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[caption id="attachment_17273" align="alignnone" width="550"] Left to right: Lieutenant Commander Tung Siu, Fleet Support Medical Officer, Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific), Chief Warrant Officer Mark Dankwerth, Fleet Senior Human Resources Manager, Base Commander Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Lieutenant Colonel Gordon Peckham, Commanding Officer Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific), Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Commanding Officer of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC). Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Pacific) kicked off their annual Flu Shot Campaign for military personnel at the base by hosting a flu shot clinic at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) headquarters in Dockyard on Oct. 4. Flu shots are not mandatory but highly encouraged for all members of the military. For more information about future clinics and drop-in appointments at the base immunization clinic follow CFB Esquimalt’s base intranet splash pages or call 250-363-4140.

[caption id="attachment_17270" align="alignnone" width="400"] LS (Ret’d) Mike Stevens[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A 13-year veteran of the Royal Canadian Navy has made an unconventional transition to the civilian work force, trading in the screens of a Naval Electronics Sensor Operator for a film director’s chair.With his first film selected for screening in the upcoming New West Film Festival in Vancouver, it seems Leading Seaman (Ret’d) Mike Stevens’ new career is a bright one.When it became clear in 2016 that his career in the navy was coming to an end for medical reasons, he had the option of returning to work in security or pursuing his decade-long desire to become a filmmaker. His wife Shannon encouraged him to follow his passion.So Stevens began attending the film program at Victoria’s Pacific Design Academy in September 2016 under the Department of National Defence Vocational Rehabilitation Program.Less than a year later, as part of his course requirements, he had produced the film Dee, an eight-minute suspense/thriller. To have it included in a festival is an affirming experience, he says.“For me to be part of the film festival is a huge shot in the arm just when I needed it the most,” says Stevens. “What it means to me is vindication and validation for the film, but also for the decision that I made to set out onto the new and unfamiliar path of filmmaking.”Stevens’ military career included working aboard warships as an Electronic Warfare and Above-Water Warfare specialist for six years before spending the last six at Regional Joint Operations Centre as a Watch Supervisor. He says the 12-hour shifts sitting in dark rooms in front of computer screens coupled with health problems eventually spelled an end to his days in the navy.Choosing the uncertainty of a completely new career over the guarantee of a...

[caption id="attachment_17266" align="alignnone" width="450"] Allied ships under Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1) move into formation during Operation Reassurance. Photos by Corporal J.W.S. Houck - Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Meghan Jacques, Public Affairs ~In August 2017, HMCS Charlottetown deployed to the Baltic Sea on Operation Reassurance, joining the Standing NATO Maritime Group One (SNMG1).The SNMG1 is a naval force made up of ships from NATO countries that are working together to reassure allies in the region of NATO’s ability to support stability and security in the region.“As part of routine SNMG1 operations, HMCS Charlottetown conducts patrols to improve awareness, which is used to monitor patterns of maritime and air traffic in the area of operations,” said Commander Nathan Decicco, Commanding Officer of Charlottetown.Part of the routine work of maintaining awareness is monitoring routine foreign naval and air activities.In early September, during Russia’s preparations for ZAPAD 17, Charlottetown and the embarked CH-124 Sea King Helicopter observed routine Russian air and naval activity while sailing in the Baltic.Charlottetown’s professional posture while observing Russian warships and aircraft was integral to maintaining situational awareness, maritime security, and stability in the Baltic region.“HMCS Charlottetown also participates in regular training serials with SNMG1 consorts, improving overall interoperability and is integrated in larger coordinated national and NATO exercises including Exercise Northern Coast in the Baltic Sea and Exercise Brilliant Mariner in the Mediterranean Sea;” said Cdr Decicco.Charlottetown excels at maintaining accurate real-time awareness while participating in concurrent advanced training serials. The concurrent tasks requires Charlottetown’s Operations Team to manage multiple simultaneous scenarios and maintain succinct and accurate tactical communications.

[caption id="attachment_17263" align="alignnone" width="400"] Crew members from HMCS St. John’s receive supplies at Norfolk Naval Base in West Virginia before departing on Operation Renaissance. Photo by MCpl Chris Ringius, Formation Imaging Services Halifax[/caption]Captain Matt Zalot, Public Affairs ~One of the roles of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is to help people in the wake of disasters. Whether these disasters are caused by humans or nature, alleviating suffering is an important military function that can bring about stability, save lives, and prevent further misery.That is why it’s unsurprising that the Government of Canada sent HMCS St. John’s to respond to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Irma when it passed through the Caribbean in early September.The tropical cyclone, which affected many of the Leeward Islands and the United States, was the strongest Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. The crew of St. John’s had its work cut out, and quickly stepped up the pace of their training in order to meet the required benchmarks before transiting south to the Turks and Caicos.The ship arrived in South Caicos on Sept. 15 and the crew quickly began performing important humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The main lines of effort were directed at clearing debris, providing fresh water to the island, and providing work parties with the technical expertise to re-establish power and otherwise help out as needed.The leadership of St. John’s liaised with United Kingdom military representatives, disaster response personnel, and local South Caicos officials to determine how best to coordinate disaster response efforts.St. John’s served as a valuable command centre, permitting calls to higher command, producing lifesaving water, and providing a home for work parties after they returned from labouring in the hot and humid Caribbean climate. Every day, approximately 80 sailors transferred via small boat back and forth to shore in...

[caption id="attachment_17259" align="alignnone" width="550"] Sarah McLachlan performs with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy during the Invictus Games opening ceremony. Photo by Cpl Jean-Roch Chabot, CFJIC[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Canadian music icon Sarah McLachlan teamed up with the official band of Canada’s Pacific Fleet during the opening ceremony of the 2017 Invictus Games in Toronto.Approximately 30 members of the Naden Band and 35 members of CFB Halifax’s Stadacona Band backed the award-winning singer/songwriter on the main stage of the Air Canada Centre on Sept. 23. With a near-capacity crowd at the arena and a national television audience looking on, McLachlan and the two bands performed their rendition of McLachlan’s popular song, “In Your Shoes”.“What a great honour for us to be asked to be part of such an amazing event that use sports to inspire recovery and rehabilitation of soldiers around the globe,” said Naden Band Commanding Officer SLt Vincent Roy. “It was a great way for us to close the chapter on a very busy summer.”An international sport competition for ill and injured military members and veterans, the Invictus Games brought together athletes from 15 countries competing in 12 different adaptive sports.McLachlan and the naval bands were part of a three-hour performance that followed the entrance of the athletes during the traditional Parade of Nations and opening remarks from Prince Harry, founder of the Invictus Games, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.Other performers during the show included French Canadian folk band La Bottine Souriante, pop singer Alessia Cara and the Tenors, and comedian Mike Myers. Four Canadian Armed Forces bands took part in the opening ceremonies with Ottawa’s Central Band and La Musique du Royal 22e Regiment Quebec providing accompaniment for the athletes as they marched out onto the arena floor to open the ceremony.Naden Band Production Supervisor...

[caption id="attachment_17255" align="alignnone" width="225"] The newly created Bike To Work Week Trophy on display before a trophy presentation at the Naden Athletic Centre. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~CFB Esquimalt has received official recognition from the federal government for its ridership numbers in last spring’s province-wide Bike to Work Week competition.Base Commander Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd capped off the formation’s participation in the Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week Society event by accepting the trophy for being the B.C. Federal Council Bike to Work Week Challenge Champions. The trophy commemorates the high participation numbers in the Department of National Defence (DND) during the week-long June event.Director General, Pacific Regional Public Services Procurement Canada, Annie Desgagné was on hand at the Naden Athletic Centre on Oct. 4 to present the newly-created trophy to Capt(N) Boyd on behalf of the formation.“I am so pleased to see the DND engaged and encouraging everyone to be a part of Bike to Work Week and it is my pleasure to award this prestigious trophy to Captain Boyd,” said Desgagné.DND is the first organization to have its name engraved on the trophy, which Desgagné said was donated by  federal employees. Capt(N) Boyd also praised military and civilian cyclists at the base who chose to leave their cars at home last week during the fall Bike To Work Week event held at the base.“It’s outstanding to hear that our membership contributed to roughly half the amount of the total kilometres travelled by federal government employees for this competition,” said Capt(N) Boyd upon accepting the trophy. “It shows that DND employees take cycling, fitness and our Health and Wellness Strategy very seriously.”Capt(N) Boyd noted he cycles a round-trip distance of 30 kilometres to and from work and can see firsthand that he isn’t the...

[caption id="attachment_17241" align="alignnone" width="300"] From left: Warrant Officer Mike Clarke and Master Corporal Todd Clark from 77 Line Regiment, present a $400 donation to Cockrell House Chairman Angus Stanfield and Resident Manager Rick Nicholson.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ Representatives from Cockrell House visited Dockyard Sept. 25 to accept a $400 donation from Canadian Forces 77 Line Regiment. The 13-member unit that employs 11 military personnel and two civilians is part of the army’s Communications and Electronics Branch, 3 Line Squadron, and handles the lion’s share of the cable and antenna maintenance at the base and other DND properties on the lower mainland and southern Vancouver Island. Over the past six months members of Regiment collected $2 donations from a “dress-down Friday” event and other fundraising initiatives to provide financial assistance to the Colwood-based non-profit, which provides transitional housing to homeless and at-risk veterans. “It’s great to see this kind of support and initiative from the members of this unit,” said Cockrell House Chairman Angus Stanfield. “77 Line Regiment has helped us in the past in other ways such as donating socks, t-shirts and underwear for our residents, and by also making us the beneficiaries of their food drives. Their efforts are not only helping our residents but also helping to spread word around the base about what we do at Cockrell House.” The 11-bed multiplex unit provides housing, counselling, life skills health and social services and transportation to over 50 residents since it opened in 2009. Cockrell House receives its funding from the Royal Canadian Legion BC/Yukon Command, the Legion Foundation, other veteran organizations, and the City of Colwood. Stanfield, a past president of the Legion’s BC/Yukon Command, said the money raised will be used to pay for bus passes and $100 food cards for residents. Warrant Officer, Mike...

[caption id="attachment_17234" align="alignnone" width="300"] Rocky Point Bird Observatory Society volunteer Ann Nightingale shows the banding procedure used on the birds of Rocky Point including this Common Yellowthroat. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ A Department of National Defence property on the southern tip of Vancouver Island is providing researchers with an invaluable laboratory to study the migratory habits of birds. Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot Rocky Point, a sprawling 500-acre property that houses ammunition storage bunkers, also serves as a unique and virtually undisturbed habitat for a variety of plants, animals, and more than 300 bird species. Early each morning, from July 21 to Oct. 18, just as the sun rises over the Olympic Mountains and casts its bright reddish-amber glow across the sky, a group of volunteers from the non-profit charity Rocky Point Bird Observatory Society (RPBOS) fan out across the property. Armed with large nets, binoculars, notepads and cameras, the birders trek the forested areas and meadows and cast 12 bird nets towards the sky. They have been flocking to the same spot for the past 23 years to monitor the birds because Rocky Point is their gathering place before they make the 18-kilometre flight across the Juan de Fuca Strait to the state of Washington for the winter. For six hours each day volunteers and two paid banders carefully take captured birds out of bird-catching mist nets and gently place them in cloth sacks - adhering to a Bander’s Code of Ethics adapted from the North American Banding Council protocol. As the dawn breaks and the call of sea lions can be heard from nearby Bentick Island, volunteer Ann Nightingale points upward to the sky, which teams with life in flight. Five Canada Geese fly across proceeded by a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Seconds later she hears two Red-Tailed Hawks and a Brown Tailed Creeper coming from the forest nearby, recognizing their calls instantly. Nightingale says she became fascinated with birds in the mid-1990s and has...

[caption id="attachment_17231" align="alignnone" width="300"] The Reviewing Officer Captain (Navy) Martin Drews (left), and Lieutenant-Commander Christopher Maier (right), present Naval Cadet Austin Ferguson (center) with the Jeune Brothers Trophy (aka The Venture Cup) for being the winner of the annual sailing race between the students of Venture. Photo by: MCpl Brent Kenny, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ A new regatta and the revival of an old trophy is helping students at the Naval Officer Training Centre (NOTC) reconnect with open water sailing. Fifteen Junior Officers studying to become Maritime Surface and Sub-Surface Officers (MARS) volunteered to compete in the first-ever Venture Cup sailing competition. This summer, seven two-person teams of student officers took to the water each Sunday in sailing dinghies to race. Their launch point was from the Canadian Forces Sailing Association. The Venture Cup competition was organized by the students themselves. Naval Cadet Austin Ferguson helped found the regatta and won the inaugural edition. “Winning the competition was unexpected and great but having everyone from the NOTC come out every weekend and get on the water was truly unique,” he said. “It wasn’t so much about participating in the regatta itself but keeping the naval tradition alive.” It was NCdt Ferguson and Training Officer Lt(N) Ronald Clancy who hatched the scheme for the regatta and then worked to drum up interest and support. They found an old trophy in a case - the Juene Brothers Trophy – and used it as the award to the top team. According to historian Wilf Lund, the trophy was donated to HMCS Venture in 1955 by the owners of Victoria business Jeune Bros. Tent and Awning. It was awarded to the Venture student who accumulated the most points in a year-long intramural sports competition. He adds the trophy had originally...

[caption id="attachment_17225" align="alignnone" width="300"] Left to right: Benoit Chartrand,CANEX District Manager (East); Matt Hogue, civilian employee; Corporal Mark Osbourne; Leading Seaman Chris Hanratty; Base Commander CFB Halifax, Captain(N) Paul W. Forget; Corporal Shaun Beals; Corporal Mitch Mancini; CANEX CFB Halifax Store Manager, Glenn Banfield, and team player, not pictured, Aviator Tre Upshaw, show their winnings after scooping the champion gaming title.[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ CFB Halifax retained its #1 Champion title for the CANEX Championship Gaming Series online tournament organized by Canada’s Military Store. The second annual online gaming series took place Aug. 18 to 20. The competition featured 16 six-player teams from military bases across the country competing for over $7,000 in prizes, while testing their skills in the popular military combat action video game Overwatch. This year’s first place team, Desktop Support of CFB Halifax, edged out its closest competitor Chair Force of CFB Petawawa to retain the title won last year by Halifax’s Base Logistics’ Five Guys and Fries, which competed in the game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. CANEX, Canada’s Military Store, also notched its own victory with the second annual gaming competition says Vivian Ngai, Segment Marketing Manager for CANEX, A division of Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). That’s because benchmarks for participation and web traffic indicators increased markedly over last year’s inaugural gaming series. A total of 109 registered players took part in this year’s competition representing an increase of 33 percent from 2016. This year’s gaming tournament generated over 21,000 online engagements through the Twitch live stream chat and CANEX’s social media posts, an increase of 49 percent unique viewers and an 82 percent increase in chat activities compared to last year. Ngai says market surveys conducted for CANEX reveal that a significant number of customers are gamers and strongly indicated a high degree of satisfaction at peer-to-peer competition. “Based on our findings the top three motivators for CAF gamers to play these video games are because it serves as a...

[caption id="attachment_17220" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of the media are escorted by RHIB (Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boat) to Bentinck Island for a demolition demonstration on Sept. 20. Photos by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ When the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) showed local media its Marine Mammal Mitigation Strategy on Bentinck Island Demolition Range it didn’t anticipate that whales would play a role in the demonstration. As media watched navy personnel set up demonstration demolition charges two weeks ago, they were alerted to a pod of killer whales and a group of baleen whales by on-the-water sentries whose job it is to search out marine life near the island. “The presence of so many whales were a surprise, but they appropriately demonstrated how our procedures play out in real life because whales do frequent the area on a regular basis,” said Duane Freeman, Senior Environment Officer with the RCN’s Formation Safety and Environment office. “We had to delay our demonstration, and in a worst-case scenario had they stayed in the area, we wouldn’t have done the demonstration at all.” The day-long event was arranged to show local media what goes on at the demolition range and the steps the military takes to mitigate any harmful effects on surrounding marine life. Regulations for activities on the property, located at the southwest corner of Rocky Point Ammunition Depot, include reductions in the amount of explosives used for detonations, a more restrictive explosives policy when whales are sighted in the area, and an expansion of safety zones. The demonstration and strengthened policy come in the wake of concerns by the Pacific Whale Watching Association and tour boat operators in August that the use of explosives was harming a pod of killer whales in the vicinity. A recent meeting between the base and the whale watching association resulted in agreed improvements such as halting explosives training when aquatic mammals are sighted within a two kilometres radius of the detonation site, an increase from the...

[caption id="attachment_17215" align="alignnone" width="300"] Karyne Gelinas (left), and Sandy Bates (right) from Team Canada win silver and bronze, respectively, in the Invictus Women’s Golf event at the St. George’s Golf and Country Club on Sept. 26. Cornelia Oosthuizen is centre with her gold medal. Photo by: Corporal Michael MacIsaac[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ Canadian Armed Forces veteran Master Corporal (Retired) Sandy Bate of Victoria captured a bronze medal in golf at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017. Bate, 57, was an accomplished athlete at CFB Esquimalt until her medical release eight years ago, and then struggled to overcome two knee replacement surgeries before making her return to the golf course in June 2016. Ahead of the Sept. 23 to 30 international sporting competition for injured or sick military personnel and veterans, Bate said her path to recovery “had come full circle”. Being selected had “given her something to shoot for.” “Sports was always a way for me to fit in, but when I was unable to participate any longer it came difficult for me to cope,” said Bate. The Invictus golf competition was played on the links at historic St. Georges Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke on Sept. 26. Leading up to the competition Bate dedicated her performance to the memories of her late mother and brother who were both avid golfers. Bate scored a total of 24 points finishing three points behind Canada’s Karyne Gelinas, a retired Air Force Air Traffic Controller from Moncton, and gold medalist Corneilia Oosthuuizen of the United Kingdom who topped the field with a 32. The Invictus Golf tournament employed a Modified Stableford Scoring System that awards points for a golfer’s performance on each hole. Bate says a crucial factor in her comeback was an adjustment to her swing, necessitated by the lack...

[caption id="attachment_17203" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lieutenant (Navy) Krista Seguin wins gold in the Invictus Women’s Heavyweight powerlifting event at Ryerson’s Mattamy Athletic Centre on Sept. 25. Photo by: Corporal Michael MacIsaac[/caption] Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ A naval officer from CFB Esquimalt is paving her road to recovery with Invictus Games gold. Lieutenant (Navy) Krista Seguin, who works for Base Accommodations, captured a gold medal in the Women’s Power Lifting Heavyweight Division at the Invictus Games Toronto 2017 on Sept. 25. Prior to arriving for the third edition of the international sporting competition for injured and sick military personnel and veterans, the 28-year-old had modest expectations. “All I was shooting for was to do my best and hope that my training and hard work kicked in,” said Lt(N) Seguin. “Winning a gold medal was surreal. It’s something that I have always dreamed of, so I am ecstatic.” The victory seemed all the more fitting because prior to the Games she held the Latin phrase “Luctor et Emergo”, which means: I struggle and emerge, as her mantra. Like the other athletes Lt(N) Seguin is using the power of adaptive sport as part of her recovery process. She suffers from a Compartment Syndrome in her right leg, a painful condition that puts pressure on muscles and joints. She developed the condition during basic training at Royal Military College in 2007. “I am definitely not pain free, but thankfully the pain did not hinder my performance,” she said. “Unfortunately it’s doubtful that I will ever be pain free; however, I have found many ways to cope with the pain, and staying active and playing sports is one of them.” In her path to the top of the podium, Lt(N) Seguin lifted 85 kg, edging out retired Canadian Armed Forces medical technician Jackie Buttnor, who...

[caption id="attachment_17151" align="alignnone" width="450"] Lieutenant Commander Danny O’Regan, Commandant of Fleet School; Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Veterans Affairs; Jackie Carlé, Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) Interim Executive Director; Kaitlyn Ross, MFRC Veteran Family Program Coordinator; Pauline Sibbald, MFRC Social Worker; and Base Commander Capt(N) Jason Boyd gather outside the MFRC building on Signal Hill for a group photograph. Photo by Jon Chabun, MFRC[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~In early September, Minister of Veterans Affairs Seamus O’Regan made a one-day stop in Esquimalt. The recently appointed cabinet minister was in town to meet with senior naval leadership, tour dockyard, and drop by the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) to discuss the rollout of the Veteran Family Program.Meeting him at the MFRC was his younger brother, Lieutenant Commander Danny O’Regan, Commandant of Naval Fleet School (Pacific).A gaggle of O’Regan family members were in Ottawa just days before to witness Minister O’Regan’s swearing-in ceremony at Rideau Hall.“Now he is essentially my boss,” said LCdr O’Regan. “I was on leave in St. John’s after taking the red eye when he called me and said he had been named minister and we had to come to Ottawa for the ceremony.”The representative from St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, not only heads Veterans Affairs Canada but is also the Associate Minister of Defence as part of his first-ever cabinet appointment. The cabinet appointment came following the resignation of Minister of Public Services and Procurement Judy Foote, precipitating a cabinet shuffle by the Prime Minister.LCdr O’Regan remarked how the ceremony in Ottawa was also a family celebration of courage and recovery. That’s because back in January 2016, when Seamus was still a back bencher, he announced to the nation on social media that he was seeking treatment for alcoholism.Family, friends, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau rallied around him throughout his...

[caption id="attachment_17147" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by Sergeant D.G. Janes, Army Public Affairs[/caption]Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs ~The City of Ottawa has shown its gratitude to local military units and cadet corps with a rare honour that saw them march through the city’s streets on Saturday, September 16.Municipal officials in the capital granted those units Freedom of the City, a historical honour with origins in 15th-century Britain that is usually given to just one unit at a time. However, with the convergence of both Canada 150 celebrations and Canada Army Run, which took place the following day, the city extended the honour to all of the 18 military units and three cadet units it has previously honoured since the late 19th century.Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Jackson, Commanding Officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (Duke of Edinburgh’s Own), which is the City of Ottawa’s official regiment, led the units in a parade.In keeping with tradition, LCol Jackson had the additional privilege of taking a ceremonial walk up to the doors of city hall, where he received the mayor’s permission to march before leading the parade itself.“For me personally, being asked to be the Parade Commander, having my Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer Michael Lever, appointed as the Parade Sergeant-Major, and having the privilege of leading a number of distinguished Canadian Armed Forces units and cadet units is a great honour,” he said.“The Cameron Highlanders is the city’s regiment,” LCol Jackson added. “We have always had a special attachment to Ottawa and the various communities that make up our spectacular National Capital.”Also in attendance were former Commander Canadian Army Lieutenant-General (Retired) Andrew Leslie, now a sitting Member of Parliament; Major-General Simon Hetherington, Commander Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre Headquarters; Major-General Paul Bury, Chief Reserves and Cadets; and Colonel Richard Goodyear, Commandant of...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~“There was so much smoke in the air it was almost apocalyptic because the sun was blotted out,” said Jason Humphries of the fires raging in B.C.’s interior.“We couldn’t see the fire itself because of all the smoke, but we could see the damage that extended for miles and miles. As far as the eye could see were charred hillsides, burned out trees and whole forested areas completely obliterated.”The thirty-six-year-old fire inspector from CFB Esquimalt Fire Rescue spent a week this summer battling the fires near Cache Creek with members of the Sooke and Metchosin volunteer fire departments.They were part of a massive provincial effort to contain multiple wildfires that broke out in the tinder-dry Okanagan region this year.Both departments supplied a pumper truck staffed with four volunteer firefighters, making the seven hour 440-kilometre trek to the region at a moment’s notice.Humphries has battled the occasional brush or spot fire over his 13 year career, but says those blazes pale in comparison to this year’s wildfires that devastated a huge swatch of central B.C.Volunteer firefighting teams were tasked with protecting homes from the fires and making sure emergency sprinklers in homes and businesses were operating properly.Besides a few hours battling a brush fire burning out of control near Loon Lake midway through his trip, he credits the forestry fire fighters from B.C., Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick, along contingents from Australia, New Zealand and the United States with doing the lion’s share of the front-line work.“They were doing most of the more dangerous work containing the larger blazes and I have utmost respect for them,” says Humphries. “The biggest takeaway from my experience was the amount of resources and people that converged on this place, and the organization required to manage a situation like this.”Since April...

[caption id="attachment_17141" align="alignnone" width="450"] Capt Jean Martin and Capt Craig Law conduct training in the CH148 Cyclone operational mission simulator. The simulator allows for the creation of a virtual battlespace that is highly reflective of the demanding and highly dynamic operating environments that 12 Wing personnel are called upon in providing wings for the fleet. Photo by LS Upshall[/caption]Lt Catherine Drover, 406 (M) Operational Training Squadron ~The first round of Aircrew Conversion Training at 406 Maritime Operational Training Squadron in 12 Wing Shearwater started Sept. 11 for pilots in preparation for operational employment on the CH-148 Cyclone.Pilot Conversion Training Courses 1 and 2, consisting mostly of CH-124 Sea King experienced airmen and women, will spend the next 90 training days learning new aircraft systems and tactics, while transferring their knowledge and skills from the Sea King to the CH-148 Cyclone. This cadre of pilots will form the first operational Cyclone air detachments ready to deploy on Her Majesty Canadian Ships starting the summer of 2018.406 (M) Operational Training Squadron is responsible for all Cyclone aircrew and technician conversion training programs and have already completed a number of courses for Avionics Systems Technicians (AVS Tech) and Aviation Systems Technicians (AVN Tech).Through the fall, 406 (M) Operational Training Squadron will continue to increase technicians throughput by adding an additional AVN serial, and introducing Air Weapons Systems (AWS) and Aircraft Structure (ACS) Technicians in 2018.With two AVS serial already in-house and four AVN serials starting through the fall, 406 will be running eight type courses by the winter of 2018.This represents the next step in continuing the Squadron’s mission to generate the technicians and aircrew behind the “Wings for the Fleet”.

Are you a DND Public Service Employee? Would you like to influence and improve the Public Service? Would you like to express your opinion about the leadership, workforce, and work environment in the Public Service? If so, you have until Sept. 29 to complete the 2017 Public Service Employee Survey.Do you have more questions? Please see the Q&A below and visit the Public Service Employee Surveys web page at http://intranet.mil.ca/en/lets-talk/pses/index.pageAbout the SurveyThe Public Service Employee Survey (PSES) provides employees the opportunity to anonymously voice their opinions about their leadership, workforce and work environment. Through the triennial PSES, employees and managers provide valuable information for senior leaders at Defence to identify areas requiring workplace improvement.The 2017 PSES will be conducted from Aug. 21 to Sept. 29, 2017 and the resultant departmental and Public Service-wide results will be released in the spring of 2018.The three-year cycleAs the survey is conducted every three years, the implementation of action plans also works on a three-year cycle. Within DND, the cycle begins at year one with the survey’s release, the subsequent analysis of the results, engagement of employees, and action plan development. Over the next two years, solutions to address issues raised in the survey will be implemented, results will be communicated, annual progress reports will be submitted, and implementation results will be assessed yearly.Employees have a sayImplementing workplace improvements that address the issues raised by employees in the PSES cannot happen from the top down. One of the key ways to improve Defence is through engagement with employees – by using the wealth of knowledge and experience that employees bring to the department to improve their workplace, which will benefit not only themselves, but all Canadians.How can I fill out the survey?You will receive an e-mail invitation from Statistics Canada with a unique identifier...

[caption id="attachment_17134" align="alignnone" width="450"] JS Harusame alongside at the Burrard Dry Dock in Vancouver, B.C., during the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Training Squadron’s port visit from Sept. 16 to 20.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Junior officers from two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) warships visiting Vancouver made the trek to CFB Esquimalt last Monday to showcase their passing, dribbling, crossing and shooting skills in friendly soccer and baseball games against their Canadian counterparts.More than half the ships’ crew from JS Kashima and JS Harusame strapped on their cleats, shin guards and gloves and took to the Colville Road sports field and ball diamonds for some non-competitive games against junior officers attending Venture, The Naval Officer Training Centre.To ensure the “friendly” part of the matches, there was no official scorekeeping.“The non-competitive games were all about the fun factor and served as a good ice-breaker for sailors from the two countries,” said Lt(N) Eric Dignard, who works as a training officer at NOTC and helped organize the event with Personnel Support Programs staff. “Sports is an international language and this event helped break down the communication barrier between the two groups of sailors. It was an encouraging sign to see them exchanging contact information and making new friends after the games concluded.”At the conclusion of the sports program, spectators and participants posed for a group photograph on the baseball diamond.The day-long event also included a tour of Venture’s simulators where Royal Canadian Navy junior officers learn ship navigation and basic warfare. Japanese sailors were given the opportunity to try the system and attempt to maneuver a virtual ship alongside. Venture staff also briefed the Japanese sailors on the daily life of an officer trainee, the equipment, and facilities used to assist during their training.

[caption id="attachment_17127" align="alignnone" width="400"] Lt Michael McCauley takes a break from patrol in Panjwayi District of Afghanistan, July 2007. He is the silhouetted soldier on the new Afghanistan Memorial. Credit: File Photo/DND[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Playing a prominent role in this Saturday’s dedication ceremony for the B.C. Afghanistan Memorial will be Lieutenant Michael McCauley, a signals officer with the 4th Engineering Support Regiment based in Gagetown, N.B.That’s because he is one of two central figures silhouetted in black on the 3.5 metre by 2 metre, 8,600 kilogram solid granite monument. The other figure is of an Afghani child shaking his hand.On July 13, 2007, Lt McCauley was in Afghanistan as a reservist deployed as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (OMLT) when renowned Reuters combat photographer Finbarr O’Reilly snapped an image of him greeting the Afghanistan child.“I don’t think I stopped walking for more than a few seconds when I reached out, took his hand and the photographer snapped the picture,” says Lt McCauley.The image shows Lt McCauley conducting a Presence Patrol with members of his unit and Afghan National Security Forces (AFNS) in the highly volatile and dangerous Panjwai district of Kandahar Province. As the soldiers passed through a small town, Lt McCauley noticed a couple of young children playing by the roadside. As he and AFNS members greeted the children, one child took a particular interest in Lt McCauley and extended his hand to him.The image of Lt McCauley and the child was chosen as the centrepiece of the monument shortly after the Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project (GVAMP) was formed in early 2016.The soldier says the selected photo could have been one of the thousands of other Canadians who served there. He insists the imagery on the monument really has little...

[caption id="attachment_17001" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A civilian employee with Real Property Operations (RP Ops) was handed the keys to a new 2016 Hyundai Accent at the Industrial Supplier Trade Show Sept. 14 in the Naden Drill Shed.Evan Smith, an electrician with RP Ops, was the winner of Victoria Hyundai’s vehicle draw, and was presented the prize from the dealership’s General Sales Manager Cole Coates.Only two nights earlier Smith was enjoying a get together with friends and family at his Victoria home when he received an unexpected call from the dealership.Smith said he was in disbelief to hear he had won and thought the call was a hoax.“I didn’t believe them at first and thought it was some kind of a crank phone call or scam,” he says. “It was a pretty cool feeling when I finally realized I had won the car. It’s my first Hyundai I have ever owned, so I’m excited about trying it out.”The contest opened Sept. 5, 2016, and closed Sept. 9, 2017. It was open to all Department of National Defence employees who were at age of majority at the time of entry and were legal residents of Victoria.This is the third car giveaway by Victoria Hyundai to a base employee.

2Lt Chelsea Howard, Contributor ~It was a special day for students and teachers from Regina’s Martin Academy when they capped off an activity-filled visit to Victoria with a tour of HMCS Regina Sept. 12.“Every year with our premier performance athletes we do a different field trip, and besides being a cross-training activity where we do different sporting activities, we try to make it educational as well,” said Brent Adam, a strength and conditioning coach with the Academy, and chaperone. “Knowing we were coming to Victoria, and I have relatives that were in the navy, and currently in the navy, I thought it would be a perfect learning opportunity for our students. It was perfect timing that the frigate was docked here.”It was also perfect timing for one crew member in particular. PO1 Joseph Fogarty, Regina’s Chief Clerk, is a Martin alumnus and just happened to be on deck when the tour group arrived.“When hearing the pipe across the ship about the Martin Academy tour I was very surprised, so I proceeded to the flight deck to introduce myself. The students reminded me of where I was at that point in my life at the school and the wonderful teachers I had,” said PO1 Fogarty.Martin Academy is a specialized school that offers students the opportunity to train for their chosen sport during the school day. Students can select one of four streams to pursue, including baseball, fast pitch, hockey, and the premier stream that focuses on non-mainstream individual sports such as dancing, martial arts and gymnastics. The 28 students on the trip ranged from Grades nine to 12, and were part of Martin Academy’s premier stream. However, there’s more to Martin Academy than sports.“Pretty much close to 100 per cent of Martin Academy students go on to post-secondary. It’s not just...

[caption id="attachment_16994" align="alignnone" width="450"] A view of the main entrance at Veterans Cemetery in Esquimalt, May 9. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]John Azar, Contributor ~Visiting the Esquimalt Military Cemetery (God’s Acre), or any other cemetery, is like walking into a library. Looking at the rows and rows of markers, can be compared to looking along bookshelf after bookshelf; each marker is like the cover of a storybook.Most of the stories are known only to the families of the person buried there, and many stories are unknown to all. But when the stories are researched and told, a cemetery becomes a “remembering place.” When we remember the stories, we are honouring the veteran and learning from their experiences.Once a year, or by special arrangement, some of these stories come to light during the annual Remembrance Week tour conducted at God’s Acre for the Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria. On the Sunday closest to Remembrance Day (Nov. 5 this year) at 2 p.m. the stories of 10 to 12 people are told.The tour includes stories about people buried at God’s Acre and stories of veterans buried in other regional cemeteries. Many of the regional cemeteries do not have enough veteran burials and stories to fill a public tour.Also, during the centenary years of the First World War, people with ancestors who served are invited to share their relative’s story no matter where the person is buried.InvitationIf you would like to tell the story of a family member (grandfather, great-uncle, cousins, etc.) who served in the First World War, regardless of where they are buried or what country they served, please contact me: jazar@wfapacificcoast.org.Remembering Places of Those Who ServedThose who visited military cemeteries in Europe are awed by the rows of markers in well-tended cemeteries, or seeing thousands of names inscribed on...

[caption id="attachment_16991" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by Will Chaster, Base Public Affairs Office[/caption]Will Chaster, Base Public Affairs Office ~CFB Esquimalt had some special guests on Thursday, Sept. 7, when members from the Victoria Royals hockey team spent two hours practicing at Wurtele Arena.From 9:45 to 11:45 a.m., the Royals performed a series of fast-paced drills under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff.While there are a number of new players on the roster, there are also several new faces behind the bench. These include Head Coach Dan Price, Assistant Coach J.F. Best, and Consulting Coach Dwayne Roloson, a retired goaltender who played over 600 games in the National Hockey League.All three are beginning their first year in their respective positions with the Royals.Although not frequent visitors to the base, the Royals have been known to hold practices at the arena in special circumstances.“The Royals have practiced at Wurtele Arena a number of times over the years, usually when there’s a concert or some other event that prohibits them from practicing at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre,” said Kevin Zalba, Wurtele Arena and Sports Facilities Manager. With the pre-season winding down, these practices are important in helping the Royals finalize their opening night roster.While Coach Price is eager to get started with the regular season, he took a moment after the practice to reflect on what it is like to play here on Vancouver Island.“I know we’re all very excited for the opportunity to be here and we’re grateful to be able to play in a city like Victoria,” said Price.This will not be the only time the Royals will be at Wurtele Arena. With other events taking place at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre later in the year, the Royals will be back on base Nov. 13, Jan. 22, and March 13 and 14...

[caption id="attachment_16987" align="alignnone" width="450"] It was all hands on deck for members of HMCS Calgary and HeroWork who came together for a group cheer to celebrate their involvement in an upcoming renovation project at Victoria’s Anawim House. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~For the next three weekends personnel from HMCS Calgary will roll up their sleeves for a renovation project to benefit our community’s financially disadvantaged.Sailors from the Esquimalt-based, Halifax-class frigate will donate their spare time to assist local non-profit charity HeroWork, which is carrying out a $250,000 renovation project at Anawim House.Located northeast of the downtown core on Caledonia Ave., Anawim House serves as a day house and residence for Victoria’s homeless and others living in poverty.“Calgary has always been the best ship in the fleet for a variety of reasons, which includes the passion we have about being involved in communities,” said Cdr Blair Saltel, Calgary’s Commanding Officer. “We are a self-contained unit and have many skilled trades working on board, such electricians, carpenters, plumbers from Plumber Perth, and also those who know how to organize. We are taking the tasks we do on a day-to-day basis while at sea and transforming them into leverage for volunteer work.”Military personnel from Calgary, other base units, and personnel connected to the Boomer’s Legacy Foundation will help HeroWork’s Radical Renovation, covering a total of 50 eight-hour shifts. The work will take place over the next three weekends and includes construction of a nurse’s room, a new office with separate counselling spaces, painting the inside and outside of the building, kitchen and storage area upgrades, a new outdoor patio deck, landscaping improvements, and the construction of a bike repair shop to facilitate the introduction of a bike program to provide affordable transportation.Paul Latour, HeroWork Founder and Executive Director, says...

[caption id="attachment_16984" align="alignnone" width="450"] Commander Wes Golden, Commanding Officer of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Headquarters, presents Lieutenant Commander Paul Seguna with the third clasp to the Canadian Forces’ Decoration. Photo by Leading Seaman David Gariepy, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]MARPAC Public Affairs ~In a rare presentation attended by friends, colleagues and his wife Eva, Lieutenant Commander Paul Seguna received the third clasp to his Canadian Forces Decoration at Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Headquarters Sept. 12.The third clasp is unique in that it represents 42 years of continuous service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).In that time, he has served as a Reserve Radar Plotter from 1975-82 achieving the rank of PO2; Regular Force Maritime Surface Officer (MARS) from 1982-1992 at the rank of Lt(N); Regular Force Public Affairs Officer from 1992-2002 achieving the rank of LCdr; Reserve Public Affairs Officer from 2002-2012 achieving the rank of Cdr, and upon rejoining the Regular Force Public Affairs Branch in 2012 in the reverted rank of LCdr served to compulsorily retirement age 60 this September.When asked to reflect upon the changes within the CAF over the length of his career LCdr Seguna offered a few insights.“Looking back over the 42 years of my service there is no doubt the Forces have changed with Canadian society as exampled by the greater diversity in the makeup of our armed services. In many regards the CAF, both organizationally and as individuals within it, have for a variety of reasons found themselves in the forefront of adaptation to changes in Canadian society. Our armed services have always drawn individuals from the wide spectrum of our society and taught them to coexist while achieving a common aim in often difficult circumstances.”During his career, he served at sea in 13 ships of the Royal Canadian Navy and in one Italian ship...

[caption id="attachment_16981" align="alignnone" width="450"] MS DJ Fields, PO1 John Cross and PO2 Pierre Forget hold their Galley Wars award.[/caption]SLt Matthew Mooney, HMCS Ottawa ~Just before the September long weekend HMCS Ottawa set sail for Los Angeles Fleet Week. Under the guidance of the new Commanding Officer, Commander Alex Barlow, ship and crew sailed down the west coast to southern California.Accompanied by Sea Training Pacific staff, the crew participated in at-sea readiness trials in preparation for their follow-on mission of Operation Caribbe.Upon arrival in the “City of Angels”, the ship was greeted by USS Iowa, one of America’s last battleships. Iowa welcomed Ottawa by firing a two-gun salute and flying Bravo Zulu as the frigate passed by.Fleet Week was comprised of a series of events that brought the men and women of Canada’s navy together with the sailors and marines of the United States. From football games to formal evenings, there was something for everyone.One highlight of the week was “Galley Wars.”Galley Wars pitted chefs from all services against each other in a battle of barbequed burgers. Teams were assembled by the United States Coast Guard, Navy, and Marines, who faced off against the Royal Canadian Navy. Each crew was tasked with creating a specialized burger, two sides, and a dessert. The finest creations were prepped on board their respective ship, with the final cooking process and assembly conducted in one site, under the critical eye of celebrity judges. The distinguished Robert Irvine, a Food Network Chef; Mei Lin, Winner of Top Chef; and Steve Samson, a highly distinguished LA restaurant owner were ready to provide feedback on the creations.The Canadian team came armed with a menu they were sure would impress the judges. PO1 John Cross, PO2 Pierre Forget, and MS DJ Fields worked together to craft a winning burger....

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Nine Clearance Divers from the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) have travelled to Sweden to participate in an 11-nation training exercise focused on Explosive Ordnance Disposal.The navy’s bomb disposal specialists are taking part in North Coast (NOCO), an operational-readiness training exercise in Ronneby, Sweden, Sept. 9 to 22.Five members of the RCN’s team are from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), one member is from the Experimental Diving and Undersea Group in Toronto, and two are from the Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic).Petty Officer First Class Scott Ensor, Maritime Ordnance Disposal Chief from FDU(P), is second in command of the RCN contingent and says NOCO will provide Clearance Divers an opportunity to train in a maritime setting. The day-to-day work of Clearance Divers is not only diving, but also safely disposing of ordnance above the water.“NOCO will bring our operators up to a higher level of training in a marine environment. Often times clearance divers find ourselves on land doing our bomb-disposal work, so it is refreshing for all of us to get back to a more bread-and-butter style task of the RCN in a traditional maritime environment.”Before leaving for Sweden, PO1 Ensor said more specific details of their training would be provided once they arrived and are tasked by the Swedish Royal Navy’s command team, but added possible scenarios could involve sweeping a pier, jetty or vessel for Improvised Explosive Devices and neutralizing them.RCN Clearance Divers are designated first responders to any military ordnance found in Canada such as grenades and artillery shells. FDU(P) Ordnance Disposal team responds to approximately 150 such calls each year, assessing and defusing items in support of local emergency services.

[caption id="attachment_16963" align="alignnone" width="450"] Canadian Coast Guard Commissioner Jeffrey Hutchinson, left, and PO2 Matt Reiner of the Stadacona Band, show the framed sheet music for The Ol’ White Stripe, the new official Coast Guard March. Photo by Melanie Rebane Photography[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident ~A new march that will be played nationwide at Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) graduation ceremonies, mess dinners, and other formal occasions was written and composed by a member of the Stadacona Band, and recorded in Halifax at the band’s Windsor Park studio.PO2 Matt Reiner, a saxophonist with five years’ experience with the band, created the original piece of music, titled The Ol’ White Stripe, referring to the forward-tilted white stripe visible on the hull of each Coast Guard ship.CCG Director General Greg Lick reached out to the Stadacona Band earlier this year with the goal of creating an official march for the organization, and felt the Canadian Armed Force’s Navy band on the East Coast was the most appropriate group to help bring his idea to life.“Of course, that’s not something that’s in our regular job description; we’re hired to play music, not to compose it. So we were asked for volunteers to write a march and a few of us took a shot at it,” says PO2 Reiner.The band made rough recordings of a few options and sent them to Ottawa, where PO2 Reiner’s march was eventually chosen.He attended the Canada 150 Maritime Ball in Gatineau this past June, a joint RCN/CCG event, where he was able to present the framed sheet music to CCG Commissioner Jeffrey Hutchinson, meet others involved in the project, and hear the march played over the loudspeakers to a full room of navy and Coast Guard representatives for the first time.“It was a wonderful, unique opportunity for me to get to do...

[caption id="attachment_16960" align="alignnone" width="560"] RAdm Craig Baines, LGen Steve Bowes, VAdm Ron Lloyd, and RAdm John Newton sign the MARLANT Change of Command certificates during the ceremony Sept. 1. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~Sing-a-longs, props, a few tears and lots of laughter were all part of the Sept. 1 Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and Joint Task Forces Atlantic Change of Command Ceremony that saw Rear-Admiral Craig Baines take over from Rear-Admiral John Newton, the man who served as his boss for many years.VAdm Ron Lloyd, Commander Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), serving and retired colleagues, family, friends, and members of the wider Halifax community were present to hear RAdm Newton highlight his time in command.“I wanted us to learn and undertake international relationships we’ve never tried before, to step outside the comfort zone of key enabling allies and push a statement through new partners. If it was hard, or impossible, I wanted to try,” he said.He had many thanks for people, units, and organizations who supported him and the Formation since 2013. Wielding an oversized wrench for effect, he gave a shout out to civilian engineers and other staff at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Scott, and instructed the Stadacona Band to play a rendition of Taking Care of Business in honour of the workforce. The band later led a sing-a-long of Heave Away at the Admiral’s request, and also had a surprise performance of the newly-composed RAdm Newton March.He was never shy about his love for the Arctic, and mentioned advancing navy operations in Canada’s North as one of the proudest achievements through his command, one that connected with his personal passions for the Northern land and the communities of largely Indigenous Canadians who populate them.“One of the best ways we can show substantive progress on...