with less than level two security, or without DND ID, will be escorted.They will be required to don CSA approved hardhats, work boots, and safety glasses if entering any of the production work centres.  FMF CB employees working in or visiting the Ship Repair Zone will be required to carry their ID badge and have it displayed when in office areas. These double as electronic swipe cards to pass electronic check points at the various entry points of the building and other areas within the SRZ. “This is a military industrial zone, and there are things here that need to be more regulated than they have been in the past,” says Capt(N) Smith....

[caption id="attachment_3676" align="alignnone" width="300"] Personnel Support Programs' administrative assistant to the manager, 25-year-old Fawnia Robitaille, hopes to be the next Miss Universe Canada.[/caption] The next Miss Universe Canada could be CFB Esquimalt’s Fawnia Robitaille.The 25-year-old works at Personnel Support Programs as administrative assistant to the manager. Strutting down the runway in Canada’s top pageant is familiar terrain for the brown-haired, brown-eyed beauty. She put herself under judge’s scrutiny in 2010 in the same competition. While she didn’t win, it didn’t deter her from slipping on a gown again in hopes of a tiara, and a chance at the world title.   “Doing pageants builds character,” she says. “It keeps me motivated to achieve a goal, whether it’s to improve my fitness, to look good in a bathing suit, or to improve my public speaking during the interview with the judges.”The road to the May 25 competition has been a testament to self control. Most after-work hours are spent at the gym – almost three hours, and every day she considers her meals, choosing small healthy choices to boost her metabolism over alcohol and fast food.She’ll know April 15 if it paid off when she gets fitted for her gown.  “The gown is sponsored by Victoria Bridal Boutique and after a meeting with them we mutually decided on a few dresses. I won’t go into detail about the dresses so as not to spoil it, but they are gorgeous dresses and I am very excited to wear one of them during the Miss Universe Canada pageant. The bathing suit is the same for all delegates, and we receive those once we arrive in Toronto.”And which does she prefer – gown or bathing suit?“Both. The gown is what identifies me and my flavour for fashion. Being in a bathing suit shows off the...