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[caption id="attachment_21414" align="alignnone" width="592"] Cpl Alex Millham of CFB Comox poses with Military Police National Motorcycle Relay mascot and social media sensation Ordinary Cadet Moira Stone during this year’s ride.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Motorcyclists across Canada are revving their engines and rocking down the highway this week in the final stages of a coast-to-coast motorcycle relay ride to benefit blind children.With bright blue skies overhead, the 11th annual Military Police National Motorcycle Relay had their grand send-off from Work Point in Victoria on July 25. Local volunteer riders participated in the opening leg of a 10,000-kilometre road trip that is making stops in 19 different communities and military bases in an effort to raise money for the Military Police Fund for Blind Children (MPFBC).The relay concludes in St. John’s, Nfld. on Aug. 22.Lieutenant-Commander Todd Kennedy marked his second year volunteering for the Motorcycle Relay. He volunteered as Rendezvous Coordinator and was also one of 32 riders who participated in the opening leg from Victoria to the BC Ferries Terminal in Sidney. “People from all walks of life just want to help and be part of the process of helping out blind children,” said LCdr Kennedy. “This comes by first gaining awareness about their needs and then by donating their time and charitable nature to help make the future brighter for our youth.”That glimmer of light began in 1957 when late Canadian Army Provost Marshall, Colonel James Riley Stone founded the non-profit. His initiative came from the personal tragedy of the death of his daughter Moira Stone who became visually impaired following an eye cancer diagnosis.In the years following Moira’s death, Stone canvassed military police members and established a charitable organization that helps visually impaired children with financial assistance and support programs. Today the charity has branches at military bases across the...

[caption id="attachment_21411" align="alignnone" width="593"] Junior Canadian Ranger Wilbert Shisheesh of Lac Seul, Ont., offers Commander of the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support Group, Brigadier-General Dave Cochrane some blackberries during the permaculture workshop held on Aug. 14 at Ruckle Provincial Park on Saltspring Island. Photo by SLt Natasha Tersigni[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A select group of Junior Canadian Rangers from across the country converged on Salt Spring Island last week for outdoor adventure geared to enhance leadership skills.Western Canada’s 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group held this year’s annual National Leaders Enhance Training Session (NLETS) in the scenic Gulf Islands. The event hosted 35 Junior Canadian Rangers (JCRs) between the ages of 16 and 18 who travelled to Vancouver Island.The Junior Canadian Rangers (JCR) are a community-led, army supported youth development program - one of the four programs of the National Cadet and Junior Canadian Rangers Support GroupMany of their members come from First Nations communities and are guided by members of the Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (CRPG), a team of approximately 4,000 part-time reservists who act as the eyes and ears in remote isolated regions for the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). They provide lightly equipped, self-sufficient mobile forces to support CAF national security and public safety operations in Canada. The CPRG often works closely with local detachments of the RCMP to assist in search and rescue (SAR) and forest fire management operations.Highly MotivatedBefore the JCR’s outdoor adventure began on Aug. 10, they were housed at Pearson College in Metchosin. For three days they participated in orientation and leadership training sessions under the guidance of Major Scott Macdonald, Officer Commanding the Junior Canadian Ranger Company, 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group.The Junior Rangers attending this year’s training session are a hand-picked and highly motivated group of youths, he says. They were nominated to...

[caption id="attachment_21408" align="alignnone" width="591"] Badge 1 (left): The Naval Boarding Party Basic Qualification badge is a silver shield bordered by gold trim three centimetres in height. A stylized naval compass is centred on the shield in the background with a gold fouled anchor centred on top of the compass. Badge 2 (right): The NTOQ badge is a black shield encased in gold trim three centimetres in height. A gold trident is centred in the background with a red maple leaf centred on the staff of the trident. Photos by DND[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The latest candidates of the Naval Boarding Party (NBP) Basic course at Naval Fleet School (Pacific) graduated Aug. 15 at a ceremony in Work Point. They were the first in the Royal Canadian Navy to receive the new Specialist Skill Badges for the NBP qualification.The new NBP badge is one of three new skill badges introduced by the navy in May to recognize the specialized skill sets of the NBP, the Naval Security Team (NST), and the Naval Tactical Operations Group (NTOG). All three badges consist of a shield, a traditional symbol of protection, and the NBP badge has a stylized naval compass and a fouled anchor.While addressing the 11 graduates, Lieutenant-Commander Danny O’Regan, Acting-Commandant of NFS(P), congratulated them for their achievement following the six weeks of physically and mentally demanding training.“Boardings are an important part of what the RCN does operationally during deployments around the globe and these new specialist skill badges are visible recognition that you have attained this significant qualification,” said LCdr O’Regan. “I hope you will wear them with pride as you take your new skills to your shipboard teams.”A recent CANFORGEN (CF General Order) stipulates that those receiving skill badges shall wear them centred above the left pocket, with production of cloth badges...

[caption id="attachment_21399" align="alignnone" width="592"] Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan inspects members of the Raven program during their graduation ceremony. Photo by MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]A/SLt Michelle Scott, MARPAC Public Affairs ~It was a day that will long be marked in the memory of the 40 graduating members of the Raven program. In a parade that included Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan as Reviewing officer, the ordinary seamans received their basic military qualification at Work Point on Aug. 13.The six-week Raven course is one of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Indigenous Summer Programs that aim to build bridges between Aboriginal communities and the military, and to raise awareness among Indigenous people of potential military or civilian careers with the CAF.The parade began with an Indigenous drumming circle performed by members of CFB Esquimalt’s Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group, followed by a sash ceremony that saw five Raven students receive Métis sashes to wear on parade.It was then that Raven student and Parade Platoon Commander OS Reed Eady marched his platoon out onto the parade square accompanied by the sounds of the Albert Head Air Cadet Band all to the delight of friends and family in attendance. Their drill sharp and well-practiced, the platoon waited on the parade square for the arrival of Minister O’Regan, the teepee erected off to the side serving as the perfect backdrop for the occasion. Minister O’Regan arrived shortly after to inspect the platoon and address the audience. In his speech he made mention that he had been looking forward to the day since he was sworn in as Minister of Indigenous Services, both in part due to his previous role as Minister of Veterans Affairs and his connection to the CAF through his brother who serves in the navy in Esquimalt. “That swell of pride that you feel...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A former sailor says a one-of-a-kind physiotherapy clinic now operating on the West Shore has been the perfect medicine for him, and others like him.Petty Officer Second Class (Retired) Sean Wieler had a 23-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). He served aboard multiple warships in Canada’s navy and was deployed to Bosnia as a member of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry in 1994 and 1995. Then, hip and neck injuries related to a workplace fall ended his military career.  He was also diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in 2010.After battling both mental and physical injuries for several years, he was introduced to Veterans Rehab and Performance in Langford earlier this year. The Rehab and Performance Reactivation Center opened in early 2019. Owned by Victoria’s Integrated Rehab Performance Ltd., the clinic operates out of a studio in a small three-unit plaza on Jacklin Road. Co-owners Steven Inglefield and Tawanda Asher Adaarewa say the clinic is the only facility dedicated exclusively to the recovery of injured veterans and first responders in the Province of British Columbia, and, to their knowledge, all of Canada.Weiler says he was uncertain Rehab and Performance could free him from the circle of depression and inactivity that had transformed him into a person he barely recognized, but he was enrolled and went through the process. The Reactivation Program has multiple components including education on the body’s pain system, graded physical activity, graded exposure to manual therapy, trauma-sensitive yoga, and discharge planning assistance. Patients can spend two to five days a week at the clinic for approximately one to two hours a day, with the treatment program lasting between six and 12 weeks. Each program is specifically designed and geared towards an individual’s needs and personal recovery goals. “Our reactivation program takes a...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Four years ago, a friendly quip from a co-worker spurred Master Seaman Laura Allan to raise the bar on her fitness. While working in HMCS Victoria’s engine room on a repair, a fellow submariner commented on her impressive strength and said, “You should compete as a powerlifter.”She decided to test his idea by venturing to the gym weight room. Powerlifting is a strength sport and she quickly found she had a natural aptitude. “Today I am in the best shape of my life,” said the 34-year-old Marine Technician. Beyond elevating her fitness, she has stepped on to the IPL World Powerlifting stage and competed in multiple international events.She hired local strength and conditioning coach Stephen MacKinnon, who works mainly with elite athletes in different sports. In her most recent competition, May 18 in the Kabuki Strength Pacific Northwest Classic in Portland, she had an unbeatable combined score in squats, bench press, and deadlift. She finished top in the women’s 90kg category and went nine-for-nine on her lifts, finishing the day with a 202.5kg/446lb squat, 97.5kg/215lb bench press, 200kg/441lb deadlift, totalling 500kg/1,103lbs. Less than 48 hours later, she returned to Victoria and competed in the 2019 Highland Games Strongman competition at Topaz Park, finishing as the top female. She defeated her closest female opponent in three of five events, one of which she carried two 220lb weights in each hand a distance of 50 feet.“I am not an overly competitive person. I am more competitive against myself,” said MS Allan. “When someone else at an event scores a personal best I am the first one to congratulate and admire them for that success.”She’s sitting out at IPL Worlds 2019 to give her body a rest. Instead she’s heading there to coach a client and friend to compete Oct. 25 in...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~In a show of support for military families and the defence community, Babcock Canada has united with the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre for a special fundraising hockey game. On Sept. 4, 1 p.m., Babcock employees will face off against the CFB Esquimalt Senior Tritons at the Wurtele arena in a battle for the inaugural Victoria Class Cup. To fill the stands with spectators, the MFRC will serve up free hot dogs, pizza, and pop 45 minutes before the puck drop. Special commemorative items will be handed out prior to the game, and there will be a chance to win a door prize. “I am honoured to be working with the people at Babcock to create an exciting annual hockey game that supports our military community,” said Lisa Church, MFRC Community Engagement manager. Spectators should bring cash for the 50-50 draw and Chuck A Puck contest, with proceeds going to the MFRC. “We’re delighted to partner with the MFRC for this year’s Victoria Class Cup and thrilled to have become such an integral part of this navy community,” said Jake Jacobson, Vice President of Communications and Government Relations. Hockey mascots Marty the Marmot of the Victoria Royals (WHL) and Victoria Grizzlies’ Grizz (BCHL) will be attending the game, as will senior military leadership. For more information about the MFRC, the programs they offer, and other upcoming events visit their website: https://esquimaltmfrc.com

[caption id="attachment_21371" align="alignnone" width="593"] LCdr (Retired) Jeff Thomson, Base Administration Project Officer, shows one of CFB Esquimalt’s new solar powered strobe lights. These lights have been installed at specific locations around the base and are designed to ward off non-migratory geese. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Solar powered strobe lights have been introduced to five areas at the base in the ongoing effort to deter non-migratory Canada Geese and the accumulation of their feces.The quickly-flashing nighttime lights look similar to the lights on a police car roof or fire engine. They were first installed on a trial basis by Base Administration in February after complaints about nuisance geese nesting in front of the Formation Chaplain’s Office and the tracking of feces inside the building. The lights have proven to be an effective deterrent at warding off the geese, says LCdr (Retired) Jeff Thomson, Base Administration Project Officer. The lights were also introduced to protect the lawns and walkways in front of Nelles Block, the running track and volleyball court near the Naden Athletic Centre, the picnic area behind the Gun Room at Work Point, and the baseball fields on Colville Road. “The lights don’t affect people but are very annoying to geese because they have extremely sensitive eyes. So far, the lights have proven to be a very effective way of reducing the problem,” said Thomson. “It’s humane and environmentally friendly.”The six lights cost about $2,000. They emit a series of quick flashes every two seconds, similar to a strobe light and provide 360 degrees of coverage during nighttime hours. The lights are intended to disrupt nesting geese, says Thomson, making them uncertain about staying in the area.Thomson has been working closely with Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) who are monitoring the effectiveness of the lights in the...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As family and friends waved their farewells from the Esquimalt Lagoon shore, HMCS Ottawa sailed away for a five-month deployment last Tuesday. Ship and crew are heading to the Asia-Pacific region to take over the ongoing Operation Projection and Operation Neon mission from HMCS Regina, which returns home in a week. Operation Projection is the Royal Canadian Navy’s ongoing commitment to global peace. The deployment to the Asia Pacific region contributes to making the world more secure and stable. It also shows how the RCN is ready to support Canada’s interests around the world. Operation Neon is Canada’s contribution to a coordinated effort to support the implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea.“The crew of HMCS Ottawa has been working hard for months to prepare for this deployment and I have every confidence in our ability to carry out our mission,” said Commander Alex Barlow, Ottawa’s commanding officer. “I would also like to acknowledge our families whose love and support gives us the strength we need to work hard to remain operationally effective and deploy to support Canada’s presence in the Asia-Pacific region.”In a media scrum at Duntze Head, just after taking the salute from the ship, RAdm Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific, spoke about the ship’s upcoming mission. “In order to have a persistent presence [in the Asia-Pacific region] we have been keeping our ships forward-deployed in the region,” he said. “Last year we had Calgary there; Regina has been in the region for the last six months and she’s now on her way back home; Ottawa is currently deployed, and early next year Calgary will be heading back there again.”Ottawa will work with navies from the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to enhance military cooperation and partnerships. The...

Lt(N) Paul Goff, HMCS Halifax ~HMCS Halifax has broken its fundraising record for the Children’s Wish Foundation by raising $45,780 for the charity. This is the most money the ship’s sailors have raised for the charity since they started fundraising for it 16 years ago.The money was collected through online donations, fundraisers held on board Halifax, and through an eight-member team that participated in the annual Run For The Wish fundraiser from June 3 to 14. The team started their run in Sydney, Nova Scotia, and over a 10-day period travelled through Baddeck, Port Hawkesbury, Antigonish, Truro, Halifax, Wolfville, Windsor, Digby, and Yarmouth. During this period, each member ran 10 kilometres a day. As part of the Run, they were given a sponsor child named Cailum. He is a nine-year-old from Dartmouth, NS, diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. His wish is to go to Disneyland with his family. Each child’s wish costs approximately $10,000, so the sailors were able to grant Cailum’s wish and those of another three sick children. Currently in Nova Scotia, there are 88 sick children waiting for wishes. To donate go to online www.childrenswish.ca and to volunteer email NS@childrenswish.ca.

Courtesy Maple Leaf ~Canadian Armed Forces members who deployed on international naval operations between July 23, 2003, and Aug. 1, 2019, will receive a compensatory payment for allowances they were entitled to receive but did not. The allowances affected are two of the Environmental Allowances: Sea Duty (SDA) and Submarine (SUBA), and one Operation Allowance: Hardship (HA).Environmental allowances are meant to compensate members whose military duties involve exposure to adverse environmental conditions that are not normally experienced by other members. Hardship Allowance compensates for essentially the same conditions, but applies on international operations.In an unintended omission to the original policy published on July 23, 2003, SDA and SUBA were not included in the list of several environmental allowances that could not be received concurrently with HA because they essentially compensate for the same things. As an interim measure, directives were issued aimed at mitigating the error and restricted the receipt of these allowances to either HA or SDA/SUBA but not both. However, in hindsight, those directives did not have the required authorization.As the policy itself did not specifically prohibit receiving SDA or SUBA at the same time as HA, members who deployed on international naval operations from the time the policy was written until it is corrected are technically entitled to receive both. For those affected, a compensatory payment will be made so that they do, in fact, receive both.A team from Director Military Pay and Allowances Processing (DMPAP) will lead the initiative to ensure that all affected Canadian Armed Forces personnel, who will be identified by the Royal Canadian Navy, have compensatory payments calculated and paid out. This will also encompass affected personnel who have since released from the Canadian Armed Forces.The initial estimate of the number of individual deployments is upwards of 20,000 with an overall cost of...

SLt Wilson Ho, HMCS Winnipeg ~One hundred and fifty eager and excited young women stepped on board HMCS Winnipeg on Saturday July 27 at Burrard Street Pier in North Vancouver, for a first-hand experience in the life of a Canadian sailor. Winnipeg partnered with the Achieve Anything Foundation’s “This is You” program. The Achieve Anything Foundation organizes hands-on experiences by the Royal Canadian Navy and other agency/industrial partners that are improving gender diversity and equal opportunity in their workplaces.   The day’s events started with guided tours of the ship, including the operations room, bridge, and machinery control room, highlighting the various jobs on board the Halifax-Class frigate. In addition to tours, guests were able to try on equipment from the ship’s team divers and test their skills at firefighting. With clear skies and Howe Sound as the backdrop, crew and guests were treated to a flight deck luncheon. In the afternoon, Winnipeg demonstrated its manoeuverability, conducting full speed runs, crash stops, and high speed turns. Day sails are one of the many ways the Royal Canadian Navy connects with the public, showcasing what life at sea is like. Winnipeg is currently conducting trials, working up to deploy on the Rim of Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise and Operation Projection next year.

[caption id="attachment_21337" align="alignnone" width="592"] Ryan Yeomans works on a Kisbee ring in his Fleet Maintenance Facility work shop. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you’ve wondered who creates the decorative Kisbee rings that adorn Royal Canadian Navy warships and units of CFB Esquimalt, you aren’t alone says their maker. Craftsman Ryan Yeomans works his magic on those doughnut-shaped flotation devices from an art studio in Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton. For the past 12 years he has been the man responsible for transforming the safety rings into ceremonial display items. “They are the first thing you see when you cross the brow on a ship, but most sailors think they come from a warehouse and are made on an assembly line. They don’t realize how much work goes into creating these and that they are all done by hand.” It’s a complicated labour-intensive process involving continued attention to detail, says Yeomans. The lifebuoys are made of plastic, filled with foam and orange in colour when they come to his shop from manufacturer Aer-o-buoy. He removes the manufacture’s rope that covers their circumference. A thicker more attractive gage rope will be attached later by workers from the rope shop. He then washes the ring, sands it, and sprays an epoxy sealer and polyurethane finish before adding coats of navy blue and white paint. It can take up to two days for the paint job and layers of protective coating to dry. It is at this point Yeomans’ steady hands are showcased.He carefully outlines the ship or unit’s name on the blue ribbon he’s painted on the ring. Then he fills the letters with sizing glue, waits an hour for it to dry, and applies 23 carat gold leaf sheets. The sheen from the gold is what makes the letters pop and...

[caption id="attachment_21333" align="alignnone" width="592"] Clearance divers practice an all-around defensive posture with C8 carbine rifles in preparation for a multi-national training exercise with the U.S. Marines in Guam later this month. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Clearance Divers from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) are making final preparations for a multi-national training exercise in Guam.Eight personnel from the dive unit and two from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) will head to the U.S. territory in August for Exercise Hydracrab. The 12-day exercise involves approximately 100 military personnel and is being hosted by the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Five. Hydracrab also involves units of the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marines, two clearance diver teams from Australia, and one team from New Zealand. The purpose of the exercise is to give military personnel greater experience in improvised explosive device (IED) disposal near port and jetty facilities, and coordinating those efforts with other nations, says Lt(N) Sebastian Harper, FDU(P) Operations Officer. “It’s very important for us to know how to work with our allies and have a common procedural understanding before a conflict breaks out,” says Lt(N) Harper, who will be Officer in Tactical Command of the Canadian contingent. “It helps us find common ground and will make things more predictable when they need to rely on us in a real-life situation, and vice versa.”Fleet Diving Unit members will act as an IED support unit during the exercise. The team will be pushed to their limits, rendering safe IEDs in a high tempo semi-permissive maritime environment, says Lt(N) Harper. They will also assist specially trained boarding parties from the Marines to defuse IEDs during operations involving smuggling, interdiction, and other scenarios. Some of the biggest hurdles to overcome for multi-national training exercises such as these often occur well before boots...

[caption id="attachment_21325" align="alignnone" width="592"] Artist Derek Rickwood signs a print of his HMCS Calgary painting at the ship’s Cowboy Up fundraiser on May 11. He is joined by Lt(N) Sonja Maul-Wilson (left) of Canadian Fleet Pacific and Elida Ninami.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Nanaimo-based artist Derek Rickwood has a strong attachment to his first commissioned painting for the Canadian Armed Forces. When Rickwood began painting a rendering of HMCS Calgary in July 2018, he says the project was inspirational, but also tinged with sadness. With every brush stroke he thought of his father, Warrant Officer (Retired) Ralph ‘Randy’ Rickwood who died in 2008. “Painting this meant a lot to me because of my father and his own military service,” said Rickwood. “It wasn’t any ordinary commissioning to have worked on because this one involved an organization my father devoted his life to.”His dad wasn’t only a career soldier, he was also a talented artist who passed his love of painting to his son. Since 1986, Rickwood, 60, has done many commissioned paintings. The Calgary commissioned work was unveiled at Calgary’s Cowboy Up event in May to former Commanding Officer, Commander Blair Saltel. The 16” x 24” oil on canvas was a gift for him ahead of his June 3 Change of Command Ceremony. The painting will be hung in the cabin of current Calgary skipper, Commander Jonathan Kouwenberg.“This painting to me represents everyone who has served in Calgary over the years and the community it represents,” said Cdr Saltel.  “This likeness of a modernized frigate as a work of art, made by hand, really represents the reverence for tradition and the necessity for technical skills a modern navy requires for success.  People connected with the ship, either past or present crew, can look at something that is aesthetically pleasing, but also take solace that it is their ship on the wall being depicted and celebrated.” In the painting, Calgary is portrayed sailing past Fisgard Lighthouse in Esquimalt Harbour. Rickwood used a mixture of...

[caption id="attachment_21321" align="alignnone" width="593"] Photo by MARPAC Imaging[/caption]A/SLt Michelle Scott, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Recruits from the Raven program got a taste of life at sea during a day sail on board HMCS Nanaimo on July 29. Forty recruits plus staff joined the ship for a day of manoeuvres, damage control exercises and a demonstration by a CH-149 Cormorant from 19 Wing Comox – which included HMCS Nanaimo’s rescue swimmers being hoisted out of the water and onto the ship. The Cormorant visit not only enriched the crew’s training but highlighted what the ship can do, in hopes of inspiring the recruits to become Royal Canadian Navy sailors.The Raven program is designed to build bridges into Indigenous communities throughout Canada and show young Indigenous people their potential for part-time employment or a full-time career with the Canadian Armed Forces.“I thought it was important for Nanaimo to do the day sail. I’ve seen the program and the sailors it produces, and it’s worth it if we gain some sailors through what they experience during the sail,” said Commander Jason Bergen, HMCS Nanaimo’s Commanding Officer. “Today allows us to highlight the capability of the ship and its routine, and it introduces the Ravens to a crew they could possibly work with one day.”Shortly after Nanaimo exited Esquimalt Harbour, Cdr Bergen made an announcement over the ship’s speaker stating the first shipboard activity was about to start – a demonstration of the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel’s manoeuverability. “We’re going to do a hockey stop,” he said. The recruits stood on the fo’c’sle of the ship, holding onto the guard rails, unsure of what was coming. Then the ship listed heavily to the port side and you could hear their excited shrieks and giggles.“The manoeuvres were my favourite; they were pretty cool,” said OS Anjbizhaa John,...

[caption id="attachment_21294" align="alignnone" width="593"] Stephen Holton, Deputy Information Systems Security Officer for the Canadian Army, with his service dog Missie at Canadian Army Headquarters. Photo by Jay Rankin, Directorate of Army Public Affairs[/caption]Lynn Capuano, Army Public Affairs ~A dog whose ancestors protected Roman soldiers on the battlefield now keeps watch over a retired Canadian Army soldier.Stephen Holton, Deputy Information Systems Security Officer for the army, began bringing Missie, his seven-month-old service dog, with him to work at the Canadian Army Headquarters in Ottawa in May 2019. Missie, a black-and-white Italian Mastiff and Great Dane cross, wears the Army Headquarters patch on her service vest. She is a sixth-generation service dog bred by a long-time friend of Holton, Kim Callaghan of Edmonton, Alberta, who breeds the animals for Veterans, first responders, and others. Missie’s full name is Missile because of her rapid entrance into the world in December 2018. She was the first-born of a litter of seven puppies, all of whom are now in training to be service dogs.Holton’s health issues, which are not a result of his service, are largely under control. He suffers from several complications of his diabetes, coupled with a non-epileptic seizure disorder caused by a stroke. He has been seizure-free for two years, and Missie’s focus is primarily on the diabetes aspect of support.Holton served 12 years with the army and has been a civilian for about 22 years. He started out in the Army Reserve infantry with the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment in Belleville, Ontario, and later became an Infantry Officer. After six years, he transferred to the Regular Force in the Communications and Engineering Branch and then served as a captain in the Signal Corps. He deployed on several operations in Canada during his military career.He obtained Missie through Paws for Veterans; an organization...

[caption id="attachment_21291" align="alignnone" width="592"] Marina Craig, Vernon Cadet Museum Director of Marketing and Operations, makes a final check on one of the many displays of uniforms before the re-opening of the Vernon Cadet Museum for the summer.[/caption]Wayne Emde, Army Cadets Corps Public Affairs ~There are approximately 59,000 young Canadians enrolled in cadet programs across Canada. But here is only one Cadet Museum and it’s in Vernon, B.C.From the outside, the former guardhouse and post office just off Highway 97 retains the well-worn textures and colours that harken back to the early 1940s when Vernon Military Camp housed thousands of soldiers training for duty overseas in the Second World War. Inside, it’s a different story.In the spring of 2013, the building was declared surplus to needs and the keys were handed over to Francois Arseneault to create the museum. Arseneault became interested in cadet history after his summers between 1978 and 1980 at the Vernon Army Cadet Training Camp, also the oldest cadet training centre in Canada. He began collecting photos, shoulder flashes, cap badges and other items related to Army Cadets in Canada. On a shoestring, and with a great deal of support and encouragement from then Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Terry Kopan, the museum opened its doors for cadets and visitors.In the years since, collections have grown with donations of photos, uniforms, documents, and band instruments. Many former cadets have contributed financially, and a yearly auction serves as a major fundraiser. “It’s been a team effort,” said Arseneault, who works with a committee consisting of Mitch Steck, Maria and Graham Brunskill, Lisa Devine, and Cory Schultz. Dale Dickie of West Kelowna designed and built a detailed model of one of the H-Huts. Captain Dan Emde, a Licensed Electrical Contractor, upgraded the wiring and replaced the existing fluorescent lights with LED lights. Arsesneault’s...

[caption id="attachment_21287" align="alignnone" width="593"] Commodore Angus Topshee (left), Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific; Lieutenant(N) Holly Swallow (centre) of Her Majesty’s New Zealand Ship Te Kaha, and Vice-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Royal Canadian Navy, hold Te Kaha’s wooden pig mascot. The mascot was snuck off the ship 20 years ago by the Admiral as a friendly prank.[/caption]RCN Public Affairs ~For many Canadians, the distinctive customs and traditions of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) can sometimes make it seem like a unique world - and indeed it is.These customs, such as the Crossing the Line ceremony, naval toasts of the day, and ships’ mascots, bind all mariners together, no matter the language they speak or the country they call home.Commodore (Cmdre) Angus Topshee, the Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific, says honouring these universal customs and traditions is not only key to building strong esprit de corps within a ship’s company, but is also the foundation of building life-long sailor-to-sailor ties with other navies, which contributes to stronger navy-to-navy relationships.  “It is through these activities that strong bonds are formed and morale improved, both within our fleet and with other navies,” says Cmdre Topshee.Formal traditions, such as toasts of the day, are typically used at special occasions and mess dinners. The time-honoured Crossing the Line ceremony commemorates a sailor’s first crossing the Equator.  But not all customs are formal in nature - some are downright silly and allow sailors to build friendships, not just with their shipmates, but also with those from other navies. One such tradition involves ships’ mascots, with one ship’s company sneaking off with another ship’s mascot, only to return it later during a deployment.“The best ships’ companies ensure all their members feel valued and included; there’s no magic formula for that, but it almost always involves a strong dose of the...

[caption id="attachment_21284" align="alignnone" width="592"] Twenty-nine sailors from HMCS St. John’s recently had the opportunity to visit the BAE Systems Shipyard in the United Kingdom.[/caption]Sub-Lieutenant Vincent Massé, HMCS St. John’s ~Twenty-nine sailors from HMCS St. John’s recently had the opportunity to see the future fleet when they visited the BAE Systems Shipyard in the United Kingdom (UK).The facility houses the construction of the UK’s Type 26 frigate, which is the winning design for the Canadian Surface Combatant. Up to 15 new Canadian Surface Combatant vessels will be built for the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).There are a few differences between the UK’s Type 26 and the future Canadian warship, such as accommodation spaces, combat systems, and a hangar to accommodate the CH-148 Cyclone, Canada’s main ship-borne maritime helicopter, providing air support to the RCN.There are many commonalities as well such as a gym, unlike current Canadian warships that have retrofitted gyms from existing spaces.3D viewThe future warship was made even more real through a computerized 3D demonstration where the sailors could see the various decks, spaces, and compartments. The ship will have two main passageways, one on each side, with interconnecting passageways in-between. The messes will open into the cross passages. The passageways will not be directly up against the side of the hull, as an engineering void will be reserved for the cabling, piping and equipment on the ship. The enclosed forecastle, where the cable party and part-ship hands will be protected from the weather, will be most welcome.At first glance the galley seems much larger than on the Halifax-class frigate. On the quarterdeck, there will be port and starboard capstans to help personnel handling the lines, rather than just a center line one present on Halifax-class frigates. Lastly, the bridge wings will wrap around the bridge providing easy access to the...

[caption id="attachment_21280" align="alignnone" width="593"] Members of the Canadian Armed Forces Nijmegen Contingent march in ranks through the streets of Bergen Op Zoom, near Groeet Markt, in the Netherlands on July 13. Photo by Avr(T) Jérôme J.X. Lessard[/caption]SLt Jessie Grigor, Base Public Affairs Office ~On the final day of the Four Days Marches, Maritime Forces Pacific’s (MARPAC) 11-person contingent marched through downtown Cuijk, Netherlands, and received Gladiolas - flowers given to Roman gladiators - signifying victory. It was a fitting end to the arduous 160-kilometre event. Since 1909, the Four Days March has been organized annually in Nijmegen, Netherlands, to promote sport and exercise. It attracts people from all over the world.“I am immensely proud today of every one of the members of this year’s contingent,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Éric Quirion, Commander Joint Task Force Nijmegen. “Over the past few days, I have had the chance to see first-hand how dedicated, strong, perseverant and resilient these women and men are. They have overcome every physical and mental challenge associated with the marches and have not only demonstrated immense professionalism but have also proudly represented Canada.” Preparation for this physically demanding event began early in the new year. Over time the contingent gradually increased the distance until they were capable of marching 40km per day for four days.Though the march itself has changed very little since its genesis 103 years ago, the volume and composition of the participants has evolved. Initially, the event was primarily composed of members of the military with some civilians participating. But as the years went on and word of the Four Days Marches spread, participation from civilians and militaries throughout the world have increased substantially, making it the world’s largest walking event. Over the decades, locals have become accustomed to seeing throngs of people march through Dutch towns and...

[caption id="attachment_21277" align="alignnone" width="593"] Photo by SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC Public Affairs[/caption]A/SLt Michelle Scott, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Raven recruit OS Ayse Golcek says her father wasn’t fully supportive of her decision to apply for the Raven program, and his worry continued when she left Toronto, ON, on a Victoria-bound plane at the beginning of July.Her father, who grew up in Turkey, was subject to compulsory military service in the Turkish Army as a young man. He released as soon as he could.“My father was initially against me going into the Raven Program, or the military at all, but in the end he let me make my own decision,” she said.OS Golcek, 18, is one of 41 recruits in the Raven Program, which introduces Aboriginal youth to a potential career in the Canadian Armed Forces.She is half Turkish and half Inuit – her mother is Inuit. Living in Toronto has limited her exposure to the Inuit culture, a heritage she now wants to learn more about.“In the past year, I’ve been looking more into my Indigenous side; it was part of the reason I chose Raven,” she said. “The course was a good opportunity for me to learn more about my Indigenous background while also incorporating that with my military interest. Both things I didn’t have back home.”She was one of the first to arrive at Work Point, and her calm demeanor hid her nervousness. “The military atmosphere was very different from what I’m used to, but that was the whole point,” she said. “I was nervous about the physical training aspect, and about pushing myself hard enough to make my teammates proud. But when I have a tough moment, I just look at what I want to do for myself and my future, and I push through it.” After the Raven...

[caption id="attachment_21273" align="alignnone" width="593"] HMCS Halifax departed Halifax on Sunday, July 14, en route to Operation Reassurance for the next six months. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Mona Ghiz, Maritime Forces Atlantic Public Affairs ~After months of preparation, HMCS Halifax and the Cyclone air detachment from 423 squadron, 12 Wing Shearwater, departed Halifax Sunday July 14 en route to a six-month tour on Operation Reassurance, Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe. Despite some mechanical issues with the ship that delayed its departure for approximately a week, Halifax and all those on board were well prepared to embark upon this operation. “The ship’s company have worked incredibly hard over the last nine-plus months and more, to get ready for this deployment. They have exceeded the standards we have set out for every step,” said Commodore Skjerpen, Commander,Canadian Fleet Atlantic.During the deployment, Halifax will replace Toronto and assume the role of flagship for the Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, a NATO-led mission to promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. Halifax’s commanding officer, Cdr Scott Nelson, said, “Op Reassurance is Canada’s mission with NATO in various waters that connect to Europe. Canada commits a ship consistency in the region to assure our NATO alliance allies Canada is there to support the endeavors of NATO’s mission overseas.”This is the first time Halifax will deploy on Op Reassurance and the twelfth time a Royal Canadian Navy ship has taken part since 2014. Another first is that during this operation, Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 is being commanded by a Canadian female officer, Commodore Josée Kurtz. She is currently onboard Toronto and will join Halifax on their arrival in theatre.During its time on Op Reassurance, Halifax will lead and execute a range of missions across a broad spectrum of operations to enhance interoperability and cooperation with our allies and NATO partners in the region.

Courtesy the Maple Leaf ~Canadian Armed Forces members may now request a new type of leave to take advantage of changes to the Employment Insurance (EI) parental benefits.In March 2019, EI benefits changed to allow parents to share either 40 weeks of standard parental benefits or 69 weeks of extended parental benefits.The new leave without pay and allowances (LWOP) for personal reasons for parental purposes allows members of the Regular Force and Reserve Force members on Class B or C periods of service, who live outside Quebec, to benefit from the EI changes more fully. Reserve Force members on Class A Reserve service need to request an exemption from duty and training for personal reasons to get the time off; there is no allowance associated with this leave.Because the Province of Quebec administers its own Quebec Parental Insurance Plan (QPIP), Canadian Armed Forces members who are residents of Quebec are not eligible for maternity or parental benefits, including the extended benefits, offered through the Employment Insurance program.EI and QPIP maternity benefits, which are separate from parental benefits and are intended for recovery from childbirth, are still up to 15 or 18 weeks, respectively.Maternity and parental benefits to top up salaries to 93 per cent of pay and eligible allowances remain at a combined maximum of 364 days. During the additional weeks, Canadian Armed Forces members who live outside of Quebec can receive EI benefits of 33 per cent of their salaries to a maximum amount set by the Government of Canada each year, but not an additional top-up to their salaries.Frequently Asked Questions – parental benefits for CAF membersQ1.  What types of benefits and leave are available for Canadian Armed Forces members who are parents of newborns or newly adopted children?A1. The Canadian Armed Forces provides maternity and parental leave for...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Staff at the Esquimalt Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) are piloting a mobile workstation (tablet) initiative so they can work in the field and stay connected to the office. The Esquimalt Housing Service Centre manages 710 Residential Housing Units (RHUs), homes for currently serving members and their families. Their technical team is responsible to keep the houses in good order, which often means being on site to liaise with the occupants or the contractors assigned to do certain maintenance work. Having access to information and the ability to create work orders on location is a game-changer for the staff, says Anne Corkery, CFHA HSC Manager. “We are able to get our technical team and contractors on site quicker and get updated information to our office staff and customer service representatives instantly,” she says.The mobile workstation is a large tablet that allows staff to tether it through their Blackberry so they can be connected to the CFHA server.This new way of doing business has changed how they handle hard copy paperwork. Gone are the hard copy documents with the copious updates and filing of them in cabinets. Everything is now held electronically. “This initiative has helped streamline a number of day-to-day activities and have allowed us to skip a lot of unnecessary steps such as scanning documents and sending them, and then acknowledging receipt,” said Peter Churcher, Chief of Technical Services.In using the mobile workstation, Technical Service Officers have access to interactive maps of all 27 CFHAs across the country. With a click on the map, CFHA employees can find detailed information on any RHU, including the address building type, number of rooms, square footage and also gauge the overall condition of the property and any problem spots. This new service further enhances the CFHA’s ability to improve customer...

[caption id="attachment_21253" align="alignnone" width="593"] From left, outgoing Commander Canadian Fleet Atlantic, Cmdre Skjerpen; RAdm Craig Baines, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic, with incoming Commander Cmdre Richard Feltham at the Change of Command ceremony July 11. Photo by Cpl David Veldman, FIS[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Acceptance for first of the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN) fleet of Canadian Surface Combatant ships won’t be until the mid-2020s, and while that may seem like a far-off date, Cmdre Craig Skjerpen doesn’t see it that way.“In reality it will be just the blink of an eye,” he said, highlighting the importance of the many changes that have taken place in the Atlantic Fleet in recent years as the RCN begins looking ahead to the new fleet of ships.“We’re on a path to change the culture of the navy, and to continue to be adaptive in a world that is changing,” he said in his final address as Commander of Canadian Fleet Atlantic on the newly opened Jetty NJ at HMC Dockyard July 11, before officially handing over command to incoming Cmdre Richard Feltham.While joking that his exit marked the unfortunate end of the position being held by “Craigs from Saskatchewan” – referring to himself and his predecessor RAdm Craig Baines – he said he was happy to hand over the job to his longtime colleague.Cmdre Skjerpen got technical in describing some of the many changes and new initiatives undertaken by the Fleet during his time in command, mentioning changes to watch rotations, leadership, and mentorship structures, crew flexibility, attack-team size reduction, the introduction of Asterix, and more. He also talked about new technologies such as land-attack missiles, low-frequency active sonars and UAVs that are being adopted. “I’m heartened by the fact there are terms and ideas that are new to me but will soon be in the...

[caption id="attachment_21250" align="alignnone" width="592"] The Royal Canadian Navy canoe family embarks on a leg of the Pulling Together 2019 Canoe Journey at Willingdon Beach near Powell River. Photos by LS Brendan Gibson, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt Cameron Park, HMCS Discovery ~Since 2007, HMCS Discovery has supported the annual Pulling Together Canoe Journey by providing safety boats, planning and logistical support. This year marked the first time Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) members crewed a canoe during the entire 10-day event.The Pulling Together Canoe Journey is a coming together of groups representing First Nations communities, Indigenous youth groups, government agencies and community groups. The purpose of the journey is to deepen relationships and create cultural understanding and connections. The involvement of the RCN in the Pulling Together Canoe Journey highlighted the commitment of the navy to foster respectful and meaningful relationships with First Nations’ communities. Participants were exposed to a wide swath of First Nations language and culture by participating in cultural events, traditional teachings, and visiting culturally significant locations. “I saw how big the journey was; how many different agencies were involved; how everybody was working together - literally pulling together - and having a great time,” Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Rod Tulett, steersman of the RCN canoe, who visited the event four years ago. “At that point, I decided I wanted to get involved.” CPO2 Tulett and the members of the RCN Pulling Together Canoe family were exposed to the language, teachings, and cultural traditions of the Tla’amin Nation, near Powell River, British Columbia. Before the new canoe entered the water for the first time, community elders “brushed” it and its crew with cedar branches in a traditional ceremony designed to ensure safe travels. RCN members acknowledged the elders with gifts and by raising their hands to them and community...

[caption id="attachment_21246" align="alignnone" width="593"] LS Darcy Quick, Cdr Dale Turetski and LS Moorhouse with their unit’s morale patch. Image courtesy Sharkz Coins[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~Members of the Personnel Coordination Centre (PCC) have a new morale patch to wear on their naval combats. While some morale and operations patches harken back to the First and Second World War in style, featuring missiles, torpedoes and other weapons of war, PCC set out to distinguish themselves.“Since we fall under MARPAC (Maritime Forces Pacific), we wanted a distinguishing patch,” said Chief Petty Officer First Class Nelson Lemieux, PCC Coxswain. “Something you could see at a distance.”The call went out to PCC members to come up with something that would fit the bill. “We had a lot of rough drafts,” said CPO1 Lemieux. Despite not being a graphic artist, incremental tasker LS Darcy Quick, a naval communicator by trade, was one of the sailors that tried his hand at creating the patch. “I was on my lunch break and I started going through some ideas in my head,” said LS Quick. He drew inspiration from the view from his window at DY70, which literally and figuratively looks over the fleet. “I was thinking how PCC is responsible for assigning  people, making sure jobs get filled all around Canada, all over the world,” explained LS Quick, and how sailors departed and returned as if guided by a lighthouse.Armed with a good draft, the command team brought it to Sharkz Coins in Esquimalt to refine the concept; a splash of red and a white border made the lighthouse pop. The bottom of the black and white lighthouse has “PCC Pacific” written at its base. The words “domestic” and “international” sit atop and below the lighthouse.The final printed patch has as sleek modern look and easily identifies the wearer as being part of PCC. “I’m very proud of the PCC team and the professionalism with which they quietly manage a very complex personnel picture on a...

[caption id="attachment_21243" align="alignnone" width="593"] Photo by SLt M.X. Déry[/caption]A/SLt Michelle Scott, MARPAC Public Affairs ~The taste of salty air and the ocean landscape vista are one of many firsts for OS Reed Eady. The young man is in Victoria this summer as one of 42 Raven recruits on a six-week basic training program designed for Indigenous youth. While he’s very familiar with the freshwater lakes and rivers of Jasper, Alberta, having moonlighted as a lifeguard, paddleboard instructor and white-water kayaker, it was his first time seeing the ocean.Despite having a grandfather and great-uncle in the navy, OS Eady had never considered a career in the military until a friend suggested it.“He asked me if I’d ever considered joining the navy and said he thought I’d be really good at it.”From there he applied for the Canadian Forces Aboriginal Entry Program to see if the military was indeed for him. He attended the three-week introductory Indigenous program in Québec in December, and it was there he learned about Raven. It was the perfect response to his questions about a career in the navy and opportunity to further explore his Métis culture.Raven began on July 4 and since the start it has been a jam-packed program for the recruits. The course started with an intense three-day Culture Camp, which took place at Canadian Forces Maritime Experimental and Test Ranges in Nanoose Bay, B.C. The camp taught and integrated different cultural components to bind the students together through shared experiences. It was during a sweat at culture camp that OS Eady had his favourite moment on the course thus far. “Being taught by an elder to build a sweat lodge and sharing it with people I was just getting to know, it was a really intense moment for me. It was something I was missing...

[caption id="attachment_21240" align="alignnone" width="592"] City of Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps presents PO2 Lisa Nilsson, LS Desi Cozier and Capt (Retired) Jennifer Sizer with Letters of Appreciation prior to a ceremony at Victoria City Hall, July 15.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Four Victoria-based athletes from Canada’s 2019 Warrior Games team were presented Letters of Appreciation by Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps.Leading Seaman Desi Cozier, Petty Officer Second Class Lisa Nilsson, and Captain (Retired) Jennifer Sizer were the guests of honour in the July 15 ceremony at Victoria City Hall. During the ceremony, the athletes also accepted a Letter of Appreciation on behalf of their teammate, Master Corporal (Retired) Frieda Van Putten, who was unable to attend. They were among the 36 ill and injured veterans and currently serving military who represented Team Canada at the United States’ Department of Defense Warrior Games, June 21 to 30 in Tampa, Fla. Mayor Helps congratulated the participants for their service to Canada’s military and also for their determination to compete at the games despite their physical or mental injuries. “That is so powerful, and I think the three of you are role models for others serving, those considering serving, and to show you can still be injured and still be a warrior,” said Helps prior to presenting the framed certificates. The Warrior Games were established in 2010 and were the inspiration for His Royal Highness Prince Harry to create the Invictus Games. Approximately 300 veterans and armed forces members from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, and the Netherlands competed in this year’s Warrior Games. Capt(Ret’d) Sizer was one of two Canadians who participated in the Ultimate Warrior Category at the Games, competing in eight events and capturing a bronze medal in women’s power lifting. Capt (Ret’d) Sizer, a former logistics officer, served more than 14 years...