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[caption id="attachment_30246" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Master Sailor (MS) Scott Van Maurik currently works at the Base Executive Branch of CFB Esquimalt as the Base Commander’s Driver.[/caption] CFB Esquimalt Public Affairs — Master Sailor (MS) Scott Van Maurik currently works at the Base Executive Branch of CFB Esquimalt as the Base Commander’s Driver. What’s an average day on the job like? The bulk of what I do is what you likely expect – I just drive, but the road conditions, traffic, construction, and things like that make each day different. Although I spend most of my time driving the Base Commander to meetings, there is variety in when and where I’m driving – a lot of the meetings happen outside of the Base. I get to meet a lot of people. I’ve met most of the local mayors, for example, and I think having that opportunity has given me a better understanding of how the different municipalities work. What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened recently while on the job? Recently, I got to watch one of the controlled burns at Rocky Point that help maintain the ecosystem and prevent wildfires from getting out of hand. The Base Commander had been invited to see what the controlled burns entail, and I followed along with the car in case things got too smoky and we needed to move quickly to a different location. What’s something about your job that nobody realizes? When the Base Commander drives around, people salute the vehicle, but they can’t see inside. The thing most people don’t realize is he is often saluting back. What’s something interesting about yourself? I was once posted to the Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert in Nunavut, and I ran the trading post. One day I caught 14 fish, and the president of the...

[caption id="attachment_30240" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Lookout’s Little Free Library, located in front of its building at 1522 Esquimalt Road.[/caption] If you have come by the Lookout’s office at 1522 Esquimalt Road in the past week, you may have noticed a new structure just outside our door. The tall grey box is one of  hundreds Little Free Libraries (LFL) around Victoria. This library was organized by Leslie Eaton, a graphic designer at the Lookout. “Everyone at the Lookout felt a little library was a good fit for our organization,” Eaton said. “We want to provide books for anyone who wants something to read, and now they can come by any time to get one.” The LFL program, in partnership with Idea Tree Consulting, offers homemade book exchange boxes in front of homes, schools, and businesses. “The local LFL program has campaigns that align with Lookout staff’s values, such as Indigenous awareness, pride, diversity, and equity,” Eaton said. “I have put out a request for books in different languages; hopefully, soon we can have a stock of them in there as well.” The LFL’s location outside the Lookout worked well, Eaton said, as there was a cement block embedded into the ground to give it some more stability. The LFL is also beside, but not blocking, a path military members take on their way to and from the parking lots. There are no rules to the library, Eaton said. Once a book is taken out, it does not need to be brought back or replaced with another. However, if someone wants to do that, that’s okay too, she said. For more information, please visit:www.theideatree.ca/past-projects/mapping-victorias-little-librariesand victoriaplacemaking.ca/little-free-libraries

[caption id="attachment_30226" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Board members conduct a strategic planning meeting with the MFRC management team on June 1 at Laurel Point Inn in Victoria. Photo supplied.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The search is underway to fill vacancies on the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) board of directors. Master Sailor (Retired) Samantha Krzywonos, MFRC Board Chair, says the board is looking to fill one or two vacancies in time for its Annual General Meeting in September.  “We are seeking volunteers interested in non-profit governance, who can contribute or learn in areas of finance, communications, fundraising, and risk management,” Krzywonos said. The MFRC is an independent, non-profit charitable organization that addresses the needs of Canada’s military families. Its board of directors is a 12-member governance body that supports the MFRC through establishing policy and setting long-term goals. The board is guided by the Societies Act of British Columbia and is responsible to the Military family community. Board members must commit to six to ten hours per month, said Krzywonos. They are also required to attend monthly board meetings on the last Wednesday of each month. All MFRC volunteers are required to undergo a police background check. Elected candidates will be provided with support, orientation, and training, she said. Krzywonos began volunteering for the MFRC 20 years ago, when she was transitioning out of the military. After serving ten years as a reservist and regular force member, and completing her military career as a Naval Combat Information Operator (NCIOP), Krzywonos worked locally with several non-profits, including the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. Her husband, Jason, currently serves with 443 Squadron as a Warrant Officer AESOP (Airborne Electric Sensor Operator). Krzywonos became the MFRC chair in 2016. She hopes the same reasons that drew her to volunteer with the MFRC may also be appealing to others. She encourages anyone interested to apply for a spot on the board of directors or some of the other volunteer positions within the organization. For a full list...

[caption id="attachment_30223" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Edmonton’s crew visits Alaska during a recent Naval Warfare Officer II training sail. Top row (L-R): Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Mellis, PO2 Hunter, Lieutenant (Navy) Hembruff, Sailor Third Class Finch, Lieutenant (Navy) Hwang, Sub-Lieutenant Yen. Bottom row (L-R): Sailor First Class Tse, Lieutenant (Navy) Negm XO, Petty Officer First Class Robichaud (Coxswain), Aviator Brittain.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Editor — Two Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) have been tasked with helping out with Naval Warfare Officer (NWO) II course delivery to relieve high summer demand on the training system. “HMCS Brandon and HMCS Edmonton are pushing through a backlog of trainees needing to complete the sea phase of NWO II before continuing their trade training,” said Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Nicolas Robichaud, HMCS Edmonton’s Coxswain. The NWO II course is one course in the many stages of NWO training. Over the last decade, the course’s sea phase has been conducted on the ORCA class, however, this summer it will consist of three waves of 20 students crewing HMCSs Brandon and Edmonton over a total of six weeks. Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Louis-Phillippe Trudel, a trained NWO with HMCS Brandon, said the students require time at sea to learn the basic seamanship skills expected of all sailors. “Generally speaking, they are being oriented to life at sea,” LCdr Trudel said. The NWO trainees are learning to be effective lookouts and helm people. They practice working ship lines and participate in all ship evolutions and emergencies, such as spill response, damage control, and person overboard. The ships also support the training of NWOs working on bridge watchkeeping tickets and Marine Technicians working towards their engineering watchkeeper certification. The ships’ route lies along the Inside Passage through the islands on the Pacific Northwest coast, which has been beneficial for navigation and...

Lieutenant (Navy) Michelle Scott HMCS Vancouver PAO, and Captain Jennie Derenzis Combined Information Bureau, RIMPAC 2022 — The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is playing a significant role in 2022’s iteration of the multi-nation Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), hosted by the Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet and led by the Commander of the U.S. 3rd Fleet biennially. “RIMPAC provides us with the opportunity to grow and refine our individual and combined abilities, and our joint capacity to contribute to security in the Indo-Pacific region. This helps us all,” said Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Christopher Robinson, Deputy Commander of Combined Task Force RIMPAC. RIMPAC 2022, taking place from June 29 to August 4, has returned to a full-scale implementation of the world’s largest maritime exercise. It follows a scaled-back RIMPAC 2020 during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Canada is playing a substantial part in RIMPAC by filling leadership roles, including: This year, RCN RAdm Christopher Robinson holds the role of Deputy Commander of Combined Task Force RIMPAC, under RIMPAC 2022 Commander Vice Admiral Michael Boyle of the U.S. Navy. Royal Canadian Air Force  (RCAF) Brigadier-General Mark Goulden is Commander of the Joint Force Air Component and, in such capacity, commands over 170 aircraft during the exercise. Airframes under his charge include a variety of fighter, transport, air-to-air refuelling, ground attack, rotary wing and tilt-rotor aircraft and maritime aviation assets from six nations. RCN Captain (Navy) Doug Layton is serving as Deputy Commander of the Combined Force Maritime Component Command. He commands 38 surface vessels, including two RCN frigates, HMC Ships Vancouver and Winnipeg, as well as four submarines. RAdm Robinson said RIMPAC provides participating nations with an unparalleled training environment. “We build and strengthen partnerships with our allies. This benefits us enormously not only as a contributing...

[caption id="attachment_30194" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Directing Staff and recruits of the 2022 Raven Indigenous Summer Program. Photo: Corporal (Cpl) Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services, Esquimalt[/caption]Kateryna Bandura Editor — The Raven Indigenous Summer Program is back this year with a few major revamps. Not only are half of this year’s staff women, but two staff members have Indigenous backgrounds. Such diversity brings unique experiences and perspectives, said Petty Officer First Class (PO1) Michelle Howell, Raven’s Program Coordinator. “This not only gives the Raven recruits a bountiful Basic Training, but also the opportunity to see themselves reflected amongst the staff,” PO1 Howell said. The Raven Program is a six-week Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) hosted at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt for Indigenous people from across Canada. It is one of five Indigenous Summer Programs offered by the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Before the course began on July 7, the staff underwent a variety of training, including drill; weapons; field craft; obstacle course training; Indigenous awareness classes; and an alternate instructing techniques workshop. This year’s staff training program also included new items, such as Road to Mental Readiness coaching and Positive Space training. The goal of the extra training, PO1 Howell said, is to give the staff an extensive toolset to help support themselves and provide the recruits the best possible experience. PO1 Howell said Raven is unique because it incorporates CAF training with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit teachings. “Our Directing Staff teach the Raven recruits military knowledge, field craft, and drill, and run physical training sessions, inspections, and mentor/coach the recruits throughout the course, while our cultural staff incorporates their insightful knowledge and Indigenous traditions.” Master Sailor (MS) Colleen Chartrand, a member of the Raven Directing Staff, said being part of this program has been incredible. “We’re one week in and I’ve already seen so much progress [in the recruits]. [They] want to be here and learn about the CAF and each other,” she said. As a new Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG)...

[caption id="attachment_30204" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Battlefield Bike Rider. Photo supplied[/caption]Peter MallettStaff Writer — From Hill 70 to Vimy Ridge to Beaumont-Hamel, the Drury Memorial, Canal Du Nord and other historic sites in between, each of the Battlefield Bike Ride participants had connections that made this year’s ride meaningful. For Warrant Officer (WO) Dan Bodden, the team’s stop in Vimy Ridge was the highlight of his trip and a true ‘bucket list moment’.  “Battlefield Bike Ride was a humbling, amazing and cathartic experience,” he said. “It made me feel even more proud to be Canadian. When it comes to the debate of what patriotism means, Vimy embodies this.” WO Dan Bodden is the Royal Canadian Navy’s Diving Safety Director. He has served in Canada’s military for 32 years and is a founding member of Wounded Warrior Run B.C. This year was his first Battlefield Bike Ride experience. WO Bodden had visited France previously but always regretted never getting a chance to visit Vimy. He said Vimy was important for the overall historical significance of the ride. He believes the battle for Vimy was a true watershed moment in Canada’s history. “It was just a very emotional day for me because I could feel the presence of those young Canadian soldiers and how they managed to perfect a coordinated effort between infantry and artillery to prevail,” he said.  Chief Warrant Officer (Retired) Mark Dankwerth also has a personal connection to the sites he visited. “As I rode near the site on my bike, I was thinking of my Great-Uncle Wellington Gray and what he and all the other soldiers went through during the last 100 days of the war,” he said. His grandfather Auty Gray and his brother Wellington both served in the 4th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment). Wellington Gray was killed in action in March 1917 but Dankwerth’s grandfather, although suffering an injury to his arm and deep mental scars, survived the war. Wellington Gray is buried at Roclincourt Military Cemetery....

[caption id="attachment_30198" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Personnel Awaiting Training pitch in at Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific). Photo supplied.[/caption]Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Personnel Awaiting Training (PATs) have become a short-term solution to address personnel shortages at the Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) (FDU(P)). In recent weeks, 12 Royal Military College (RMC) Cadets and seven members of Naval Fleet School (Pacific) (NFS(P)) rolled up their sleeves and worked with a litany of tasks at the Colwood-based unit. The PATs have been pushed into action this summer because they are facing longer than normal wait times for training due to COVID-19. “Our Naval Cadets and Fleet School members are a tremendous help and have greatly improved our list of completed tasks,” said Lieutenant (Navy) Kevin Okihiro, FDU(P) Executive Officer. The jobs range from simple maintenance chores to more complicated design and build projects and administrative work for the unit. FDU(P) was more than happy to give them something to do with their time, Lt(N) Okihiro said. “We cannot afford to have junior sailors release prior to doing their trades training if we are to remedy the numbers the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is losing through attrition,” he said. “I believe a major factor in influencing people to join the military is to do things they don’t get the opportunity to do as civilians.” The initiative, he says, gives the PATs a sense of purpose and some meaningful employment. Lt(N) Jeff Phillips, the Unit Regulating Petty Officer, said the recruits are doing an excellent job. Getting to work Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A/SLt) Michael Hatley, from Thompson, Man., began his naval career in 2017. He is currently enrolled at NFS(P) and awaits his Naval Warfare Officer Level 3 training. One of his recent assignments was to clean algae and barnacles from the underside of a Diving Tender vessel. “I think the word is getting out that the Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) is a great place to work for Personnel Awaiting Training,” A/SLt Hatley said. “I have worked in some great postings...

[caption id="attachment_30190" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander, Royal Canadian Navy; Peggy Sahlen (widow of Paris Sahlen); Captain (Navy) (Retired) William H. Wilson ; Mrs. Wilson; and Ron Hallman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Parks Canada.[/caption]Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Two navy veterans have been inducted into Parks Canada’s Hometown Heroes program. On June 4, the Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Steven Guilbeault, paid tribute to Captain (Navy) (Retired) William H. Wilson and the late Paris K. Sahlen during a Hometown Heroes induction ceremony at The Military Museums in Calgary. Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee, Commander Royal Canadian Navy, and Captain (Navy) Blair Saltel, Maritime Forces Pacific Chief of Staff, attended the ceremony. During his address, VAdm Topshee commended both men for their contributions. “Their military service and invaluable contributions to the Royal Canadian Navy over many decades not only have brought generations of Canadians closer to their navy, but have also boosted the morale of countless sailors,” VAdm Topshee said. “Their achievements are a source of inspiration for our members, and being recognized as Hometown Heroes ensures their legacy will be known to Canadians well into the future.” The two men were nominated to the Hometown Heroes program by members of their local communities, said a spokesperson for Parks Canada. Hometown Heroes launched in 2015. It recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the Canadian Military with an association to places administered by Parks Canada. Sixty-Two Years in Uniform Wilson played a pivotal role in creating the Naval Museum of Alberta. When reached for a telephone interview at his home in High River, Alta., he said he was humbled to be honoured by Parks Canada, but more encouraged by the attention generated for the museum. “We created the museum to educate the public about the men and women of Canada’s military and their outstanding accomplishments, so anything we can do to get people to visit this wonderful facility is wonderful to see,” he said. The museum opened its doors in...

[caption id="attachment_30186" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor First Class Jeramie Welsh was presented with a Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command Coin for Excellence during deployment on RIMPAC 22 in Honolulu, Hawaii, by Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander CJOC.[/caption]Sailor First Class (S1) Jeramie Welsh was presented with a Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) Coin for Excellence during deployment on Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 22 in Honolulu, Hawaii, by Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander CJOC. S1 Welsh deployed to RIMPAC 22 as the National Command and Support Element Supply Technician from Canadian Submarine Force at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt on extremely short notice. Their professionalism and dedication enabled them to effectively step up as the RIMPAC 22 Accommodations Non-Commissioned Officer and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Contingent COVID coordinator. Always upbeat, positive, and working tireless hours, S1 Welsh has already resolved many conflicts in the RIMPAC 22 accommodation plan, and has brought important supplies and care to many CAF members in their time of need. S1 Welsh is a Material Management Technician who joined the CAF in 2007 as a reservist, and later transferred to the regular force in 2018. They hail from Calgary, Alta.

[caption id="attachment_30182" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Two divers show each other the ok sign while preparing to dive.[/caption] DND — The selection process for Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) Clearance Divers and Naval Tactical Operators has recently taken a new approach. To better support applicants to these physically demanding trades, Personnel Support Programs (PSP) Human Performance (HP) and PSP Esquimalt worked closely with both units to create Candidate Physical Preparation Aides for the selection process and bridge the start of the qualification courses. The aides provide awareness of the courses’ physical demands and physical fitness programming. Applicants can also access the programming through a mobile Athlete Management System, which further supports them by monitoring their readiness status (e.g. sleep, soreness, fatigue, motivation). To ensure a high standard of support in the delivery of the selection process, the units jointly funded a new position – a PSP Physical Performance Specialist. The Specialist will also reinforce a culture of readiness by providing physical development programs for qualified, experienced operators with these units. “The culture within the Naval Tactical Operations Group (NTOG) is built on a foundation of being ready to fight tonight,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Wil Lund, Commanding Officer NTOG. “For all operators, this demands an extreme state of physical and mental preparedness, both of which rely on modern, evolving fitness programs.” LCdr Lund said these programs protect sailors from injury and keep them mentally and operationally sharp. “Over the years, we have enjoyed the mentorship and coaching of the excellent PSP staff that has made this possible. Clearly, this new initiative will build on this momentum to ensure all operators and staff, regardless of their age, gender, or experience, are always mission ready,” he said. The Physical Performance Specialist will play a key role in guiding these operators to find the right balance of sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and injury prevention...

[caption id="attachment_30172" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Navy Bike Ride – One Navy, Strong. Photo supplied[/caption]   Royal Canadian Navy — Ready to register? It’s not too late! Head to Navy Bike Ride’s official Race Roster page navybikeride.ca and sign up now to make our unique event part of your 2022 ride season! The 2022 Navy Bike Ride is on! With this year’s slogan of ‘One Navy Strong’, the Navy is riding together with cyclists across the country to support our Navy family and community until August 7. Whether you are near or far, cyclists of any age and ability all across Canada are invited to register and join our sailors, soldiers and aviators deployed around the globe in this year’s free virtual event. Designed as a fun, family-friendly event, there are many ways for you to participate. Until August 7, you must complete 28 rides. This number represents the 24 Naval Reserve Divisions, three naval bases, and Naval Headquarters across Canada. If you’re looking to really challenge yourself, you can participate in the new premium Admiral’s Challenge, presented by Thales. This challenge allows you to select from three distances (20km, 80km, and 207km) and receive an exclusive Navy Bike Ride coin once completed. You can complete your virtual ride any day, any time during the 10-day race completion period of July 29 – August 7. The Navy Bike Ride supports the Royal Canadian Navy community with proceeds supporting programs including Support our Troops, Soldier On, and the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund. The funds raised during the Navy Bike Ride is one of the most direct ways for Canadians to support the recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration of members with physical and/or mental health illness or injury, and to contribute to building family resilience. It’s also an excellent way to learn more about your Navy and be able to interact directly with sailors. Buckle up your helmets and come together for the 2022 Navy Bike Ride event in the spirit of camaraderie...

[caption id="attachment_30168" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant (Navy) Michael-Lucien Bergeron juggles while attempting to set a Guinness World Record in Joggling at a distance of 10 kilometres at Canada Games Place in Charlottetown, P.E.I., July 9. Photo: Carrie Gregory[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A Fleet-footed joggler of the Canadian Naval Reserves has struck again, this time as a potential new world record holder. Lieutenant (Navy) Michael-Lucien Bergeron ran a 10-kilometre race while juggling in 34 minutes 47 seconds at Canada Games Place track and field facility in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on July 10. The time will officially be a world record once confirmed by Guinness World Records in four to eight weeks. “It feels pretty good to potentially be the fastest in the world at joggling over 10 kilometres,” said Lt(N) Bergeron. Lt(N) Bergeron is already a confirmed Guinness World Records holder for Fastest Half Marathon, which he set in Toronto in 2018. Lt(N) Bergeron is a full-time Naval Warfare Officer at HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottetown. The athletic feat is known in the track and field world as ‘joggling’, which with three standard juggling balls suspended in midair. He was convinced he had already beaten the standing 10-km record for joggling in 2018 with a time of 35 minutes 36 seconds. However, he did not qualify because of the number of witnesses and the track he ran on. This time, he ran on a regulation track and made sure he had video, pictures, and witness reports, and an official report from a certified timer to seal the deal. Lt(N) Bergeron had already gained much notoriety at CFB Esquimalt, when on June 18 he won the 2022 Navy Run five-kilometre race with the fastest time of 17 minutes 3 seconds, also while joggling. His soon-to-be world record garnered both local and...

Members of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy perform for their summer concert at Beacon Hill Park. [caption id="attachment_30163" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy perform for their summer concert at Beacon Hill Park.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_30161" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Petty Officer 1st Class Marielle Audet, a member of the Naden Band.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_30160" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant(Navy) Van Slyke, Naden Band Music Officer conducts music during the Naden Band Summer Concert.[/caption] [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy perform for their summer concert.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_30208" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A diverse and inclusive workplace is essential for all RCN Team members. All Regular and Reserve Force personnel and all civilian employees are invited to the next RCN Mentorship Program event on July 27, which will discuss our culture.Un milieu de travail diversifié et inclusif est essentiel pour tous les membres de l’équipe de la MRC. Tous les membres de la Force régulière et de la Force de réserve ainsi que tous les employés civils sont invités à la prochaine activité du Programme de mentorat de la MRC, qui aura lieu le 27 juillet et au cours duquel il sera question de notre culture.[/caption]Mark your calendars to attend the next session of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) Mentorship Program. Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann from Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture will discuss culture. Sailors – Regular and Reserve Force – at all ranks and civilian employees at all levels are invited. Date: July 27, 2022 Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. EST Location: Microsoft Teams The program is also open to all Canadian Armed Forces personnel and all Department of National Defence civilian employees. These group sessions will be held monthly and everyone is encouraged to actively participate, share their insights and ask questions. For more information, visit the Mentorship Program’s intranet page. ———————————————————————————— La prochaine séance du Programme de mentorat de la MRC portera sur la culture Inscrivez cette activité à vos calendriers pour assister à la prochaine séance du Programme de mentorat de la Marine royale canadienne (MRC). L’adjudant-chef Bob McCann, du Chef – Conduite professionnelle et culture, discutera de la culture. Les marins de la Marine royale canadienne (MRC) – Force régulière et Réserve – de tous les grades et les employés civils de tous les niveaux sont invités. Date : 27 juillet 2022 Heure : Midi à 13 h 30 (heure de l’Est) Lieu : Microsoft Teams Le programme est également ouvert à...

[caption id="attachment_30156" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A challenge coin from a previous Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy.  Photo supplied. Un médaillon du défi d’un ancien commandant de la Marine royale canadienne.[/caption]— Good morning/afternoon shipmates, I would like to take a moment of your time to invite digitally creative Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors, veterans and their family members to submit ideas for my new challenge coin. There are many of you out there who are talented digital artists, and have already designed items such as morale patches for your units. This contest is the perfect opportunity for you to let your talent shine once more. For those unaware, military challenge coins are traditionally given by senior leaders as tokens of appreciation or recognition. It has also become tradition in recent years for each CRCN to have a unique coin created specific to their tenure. Please think outside the box! The design doesn’t need to be a classic round coin. Creativity, ingenuity and a design that represents who we are as a naval community – that’s what I am hoping to see in your submissions. Requirements Submissions must be rasterized electronic files in either .pdf or .jpg file formats, with a resolution of at least 300 dpi (the winning design will require an unlocked and editable vector file). Scanned, hand-drawn submissions will not be accepted. Be imaginative! Previous coins can be used as inspiration, but designs of any shape are welcome.Designs must be high quality, capable of being reproduced on a coin or embossed on stationary and other uses. The design itself cannot be copyrighted, nor should it incorporate any imagery copyrighted by third parties. Official RCN imagery, such as the RCN crest and Ensign can be used. Designs must include clear reference or association to the RCN, and specifically the position...

[caption id="attachment_30146" align="aligncenter" width="595"] All photos: Sailor 1st Class Valerie LeClair, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Sub-Lieutenant Wilson Ho, MARPAC Public Affairs/NST PAO — The Naval Security Team deployed on Okanagan Lake in Kelowna to conduct a training exercise from July 4-9. “The Naval Security Team is an integral unit within Canadian Fleet Pacific, and this deployment offered us the opportunity to practise our tradecraft in different, realistic, and challenging environments,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Jeremy Breese Commanding Officer of the Naval Security Team. The intent was to conduct Defender Navigation and Tactical Training to further the proficiency and qualifications of boat coxswain trainees. The exercise also prepared the unit for eventual deployments. The specially-trained Naval Security Team provides a layer of land and sea-based security, also called ‘enhanced force protection’, to ensure Royal Canadian Navy ships and personnel are protected at home in Canada and around the world. The Naval Security Team supports a deployed ship by allowing the crew to take leave during longer deployments or to focus on other tasks, such as maintenance.[caption id="attachment_30147" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Naval Security Team Exercise.[/caption]“We employ members from across all trades, and the opportunities/responsibilities the sailors receive and demonstrate while on the team allow us to continue building an even more capable and empowered force,” LCdr Breese said. During the training this past week, the Naval Security Team conducted boat manoeuvring drills and static/dynamic High Value Asset (HVA) protection drills.[caption id="attachment_30149" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor 1st Class Paul Ayo assembles the C9 Machine Gun.[/caption]“We were extremely excited to have this opportunity to deploy the Defender Boats on Okanagan Lake. I am proud of what the Team has accomplished, and I look forward to further growth and success,” LCdr Breese said. The Naval Security Team members are primarily Naval Reservists, with Regular Force members rounding out the team when required. Its standing core of 20 personnel provides expertise and training, and is augmented by a variable number of additional Reservists, based on the requirements of the mission at hand....

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — After a three-year hiatus, the wheels of Wounded Warriors Canada’s Battlefield Bike Ride rolled into motion again. From June 13 to 17, a team of 50 cyclists from Canada embarked on a nearly 400-kilometre cycling journey in France. Their mission: to visit some of the most famous battle sites, monuments, and cemeteries commemorating the final 100 days of the First World War on the Western Front. “Visiting those memorials and seeing rows upon rows of headstones was incredibly moving. I had the honour to play Last Post on my post horn while we remembered these young men who made the ultimate sacrifice,” says a former musician with the Naden Band and current performer with the Vancouver Island Symphony Ordinary Seaman (Retired) Karen Hough. The annual Battlefield Bike Ride combines cycling with Canadian military history under the mantra ‘Honour the Fallen and Help the Living’. Over 750 cyclists have participated in Battle Field Bike Ride since 2014. The event has fundraised over $3 million in support of the charity’s national mental health programs benefiting injured and ill veterans, and first responders and their families. [caption id="attachment_30128" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Karen Hough, former musician with the Naden Band, plays Last Post at Beaumont-Hamel. Photo supplied.[/caption] This was Hough’s third Battlefield Bike Ride. She previously participated in Battlefield Bike Rides in 2018 in Bosnia and Croatia and 2019 in France for the 75th Anniversary of Juno Beach and D-Day. She says the most significant experience during the ride was seeing the many military cemeteries where Canadian soldiers were laid to rest. Her grandfather, Private John William Hough, enlisted in the Canadian Field Ambulance in Victoria in 1916 and served at Vimy Ridge. “Of the inscriptions on their gravestones that got to me the most were the anonymous ones engraved: ‘A soldier of the Great War, known unto God’,” Hough says. This year’s Battlefield Bike Ride covered distances from 50 to 90 kilometres each day. The battlefields and monuments the riders...

[caption id="attachment_30123" align="aligncenter" width="596"] The Royal Canadian Navy’s grappling team from Canadian Forces Bases Esquimalt and Edmonton poses for a photo after the June 25 tournament at the Naden Athletic Centre. Photo supplied[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — For the first time in history, the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) hosted a Military Combatives Tournament. Combatives is a hand-to-hand training mixed with grappling techniques. The June 25 tournament saw 25 grapplers from Canadian Forces Bases Esquimalt and Edmonton at the Naden Athletic Centre. Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Lee Thibault, Organizer and Tritons team captain, said the event was well-received by all participants. “This event gave them a chance to develop their grappling skills and gain some valuable competitive experience while also making a little bit of sports history,” he said. Grappling is a form of submission wrestling involving holds and takedowns without striking or punches. Every takedown is achieved by controlling the partner into submission to score points. The Personnel Support Programs (PSP) did not officially sanction the sport until 2019, after which the Tritons Grappling Team was formed. Other grappling teams have also been formed in CFB Edmonton, CFB Gagetown and 12 Wing Shearwater. PO2 Thibault is a small Arms Instructor at Naval Fleet School Pacific and is a life-long mixed martial arts enthusiast. He says the sport of grappling is relatively new to the navy. As a five-time Canadian Armed Forces Combatives champion, he says he lets his actions promote the sport. During his latest competition in Esquimalt he claimed the tournament’s heavyweight and overall titles. He says having his teammates crowded around his wrestling mat was a pure thrill. “I could care less about the medals and titles. The biggest thing for me is to lead by example, teaching these guys all the finer points and techniques of...

Kateryna Bandura Editor — Junior Officers and junior sailors in between formal courses at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt completed On the Job training packages in an initiative between a frigate and three ORCA vessels. “Because ORCA ships are smaller and less complex to operate, they help better focus on developing the basic skills in a safe environment, and training can occur at a reasonable speed to allow proper absorption,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Louis-Phillippe Trudel, the Officer in Tactical Command of the three ORCA vessels, and for Officers in Charge (OIC) training development on PCTU Cougar. The Force Generation sail, organized by HMCS Calgary and ORCA ships Cougar, Grizzly, and Raven, prepared 72 participants, including four in Navigation training, three in OIC training, and 20 for basic Naval Warfare Officer training. This is a first in a long time the fleet employed the ORCA vessels for Force Generation training. LCdr Trudel said normally ORCAs are used by the Naval Officer Training Centre Venture and by Naval Reserves on weekends. The idea behind the initiative was to allow junior officers to progress their training, to mentor future navigators and OICs, and to support the training of junior sailors at sea. “The program offered training to junior members in a safe and practical environment, while allowing qualified personnel to build their skills and progress to the next levels of their careers,” LCdr Trudel said. The ships trained over three weeks from June 13-30 in the Gulf Islands, Strait of Georgia, and Puget Sound. A navigator in HMCS Calgary and the project’s architect, Lieutenant (Navy) Taylor Workman said training such as this could take two to three times longer on ships whose mission is not solely Force Generation. Sometimes Force Generation sails can be extremely challenging, but Lt(N) Workman said at least four people asked if there would be another similar sail. “We got to show junior sailors they could have fun while doing the business at sea,” he said. “I personally haven’t seen...

[caption id="attachment_30116" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Victoria Police Department Deputy Chief Colin Watson presents a Civic Award to (left) Kate Roland and Alison Perry-Davies during a June 23 ceremony at Police Headquarters. Photo: Victoria Police Department[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A Victoria-based author attributes a suicide awareness workshop for helping her save a person in distress on a bridge in Victoria. “I am crying when I think about this incident and how I managed to save a life that day,” said Alison Perry-Davies. “I am still amazed I was at the right place in the right moment.” Perry-Davies, 62, is a former Disability Case Manager for the BC Aboriginal Network. She is also an author of three books. Being a military spouse, Perry-Davies heard about the Mental Fitness and Suicide Awareness workshop offered by PSP Health Promotions. What she learned in the workshop was crucial that day, she said. According to the Victoria Police Department spokesperson Bowen Osoko, Alison Perry-Davies and Kate Roland were crossing a local bridge  when they encountered a person in distress. They both approached the person, and, relying in part on previous training and experience, were able to help de-escalate the situation and then provide care and comfort until officers arrived and brought the person to medical care, said Osoko. Following the incident, the Victoria Police Department recognized Perry-Davies and Roland with a Civic Service Award in a ceremony at police headquarters on June 23. The award recognizes outstanding service to the communities of Esquimalt and Victoria. The award and the commemorative plaque were presented to Perry-Davies and Roland by Deputy Chief Colin Watson. Life-saving skills PSP Health Promotion Manager Maryse Neilson said the Mental Fitness and Suicide Awareness workshop is a suicide first aid course. “It is incredibly heart-warming to learn Alison valued the workshop so much...

[caption id="attachment_30113" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Lieutenant Commander Michael Halpin (Royal Australian Navy) and Lieutenant (Navy) Irene Doucette (Royal Canadian Navy), under the guidance of Directing Staff Lieutenant Commander Rebecca Ainsworth (Royal Australian Navy), provide triage to a simulated casualty during a CFB Esquimalt-held Submarine Medicine Course’s final Submarine Search, Escape and Rescue Exercise (SMASHEX) in June 2022.[/caption] Hadley Parsons Public Affairs Office — Physicians and Physician Assistants from the Royal Canadian Navy and several allied nations came together for a Submarine Medicine course at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt last month. “The international community of medical personnel with these skill sets is small, but the training is very important to ensure navies can meet the demands of underwater operations,” said Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Kaighley Brett, the Assistant Course Director and Head of the Canadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment School of Operational Medicine. The Submarine Medicine course is normally held once a year but, due to the COVID pandemic, this was the first one since 2019. The course allowed military members from Canada, Australia, Israel, the Netherlands and Singapore to study the challenges of practicing medicine in the confined and pressurized spaces of submarines. During the submarine Search, Escape and Rescue Exercise (SMASHEX), Canadian Armed Forces sailors simulated submariners escaping a distressed submarine, while the students ran them through triage and simulated treatment techniques learned on the course. The SMASHEX also provided an opportunity to coordinate with and learn from non-medical personnel, like submariners and divers, who will be critical in submarine emergency situations. On the course, students learned how physicians, physician assistants, and divers can work together to recompress escapees of distressed submarines using recompression chambers, also known as hyperbaric chambers. These chambers recreate high-pressure environments normally experienced at deep sea and are used for treating submariners with decompression sickness. On top of learning submarine medicine, the course taught the students about international naval vessels and operating procedures, helping prepare for future potential multi-national submarine rescues, in conjunction with the International Submarine Escape and Rescue...

[caption id="attachment_30108" align="aligncenter" width="596"] USAR team members work together to conduct a 30-ton heavy lift and move exercise. Photo: Sub-Lieutenant Wilson Ho – USAR Team Member[/caption] Sub-Lieutenant Wilson Ho MARPAC Public Affairs Urban Search and Rescue Team — Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson, signed a Maritime Forces Pacific Order (MARPACORD) in June of this year, officially establishing the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team as a unit at CFB Esquimalt. “The signing of the MARPACORD last month is a great step forward for the team,” said Glenn Cooper, the CFB Esquimalt USAR Team Commander. “The team has been operational for over 22 years and we’re looking forward to seeing how they continue to grow and develop, and become a mainstay for the base, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the general public.” The USAR Team has been an integral part of CFB Esquimalt for years before the MARPACORD took effect. The Team conducted its monthly training on June 29 at the USAR Compound near Naval Officer Training Centre Venture in Esquimalt. The training allows team members to practice search and rescue skills and techniques in a variety of complex scenarios. The team was split into two with the objective to conduct a 30-ton heavy lift from one area to another, and conduct a patient package and vertical lift extraction, where a member is hoisted down, packs up a patient in a stretcher, and then is extracted back up together with the patient. These types of scenarios allow the USAR Team to train in a realistic and challenging environment. All USAR members get trained in hazard and structural assessments, structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue and low/high angle rope rescues. The Team was conceived after CFB Esquimalt found a critical need for self-recovery capability in the event of an earthquake on the West Coast. While USAR supports the Joint Task Force (Pacific) (JTF(P)) operations, their primary responsibility is to conduct rescue operations for CFB Esquimalt in the...

[caption id="attachment_30103" align="aligncenter" width="596"] A few members from the HMCS Winnipeg crew practise their boxing skills on the flight deck for physical training. Photos: Sailor First Class Melissa Gonzalez[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Editor — Nothing beats boxing under infinite sky at sea – that’s according to one Marine Technician aboard HMCS Winnipeg. Finding time to exercise on a deployed ship can be challenging, Sailor First Class (S1) Adrian Cordari says, so a solid fitness routine during a deployment is a must. “A Marine Technician’s job onboard a ship is very demanding,” he says. “Eating healthy on ship can be occasionally challenging but the cooks are very accommodating; you are more than capable of limiting your duff intake.” HMCS Winnipeg is currently deployed on the Rim of the Pacific 2022 exercise with HMCS Vancouver. This is S1 Cordari’s first deployment after two years. S1 Cordari grew up learning karate and jujitsu in southern Ontario, but found his way towards boxing when he moved to Victoria. He says hearing about and seeing sparring clubs on ships encouraged him to join up with other sailors to start boxing classes during this deployment. Various HMCS Winnipeg sailors attend boxing classes every second morning at 8 a.m. to beat the day’s heat. A typical session consists of 20-30 minutes of skill development geared towards each participant’s capabilities, followed by sparring for those who wish to practice more. [caption id="attachment_30104" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A few members from the HMCS Winnipeg crew practise their boxing skills on the flight deck for physical training. Photos: Sailor First Class Melissa Gonzalez[/caption] The movement of the ship at sea poses an additional challenge and requires another level of awareness, said Captain Christine MacNeil, Public Affairs Officer aboard HMCS Winnipeg. “Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of those participating is important. We want people to be challenged and to learn, but not be overwhelmed,” she says. “It’s important to find an activity you enjoy so you are more likely to keep at it.” Capt MacNeil...

The Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) in Esquimalt will soon become home for a one-of-a-kind commemorative artwork.

  [caption id="attachment_30048" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Welby ‘Ike” Isaacs with the USS Arizona Medal of Freedom. Photo Supplied[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer  — A Canadian Armed Forces veteran is the proud first recipient of a medal commemorating the iconic Second World War battleship USS Arizona and its crew. Lance Corporal (retired) Welby ‘Ike’ Isaacs was presented with the USS Arizona Medal of Freedom during an unveiling ceremony on June 23 at Natural Resources Canada lab CanmetMATERIALS in Hamilton, Ont. “Receiving this medal means so much to me and to my family,” Isaacs said. Isaacs is a member of the Six Nations of the Grand River and served seven years in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Cold War era. He says being chosen as the first to receive the commemorative medal was one of the biggest honours in his life. The USS Arizona was destroyed in Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941. Six of the 1,177 crew members who died that day were born in Canada. Ed McGrath, Executive Director of the Lauren F. Bruner USS Arizona Memorial Foundation, said the medal recognizes Indigenous Canadians who have served in Canada’s military. “So often the contributions of First Nations people in the United States and Canada are ignored. Ike was selected by our foundation to honour all Canadian military members and first [nations] Canadians,” he said. Isaacs joined the Canadian Army in 1959 and served with the Royal Canadian Dragoons regiment in Petawawa. He worked as a radio operator in tanks and other vehicles with deployments to Germany and Egypt. He retired from the military in 1966. Two Indigenous elders conducted a blessing of the commemorative medal and pieces of steel artifacts from USS Arizona, during the ceremony. The elders were Garry Sault, an Ojibway elder and US Navy Veteran from the Mississauga of the Credit First Nation; and Pat Oakes, an elder from the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. Also present at the ceremony was Senior Naval Reserve Chaplain of HMCS Prevost...

Captain Simpson, from Ladner, B.C., has been flying with the Royal Canadian Air Force for seven years and has previous experience flying as an air cadet. This is also his second deployment on board an Canadian warship with the Cyclone. It was that experience he drew upon to help land on Almirante Lynch.

[caption id="attachment_30040" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Sailor First Class Amanda Polus of the Personnel Coordination Centre Pacific displays a Sentinel Patch that will soon be affixed to her service uniform. Photo: Peter Mallett/Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer  — The inspiration to join the Sentinel program has much to do with being a self-described ‘people’ person, says one of the newest Sentinels on the west coast. “If I think back to all the greatest experiences I have had in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), along with the worst experiences in the CAF, they all have to do with people,” says Sailor First Class (S1) Amanda Polus. “I don’t think there are any two people with the same exact problem; all are uniquely different.” The Royal Canadian Chaplain Service Sentinel Program is an alternative to chaplains’ counselling and care, established in 2007 as a peer support network. Trained and supervised volunteers of all ranks connect members in need with support and resources in the CAF and external organizations. Sentinels are easily identifiable by the patch on either of their arms, inscribed with the word ‘Sentinel’. S1 Polus is one of over 3,000 qualified Sentinels across the CAF. She is also a full-time reservist and Human Resources Administrator with the Personnel Coordination Centre Pacific. She officially joined the program on May 9 after training with her unit’s padre Lieutenant (Navy) Peter Han. Lt(N) Han’s instruction involved advice on listening intently to a member’s concerns, and then discussing solutions for crisis and hardships. “Finding solutions to member’s problems is not as easy as it seems, especially when you really want to make the person feel better but do not immediately know the right thing to say,” S1 Polus says. So far, she has offered her care and support to three peers, and says the experience has been...

[caption id="attachment_30035" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Map showing Bentinck Island. Photo by Lookout Navy News[/caption] Kateryna Bandura, Editor — This past week, regular and reserve force boatswains from the west coast got to detonate explosives at the site of a former leper colony. Eleven students participated in demolition training on the Bentinck Island range June 27-30, under the watchful eye of highly trained instructors. The Rank Qualification Sailor Third Class (RQS3) course marks the beginning of the Boatswain trade training. Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Scott Colburn, Sea Division Chief Petty Officer, said the training went very well. “The group was highly motivated, even during a short training pause for a pod of Southern Vancouver Island resident killer whales passing through the area,” he said. During the demolition training, boatswains learn to carefully use explosives so that once employed on a ship, they can use these techniques to safely sink a derelict boat or a half-sunk shipping container, said CPO2 Colburn. The training is conducted throughout the year as part of the Boatswain trade. Before entering live demolition training, all students must pass the safety exam with a threshold passing grade of 100 per cent. CPO2 Colburn said demolition training ranges from the rudimentary to more complex concepts. “It starts with identifying the basic parts and pieces, safety and safe handling procedures, and then moves on to basic charge creation using visual aids and dummy training aids,” he said. All safety precautions are taken around the training, he assured. “Highly trained supervisors from Naval Fleet School (Pacific)’s (NFS(P)) Seamanship Division ensure training is carried out safely,” he said. “Personnel is properly trained. Appropriate safety arcs and distances are accurately calculated and observed based on the size of the charge and the type of material being demolished.” Furthermore, CPO2 Colburn said, safety boats are posted off Bentinck Island to ensure no civilian boats cross the safety perimeter while the range is live. NFS(P) also works closely with Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) to...

On June 26, five members of the Defence Team Pride Advisory Organization (DTPAO) and Positive Space Working Group attended the Victoria Pride Festival 2022 non-uniform, per the Victoria Pride Society’s request.