News

[caption id="attachment_18824" align="alignnone" width="582"] Rear Admiral John Martin, New Zealand Chief of the Navy, shakes hands with Leading Seamanship Combat Specialist Emily Maxwell during his visit to the Naval Boarding Party cell at Work Point. He was in town to see the progression of the Te Kaha refit.[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~Last week, 18 sailors graduated from the Naval Boarding Party (NBP) course at Work Point. The graduation number was unusually high this time around, but that stemmed from eight Royal New Zealand Navy completing the training.They are in Victoria as their ship HMNZS Te Kaha is alongside Seaspan Shipyard undergoing a midlife refit.The opportunity to undergo this highly sought after training was not to be missed. One of the primary roles of a navy during an operational deployment is maritime interdiction operations, and specially trained NBP teams are the ones to board and search commercial vessels of interest. The five-week intensive course covered small arms handling, close-quarters combat, search procedures, and interview techniques. Trainees spent days at the shooting range to improve their weapon proficiency, and weeks in the indoor trainer building scaling and searching sea containers and interviewing mock suspects.“Back in New Zealand they talk about this course as the bee’s knees,” said Leading Seamanship Combat Specialist (LSCS) Emily Maxwell. “Everyone wants to do this course, so they fight for the opportunity to come here and do it.”The course, she says, will help in the performance of her duties as boarding ships is a big part of her trade.“I feel a lot more confidant and competent in that aspect of my job,” said LSCS Maxwell.Even for seasoned sailors with boarding experience the course is not easy. She said it was tough physically, but more importantly trainees need mental toughness. “You need that mental fortitude of not giving up,”...

Jon Chabun, MFRC ~If you are a parent experiencing a deployment this summer, the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) invites you to participate in a new online pilot program. Triple P (Positive Parenting Program) Online is for parents wanting more parenting tools and strategies but need a flexible format that fits their schedule. This pilot program marks the first time Triple P will be delivered online to support a deployment.    “Triple P is helpful for those day-to-day parenting challenges,” said Pauline Sibbald, social worker at the MFRC. “If you have concerns about behaviour and want to maintain a healthy, positive relationship with your child, you can benefit from the program.”    The MFRC is specifically looking for families experiencing a deployment such as the upcoming RIMPAC exercise or HMCS Vancouver’s current deployment.“We really want community members to help us evaluate the effectiveness of the online version,” said Sibbald. “It will help inform future programming and a flexible service delivery model.”In collaboration with Triple P Canada, MFRC has access to 20 licenses available for Triple P Online for parents of children aged four to 12. An additional five licenses are available for those wanting to take the course in French and another five for parents of teens age 13 to 16. Each participant will receive a unique login and password to access the program. Material in the Triple P online course is separated into eight modules that take between 60 to 90 minutes to complete. You can start a module one day and pick up where you left off at a later time. The pilot program is giving each parent 16 weeks to complete the coursework. Triple P Online will start the week of June 18 to 25 and run until October 8 to 15. Once an account is created, participants will have two weeks to activate...

[caption id="attachment_18815" align="alignnone" width="581"] Security Commissionaire and Royal Canadian Navy veteran Gerry Ratchford at his post at the Fleet Maintenance Facility security booth. The 90-year-old recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~If you are passing by the Fleet Maintenance Cape Breton security gate don’t forget to wish Commissionaire Gerry Ratchford a Happy Birthday. Major (Retired) Gerard Lawrence Ratchford celebrated his 90th birthday last Thursday. Instead of opting for retirement Ratchford still works his regular full-time Monday to Friday security job. “I love the interaction. Going to work gives me something to look forward to and keeps me busy,” said Ratchford. He and his security booth co-worker Corporal (Retired) Austin Henneberry, 81, have been working together for six years. The two are kept busy checking identifications and monitoring the comings and goings at CFB Esquimalt’s industrial complex in HMC Dockyard. Henneberry enjoyed a 13-year career in Canada’s army and marvels at Ratchford’s health and level of fitness. “When I first met Gerry he took me for a tour around the base, and I was panting,” said Henneberry. “As I was busy catching my breath after my third set of stairs he joked to me and said ‘We don’t take elevators’.” While his longevity may seem remarkable to most and a cause for celebration, ahead of his birthday Ratchford said he really wasn’t expecting much of a fuss over milestone marker Number 90. “No special plans, it’s just another day to me because I don’t make a big deal about birthdays,” he said. “If someone gives me a card or a slice of cake I would be pleasantly surprised.”His humble, down-to-earth outlook may have something to do with his military career that spanned more than 40 years and included service to Canada’s Merchant Navy, Royal Canadian Navy,...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two naval officers from CFB Esquimalt have captured three of five achievement awards in the Royal Canadian Navy category for the Canadian Armed Forces sports awards program.The 2017 RCN Sports Achievement Awards were announced May 18 in Ottawa and Lieutenant (Navy) Krista Seguin, who works for Base Administration, made it a double play when she was named Female Athlete of the Year and Coach of the Year. Also capturing top honours is Lt(N) Nicholas Lightbody of Base Information Services, who took the title for Male Athlete of the Year. Lt(N) Seguin was being recognized for her participation on the sitting volleyball team and her gold-medal performance in powerlifting at Invictus Games Toronto 2017, and for her coaching of the CFB Esquimalt Tritons women’s volleyball team. The Base Accommodations Officer suffers from a medical condition in her right leg coupled with many complications and is in the process of being medically released from the Canadian Armed Forces. “Being acknowledged with two awards was very surprising and also inspiring for me since I am someone who has had an injury and lots of setbacks along the way in my recovery,” said Lt(N) Seguin. “I don’t play for recognition like this, but instead for my passion and efforts to help others achieve their goals.” She was named Invictus Games 2018 sitting volleyball coach earlier this year by the Soldier On program. This week she is off to Ottawa to coach the Invictus team in a display match at a Volleyball Nations League tournament where her team will face Canada’s Paralympic team. Lt(N) Lightbody - a successful long-distance runner, swimmer and triathlete - is a former Combat Systems Engineer. He currently working for BIS and is posted to the Naval Reserve Unit HMCS Discovery in Vancouver. Last October, he finished 26th...

[caption id="attachment_18809" align="alignnone" width="581"] A clearance diver from the Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) conducts a final kit verification during Operation Open Spirit, May 21. Photo: Cpl Desiree Bourdon, Operation Open Spirit[/caption]Capt Matt Zalot, Operation Open Spirit PAO ~During the First and Second World Wars, thousands of naval mines were laid by military forces in the Baltic Sea, and in waters around the world. It was a tool to cripple shipping and hinder ship movement in order to gain a strategic advantage in the conflict. This, combined with aerial bombardment and naval gunfire, resulted in potentially dangerous pieces on unexploded ordnance (UXO) being left off the shores of the three Baltic nations – Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. These relics of war still pose a risk to commercial shipping and fishing.Operation Open Spirit works to lessen that risk. The annual operation is in the spirit of NATO’s Partnership for Peace. Although it has been conducted since 1997, this is Canada’s fifth year participating. It is also the second time the Royal Canadian Navy’s (RCN’s) clearance divers have worked jointly with their Allies off the coast of Estonia. Along with divers from Estonia, Latvia, Poland, the UK, and the US, the Canadians—largely drawn from Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) (FDU(A)), based out of Halifax—spent two weeks searching for, marking, and detonating UXOs to increase safety in the region. They also gained valuable experience in a very challenging environment.Lieutenant (Navy) James “JR” Gallant, Commander Operation Open Spirit Task Force, is no stranger to Estonia, and certainly no stranger to ordnance disposal. A member of FDU(A) for nine years, this was his fifth time in Estonia and his third anti-mining operation. He previously deployed on Operation Open Spirit in 2014 and 2015. Along with the clearance divers, his team of 12 also includes a supply technician, a...

SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~Bike to Work Week (BTWW) has wheeled its way into Victoria this week. Commuters are greasing their bicycle gears and riding to work rather than driving; increasing their fitness, reducing pollution, and improving their overall wellness. Last year, CFB Esquimalt was named BTWW champions, with 407 employees cycling to work. That’s up from 267 participants in 2016. Captain (Navy) Jason Boyd, Base Commander, sees no reason not to win it this year.“I told them last year, you might as well put our name on the trophy now,” said Capt(N) Boyd, who makes the seven-kilometre bike ride to his office each day part. “It’s no first leg of the Tour de France, but it is enough in the morning to wake me up on the way in. Plus, I find it is a good way to decompress on the way home, blow off some stress after the end of a long day.”With new bicycle lanes in downtown Victoria, and the recent upgrades along Admirals, not to mention the ample bicycle parking throughout the base, it has never been easier to skip the drive and cycle instead. “You can choose to ride your bike over driving your vehicle into work, and you can choose to eat healthy. Choose to make time in your schedule to go over to the gym at lunch, choose to take every opportunity to make good choices, to do something more active.”Making those choices is critical to maintaining physical fitness, he says, which has a marked benefit on operational effectiveness and readiness.Last week’s weather in Greater Victoria was pristine and this pattern should hold through BTWW, making every morning ride a joy. “That’s why I love biking,” said Capt(N) Boyd. “I love it in the morning. It’s beautiful, the sun is coming up,...

[caption id="attachment_18802" align="alignnone" width="580"] Chief Boatswain Mate, Chief Petty Officer Second Class Horne instructs members of the refueling team on proper procedures during a fueling layout on board HMCS Vancouver. Photo: MCpl Brent Kenny, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC PA Office ~Since leaving Esquimalt Harbour April 2 on Operation Projection, HMCS Vancouver and crew have charted a course throughout the Asia-Pacific region, making ports of calls along the way in support of Canada’s desire to strengthen relationships with partners in the region.The ship is currently en route to Darwin, Australia, having left the last port in Singapore. While alongside in Hong Kong, and then Singapore, ship and crew hosted round table discussions with local delegates about regional challenges, and while at sea, they conducted exercises with these nations to perfect working together should an emergency arise.This was the third time since 2007 that a Royal Canadian Navy warship has visited the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. During the six-day port visit, Canadian sailors hosted tours of Vancouver, visited schools and charity events, partook in a friendly sports competition, and laid wreaths at the Sai Wan War Cemetery to honour Canadian soldiers who died defending Hong Kong from Japan during the Second World War.Operation Projection is part of a renewed navy strategy. During the FELEX mid-life ship refit program, Royal Canadian Navy presence in the Asia-Pacific diminished, and now that the program is over, the navy is ramping up its presence in the region. “We’re getting to know these partner nations before we’re working with them in a crisis, because it is too late once a crisis has happened,” explains Capt(N) Steve Jorgensen, chief of staff for operations at Maritime Forces Pacific.Vancouver will handoff the operation to HMCS Calgary at the end of July. “Our mandate is to have a steady...

[caption id="attachment_18799" align="alignnone" width="580"] George Morris, left, and his wife Tanya are joined by their friends Elliott Roggers and Nancy Roggers on The Price is Right set at CBS Television Studios in Los Angeles. They attended a taping of the show on March 5 with Morris earning a spot in Contestant’s Row and on the main stage.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Queen’s Harbour Master employee waited two months to hear the words “George Morris, c’mon down” echo from his television set. Last Thursday, friends and family gathered around the TV with Chief Petty Officer (Retired) George Morris to watch his appearance on The Price Is Right and win $9,400 (U.S.) in cash and prizes.The live show took place March 5 after Morris, his wife Tanya and two friends applied and received tickets to the show. They travelled to Los Angeles as part of a vacation. Morris eventually earned himself a spot in Contestant’s Row after passing a screening test from the show’s judges. He and the other contestants were interviewed by the show’s production staff prior to the taping but had no idea when or if their name would be called. “I have some hearing difficulties, so I had no idea my name was called. My wife and friends were jumping around, saying ‘it’s you, they called your name’,” said Morris, 55. “After I realized they had called my name I was taken aback and thought ‘Oh my Gosh, this is really happening! They actually called my name’ and from that point on the nervousness was gone and off to Contestant’s Row I went. Like a typical Canadian, I was in it to win it.”He would eventually find himself on stage after successfully bidding on a collection women’s watches valued at $1,400. He bid $1 over the highest bid to win...

[caption id="attachment_18781" align="alignnone" width="582"] Commanding Officer of the Naval Security Team, Lieutenant Commander Michael Wills (left), is congratulated by Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, Commodore Jeff Zwick (centre) during a Change of Command Ceremony on May 11. LCdr Wills took command of the unit from LCdr Jeff Chura (right). Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]By SLt M.X. Déry, MARPAC Public Affairs ~Lieutenant Commander (LCdr) Jeff Chura passed command of the Naval Security Team (NST) to LCdr Michael Wills on May 11. “I was honoured to be chosen for such a unique opportunity,” said LCdr Chura, “I look back in awe at what we have accomplished.”In his remarks prior to handing over command, LCdr Chura was thankful for all the hard work put in by the NST over the last two years.“I was impressed by the energy, enthusiasm and drive of everyone involved,” he said.Speaking as CO of the unit for the first time, LCdr Wills emphasized that he is open and ready to support them.“I look forward to the challenge of bringing to fruition the vision of NST,” he said. “Flexibility will be key to providing the Royal Canadian Navy with a deployable and capable security force.”LCdr Wills was, until recently, the commanding officer of HMCS Oriole, in which he sailed from CFB Esquimalt, through the Panama Canal to CFB Halifax, covering over 16,000 km.This year, the NST returned from Denmark where they supported the deployment of HMCS St. John’s on Op Reassurance. Members are currently training for deployments to Fiji and Greece in the coming months. NST members are trained to conduct local force protection operations to address asymmetrical threats in and around sea ports where RCN ships may be located.

[caption id="attachment_18778" align="alignnone" width="582"] Members of the 443 Helicopter Squadron Times Colonist 10K Run team.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Runners from 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron surprised everyone, including themselves, with a fifth-place finish in the Team category of the Times Colonist 10K race this year. The Hornets celebrated an average time of 46:36, the top finish in the Police, Fire and Military category and better than 172 other teams registered in the annual race through the streets of downtown Victoria on April 29.The North Saanich-based squadron took an unlikely path to the top of the race standings. They normally enter a team every year, but didn’t in 2017 after the previous team convenor transferred to another base. Hornets Team Captain Sergeant Richard Jomha agreed to take over team convening duties this year, but suffered an achilles tendon injury days ahead of the race. Those factors, coupled with a roster shortage, put their chances for success in doubt, said Sgt Jomha.“We had three members join  just days before the race, but we were finally able to put a team together,” he said. “We were hoping to have good results, but had no idea we would do so well in such a large field of teams.” Sgt Jomha’s wife, Nikki, and son, Spencer, a late edition to the 15-person team, were critical to the victory. Spencer was runner up for best time on the team, finishing the course in 44:29 while Nikki had the fifth best finish on the team, crossing the finish line at 46:20. Captain Brandon Philp had the top individual time for the Hornets at 42:10, good for 23rd place in the Male 25 to 29 category. The top male and female finishers from the Hornets, Capt Philp and Nikki Jomha, will have their names engraved on the squadron’s own race...

[caption id="attachment_18775" align="alignnone" width="582"] AB Bridgett Doucett, a NESOP in HMCS Montreal, is a mentor for this year’s Canadian Forces Aboriginal Entry Program in Halifax. Photo by Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~When AB Bridgett Doucett signed up for the Canadian Forces Aboriginal Entry Program (CFAEP), she knew she was interested in a military career, but the CAF environment and culture were foreign to her. An introduction to the military, in the form of the paid three-week program, was a welcome way to ease that transition. Just a few years later, she’s now a trained NESOP and Fire Control Operator. She’s sailed overseas to NATO exercises, toured Cuba and South America, and recently got her first promotion to the rank of Able Seaman. There have been plenty of challenges along the way, but the experience of getting paid to travel the world, learn new skills and bond with shipmates has been an overwhelmingly positive one, she said.“It’s about the things you get to see and do, and the special moments that you experience at sea. It’s just something that I don’t think you can get with any other job.”Now, she’s giving back to the program that introduced her to the CAF, serving as a mentor with this year’s CFAEP participants, who are taking part in the program in Halifax from May 4-25.“I’m really happy to be a part of the program again,” AB Doucett said.“It helped so much in preparing me for basic training. We learned how to make our beds, we learned how to do drill, and we just started to get some understanding of the military,” she added.Participants also tour different units in the area and get a taste for each CAF environment with activities like day sails, helicopter and LAV rides, a day spent living in...

Greater Victoria Bike to Work Week (BTWW) is back May 28 – June 3! CFB Esquimalt is proud to be a part of this community initiative that supports healthy living and an active lifestyle. There will be an array of activities leading up to and during the week.28 MayBTWW begins!30 May PSP Recreation Celebration Stations at the Canex and MP gates from 6-8 a.m. Free breakfast. Velofix on site at Naden entrance for Minor bike adjustments31 May BTWW Celebration Station where you can stop for photos, snacks coffee and more.1 June Navy Bike Ride, join us for a fun community ride that ends at the Naden Drill Shed with food, coffee and prizes! Register for the Navy Bike Ride at http://navybikeride.ca/shadow_ride/hmcs-malahat.If that wasn’t enough free stuff for you, don’t forget to register yourself on the BTWW website for your chance to win a trip to Portugal! Make sure you choose MARPAC as your organization and then find your team. If your team isn’t listed, you can make one and encourage your coworkers to sign up. Full details and registration at https://www.biketowork.ca/victoria

[caption id="attachment_18767" align="alignnone" width="582"] HMCS Vancouver Commanding Officer, Commander Christopher Nucci, Coxswain Chief Petty Officer First Class Steve Wist and members of the ship’s company present Kids4Kids with a donation of $2,500, made possible by Boomer’s Legacy. Photo by MCpl Brent Kenny, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]SLt Jordan Bornholdt, HMCS Vancouver ~One of HMCS Vancouver’s objectives while deployed on Operation Projection is to contribute to outreach activities coordinated through organizations that empower children to make positive change in their community. During the ship’s port visit in Hong Kong, Vancouver was proud to make a donation to Kids4Kids, a non-profit organization that supports literacy development and youth empowerment. Kids4Kids has partnered with over 65 schools, 40 charity organizations, and has involved over 15,500 students.Vancouver’s contribution to Kids4Kids objectives was made possible by the Boomer’s Legacy Fund. Named after Corporal Andrew “Boomer” Eykelenboom, who was tragically killed by a suicide bomber in Afghanistan, the fund helps men and women in uniform have a positive impact on the communities they visit while deployed. The money provided by Boomer’s Legacy Fund helps ensure that Andrew’s humanitarian spirit lives on. Vancouver was proud to emulate Andrew’s example by creating a positive legacy with Kids4Kids in Hong Kong.While onboard to receive their donation, children and staff from Kids4Kids were given a tour of the ship with displays from the Naval Boarding Party, Ship’s Dive Team, and the Damage Control Organization.

[caption id="attachment_18764" align="alignnone" width="582"] Left: CWO (ret’d) Darcy Eggleston in his BC Sherriff’s Superintendent dress tunic and service medals. Right: Eggleston (left) paddles with his Maple Bay Ocean Canoe Club outrigger team during a March 4, 2017 race on the Gorge Waterway.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Despite being in the army for 22 years, Warrant Officer (retired) Darcy Eggleston is proving he’s as at home on the water as any seasoned sailor.The former military policeman has spent much of the past four years on the water to help manage PTSD symptoms he suffers following events he witnessed during peace keeping and overseas missions in the 1980s and 1990s.This week Eggleston will step up his water therapy another notch. He’ll be learning to sail in preparation for the Swiftsure Yacht Race. He and three other members of the Soldier On Program are part of Her Majesty’s Sail Training Vessel Goldcrest’s racing team for the annual event.Soldier On, a Joint-Personnel Support Unit-run program, provides athletic and recreational opportunities for ill and injured serving and retired personnel to assist in their recovery process.“The therapy for me is getting out on the water and the open ocean with its rolling waves. It has a calming effect on me,” said Eggleston who now works as the Vancouver Island Superintendent with the B.C. Sherriff Service.Eggleston, 58, was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder two years ago and says the sport of paddling has proved to be a sure-fire remedy for him. He’s convinced that introducing the new challenge of sailing into his life will help him continue to plot a course to better health. “Even before I had been officially diagnosed [with PTSD] I found that being out on the water in a boat calmed me and gave me a better sense of trust from being part of a...

[caption id="attachment_18761" align="alignnone" width="581"] Commanding Officer of HMCS Vancouver, Cdr Christopher Nucci, accompanied by ship’s Coxswain CPO1 Wist, lays a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice at Sai Wan Cemetery on May 7. Photo by MCpl Brent Kenny, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Tony Wright, HMCS Vancouver ~On May 6, during a recent port visit to Hong Kong, the crew of HMCS Vancouver spent time at the Sai Wan War Cemetery to pay tribute to Canadian soldiers who died defending Hong Kong from the Japanese in the Second World War. The island of Hong Kong fell to the Japanese on Christmas Day, 1941, following 17 days of fighting by British, Canadian, Indian and Chinese soldiers. Two hundred and ninety Canadian soldiers of the Royal Rifles of Canada and the Winnipeg Grenadiers lost their lives during the battle and most are buried at the Sai Wan War Cemetery in Hong Kong.Of the Canadians captured after the battle, 267 eventually perished in prisoner of war camps. The Sai Wan Memorial, at the entrance to the cemetery bears the names of more than 2,000 Commonwealth servicemen who died in the Battle of Hong Kong or in captivity, and have no known grave. Many of the names are Canadian.Twenty crew members from the ship travelled to the cemetery to visit the graves and lay a wreath in remembrance. Accompanying them were Deputy Commander, Royal Canadian Navy, Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier; Commanding Officer, HMCS Vancouver, Commander Christopher Nucci; Vancouver’s COXN, Chief Petty Officer First Class, Steve Wist; Consul General to Hong Kong, Jeff Nankivell. The sailors were able to walk through the cemetery and were given a brief tour by historian Tony Banham. After some words of remembrance by RAdm Couturier, Cdr Nucci and CPO1 Wist laid a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice, found in the Canadian section...

[caption id="attachment_18758" align="alignnone" width="581"] Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~School District 61 (Greater Victoria) students and sea cadets got down to work last week, taking care of some vital spring cleaning at God’s Acre Veterans Cemetery. On May 17, 30 Grade 7 students from nearby Rockheights Middle School fanned out across the National Historic Site armed with buckets of water and scrub brushes. They cleaned and polished the headstones of 120 military veterans who served Canada and Britain, removing moss and other marks left behind from winter. The students were continuing clean-up efforts that had been started on the weekend of May 12 by members of Esquimalt’s Royal Canadian Sea Cadets and Navy League Cadets. The efforts of the young volunteers were in preparation for this year’s Candlelight Tribute, which will be held on May 31 at 6:45 p.m. The annual ceremony normally has a theme and this year’s ceremony has two. It will commemorate both the end of the First World War and the 150th anniversary of the cemetery itself.The significance of the clean-up and the historical importance of the site had a personal connection for Rockheights student Drew Abercrombie, who’s great-grandfather was a gunner aboard Canadian warships during the Second World War.“It’s good for the community and a good way to honour the veterans. They worked hard for us and it’s time to give back to them,” he said.Classmate Brayden Barber’s parents are both members of the Canadian Armed Forces with many other family connections to the military.“I know the importance of this because I have a huge string of army relatives. Many of them fought in the Second World War and a few of them have recently passed away, so doing this reminds me of them,” he said.Some of the cadets and students who took...

[caption id="attachment_18712" align="alignnone" width="581"] LS Michael Spencer, a stoker aboard HMCS Glace Bay, is sharing the story of his battle with depression in hopes of benefiting others who may be struggling. Photo by Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~An East Coast sailor is sharing his story of battling depression and suicidal thoughts, and his eventual treatment and recovery, in hopes of reaching other Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members who may be going through a similar experience.“I lived with the symptoms of depression for 25 years; pain and torment and constant self-doubt and self-abuse,” said Leading Seaman Michael Spencer, describing years of difficulties with family, school, and other factors that led to worsening symptoms and multiple attempts on his life.“I might not be here today if I hadn’t gotten that help,” he adds.He is a stoker currently posted to HMCS Glace Bay, and now leads a happy life with a career he enjoys, and a loving wife and two children at home. But he had a long road to get there. He was abused by his father and suffered through traumatic experiences as a child. Looking back, he now recognizes he was experiencing symptoms of a mental disorder starting at age 11.He met his would-be wife in 2008, joined the CAF soon after, and while his depression continued and even worsened during his naval career, access to help, specifically the psychologists employed by Canadian Forces Health Services Centre (Atlantic), led him to discover the root of his issues.He recently shared the details of his story in a blogpost, where he usually posts creative writing projects. He’s been getting positive feedback since then from colleagues.“People who know me are understanding my story and who I am, now that they’ve read this, and that’s great.“What I really hope, though, is that someone...

[caption id="attachment_18709" align="alignnone" width="581"] Members of the HMCS Fredericton ‘Sailor for Wishes’ team train with a spin class at the Shearwater gym. Photo by Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Newspaper ~Over the past nine years, crews from HMCS Fredericton have raised nearly $500,000 for the Children’s Wish Foundation New Brunswick chapter through the ship’s annual Bike for Wishes fundraiser. It’s become an important source of funds for the organization, as well as a great morale booster for the Royal Canadian Navy sailors who take part each year. Now, as the weather starts to warm up, they’re ready to do it once again.This year, Fredericton has renamed its signature fundraiser, now known as Sailor for Wishes, but the intent remains the same – to cycle 1,000 kilometres across the province of New Brunswick, stopping at numerous communities along the way to raise much-needed funds for the Children’s Wish Foundation.For the event’s tenth anniversary, the crew hopes to top last years’ fundraising total.“This year, our goal is to raise about $100,000, which would work out to be about 10 wishes granted for kids,” said Lt(N) Ian Daniels, lead organizer for the 2018 Sailor for Wishes team.The team will split up into two groups of 10, each biking a different route across the province, with stops at communities including Bathurst, Miramichi, Caraquet, Campbellton, Moncton, Sussex, Oromocto, Saint John and more. Fundraisers are held at each spot at grocery stores or other local businesses, and members will also meet with Children’s Wish foundation representatives, including Wish recipients and their families, along the way.While most of the team members enjoy cycling on their own time, they also began training together in early April in preparation for the long-distance rides in August, with Personnel Support Program’s Joel Waterfield leading training sessions on stationary bikes at the...

[caption id="attachment_18706" align="alignnone" width="581"] A letter home to the mother of a crewmate penned by Able Seaman William Fisher. The stoker was the lone survivor of deadly German U-Boat attack on HMCS St. Croix that claimed the lives of 146 seamen. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The importance of the longest battle of the Second World War is quickly felt when one enters the central room in the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum.It is the largest room in the historic red brick building located in the heart of CFB Esquimalt’s Naden location, one that is dedicated to the Battle of the Atlantic. A variety of display cases brim with historical artifacts, photographs, newspapers, and military equipment, visible from all angles for visitors to easily see the relics from over 70 years ago. A video of the four-part documentary Convoy: War For the Atlantic plays on a loop from a screen mounted in the wall. For added reality, mannequin sailors prepares to launch a depth charge from the deck of HMCS Sackville, with the much-needed Carley float close by should the ship sustain a direct hit from the enemy. Two photographs from the deck of Sackville create a realistic-looking background to the display.The lighting, the mannequins’ pose, the subject matter all carve a realistic image of what life was like serving on a Canadian warship on the north Atlantic seas. As visitors exit the display, a plaque ask them to ponder one question: What kind of country would Canada by today if the Battle of the Atlantic had been lost?The question is a reminder that the battle on the seas was not predetermined says Clare Sharpe, Museum Exhibit Designer.“It’s easy to forget those who came through these events didn’t know the outcome. They did not have the luxury of...

[caption id="attachment_18703" align="alignnone" width="581"] Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Three Victoria veterans who each survived separate German U-Boat attacks during the Battle of the Atlantic recently shared their experiences over lunch. Stoker (Retired) Bob Haden, Able Seaman (Retired) Free Seeley and Leading Seaman (Retired) Harold Gollmer are all in their ninth decade of life, and are the last surviving members of the Royal Canadian Naval Association (RCNA) Victoria’s chapter who served in the Battle of the Atlantic. Even though 73 years have passed since the last torpedoes of the war’s longest battle were fired, each man is still able offer descriptive accounts of their life and death struggles on the North Atlantic GOLLMERGollmer, 96, recalls serving aboard River-Class Destroyer HMCS Skeena and being part of a trans-Atlantic convoy known as SC42 in the fall of 1941. Skeena’s role was to provide protection to the vessels of the convoy from German U-Boats. During one voyage, while Gollmer was sitting out on the deck of Skeena writing a letter to his family in Broadview, Saskatchewan, he heard a “thunderous” explosion. A U-Boat had torpedoed a tanker ship less than a kilometre away and the explosion lit up the night sky.“In my letter I was explaining what it was like seeing the Northern Lights and then the tanker was hit,” said Gollmer. “There was a huge flash of light and horrific explosion that lit the tanker up like a Roman candle; it burned for days afterwards.” He and the crew didn’t have time to think and went to work immediately. They hauled 330 lbs of depth charges up to the deck by rope from three decks below. He said, despite the close proximity of the attack, fear was the furthest thing from his mind and most of his crewmates. “You just got...

[caption id="attachment_18700" align="alignnone" width="581"] Kevin Owens owner of Ladysmith-based Living Reef Memorial, displays a model of a cement container. Owens fills the real containers with cremated human remains that are then used to build living reef systems on the ocean floor. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A funeral home operator says environmental awareness is driving people’s interest in a new take on burials at sea: the Living Reef Memorial. Kevin Owens, who operates Evergreen Cremations Centre of Ladysmith, B.C., purchased the Canadian rights to the United-States based company Living Reef Memorial last year. The concept involves taking cremated human remains, encasing the ashes in concrete and then placing them on the seabed floor to create new coral reef systems. Owens says his company is an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional methods of burial. Over 90 million board feet of rainforest hardwoods are consumed each year for the sole purpose of casket making. Add to that, the toxicity of casket materials and embalming fluid along with the large amount of land that cemeteries occupy.   “The world is going green and green options for funerals are a huge part of the funeral industry today,” said Owens.  “When you scatter your remains in the ocean they are gone forever, but this way your remains have purpose and you will become part of a living reef which will help the ocean.”The process works like this: the human remains become toxin free during the cremation process and are then combined with clean sand, crushed oyster shells and a low alkaline cement to create a reef block. The reef blocks containing the remains are then placed on the ocean floor at distances of less than 300 yards off the coast at depths that range from 45 to 75 feet. “Once installed on the ocean floor...

[caption id="attachment_18696" align="alignnone" width="582"] A crewmember on board HMCS Whitehorse fires a line towards HMCS Edmonton during a light line transfer while sailing in the eastern Pacific Ocean, April 26. Photo by MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lt(N) Paul Pendergast, MARPAC Public Affairs ~When Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Edmonton and Whitehorse arrived in Esquimalt May 3, there was much to celebrate. While deployed on Operation Caribbe, the ships combined to prevent more than two tonnes of cocaine from reaching North America.But that was not the only success achieved since they departed Esquimalt on Feb.16. The ships also conducted extensive Force Generation training during the deployment, which allocated time to mentor junior personnel, and provided a regular schedule of drills to allow members to advance their training packages.In Edmonton, a cook completed the Qualification Level 4 (QL4) On the Job Performance Requirement package, and one Naval Combat Information Operator and three Boatswains completed their QL4 On the Job package, which is a requirement for promotion to Leading Seaman.Three Boatswains in the Whitehorse Deck department finished their QL4 package, and a Naval Warfare Officer received his Bridge Watchkeeping ticket and the Officer of the Day (Afloat) qualification. Whitehorse Engineering department held boards at the end of the operation, and two Marine Systems Engineers attained their “B Ticket”, which qualifies them to stand watch as Engineering Officer of the Watch. In that position they are responsible for maintaining propulsion as required by command, directing the engineering watch, as well as on-watch maintenance and ensuring the ship complies with all environmental regulations.“The B Ticket is a very important milestone in their career, and it is a requirement for promotion to Master-Seaman,” said Whitehorse Chief Engineer.  “To sail on a deployment, the Kingston Class requires three B Tickets and three A tickets, as well as one C ticket (or Cert 4)...

[caption id="attachment_18693" align="alignnone" width="582"] The crew of HMCS Vancouver form up for the Battle of the Atlantic parade in honour of the Battle of the Atlantic, on Operation Projection Indo-Asia Pacific, South China Sea, May 2. Photo by LS Nick Korbel, HMCS Vancouver[/caption]Lt(N) Tony Wright, HMCS Vancouver ~In the South China Sea during Operation Projection Indo-Asia-Pacific, HMCS Vancouver slowed to five knots and went to minimum manning. All available personnel fell in on the flight deck on May 2 to honour those who served and those that were lost in the Battle of the Atlantic - the longest running military campaign of Second World War.Arrayed against U-Boats and warships of the Kriegsmarine (German Navy) and aircraft of the Luftwaffe (German air force), the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and allies sought to protect merchant convoys as they travelled across the Atlantic Ocean to support the war effort in Europe and Russia. The German blockade of Britain was eventually won, but at a cost of 3,500 Allied merchant ships and 175 Allied warships, and 72,200 Allied naval and merchant seamen that died in the Atlantic. On a bright, sunny day with a calm South China Sea, Vancouver’s crew remembered the loss and sacrifice of the Battle of the Atlantic. Commander Christopher Nucci spoke to the crew about the hardship and cost to the sailors who sailed during the war. He spoke of the heritage of HMCS Vancouver, as the Battle of the Atlantic is one of the ship’s battle honours. The ship’s bell rung for each RCN ship that was lost, and with Leading Seaman Narozanski, Cdr Nucci laid a wreath in the ocean. The bugler played the Last Post and the ship’s company stood in silence and reflection as they remembered the sailors who came before them.Stay connected, follow Lookout Navy News:Facebook: LookoutNewspaperNavyNewsTwitter: @Lookout_newsInstagram: LookoutNavyNews 

[caption id="attachment_18690" align="alignnone" width="582"] Commander Blair Saltel, HMCS Calgary Commanding Officer, presents Petty Officer First Class Kai Tin with his Chief Engineering Level 4 certificate. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A Marine Technician with HMCS Calgary has become the first naval reservist to receive his Chief Engineering Level 4 certification after making the transition to the Regular Force.Petty Officer First Class Kai Tin was presented his certificate during divisions on the flight deck of Calgary May 8, presided over by Commander Blair Saltel, Calgary Commanding Officer,“It’s great to have achieved this, and yes it took a lot of hard work to get here,” said PO1 Tin just prior to accepting his certification.His certification is the end result of “The Big Idea Initiative”, a Royal Canadian Navy directive intended to re-align the Reserve Force with the Regular Force. It involves sailors keeping their equivalent ranks during the transition process to the Regular Force, but they must also meet the qualifications of whichever trade they are going into. In presenting him his certificate, Cdr Saltel also presented PO1 Tin with his Canadian Forces’ Decoration clasp for 22 years of service. During the ceremony, the Commander spoke glowingly about PO1 Tin’s achievements while addressing the ship’s company.   “Petty Officer First Class Tin was the first to embark down the path of a new initiative and I’m sure he had to jump through a lot of hoops, some of which were moving, to get where he is,” said Cdr Saltel. “Now we can all applaud him for his success and his dedication in achieving his goals.  I hope what he takes away from us [Calgary] is positive in our support for his efforts and that he inspires other MARTECHS to achieved what he has accomplished.”PO1 Tin says he took a less traditional...

[caption id="attachment_18684" align="alignnone" width="582"] Photo by Capt Shirley Ho, Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific)[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~They came, they saw and they hit their marks at Wurtele Arena.Approximately 125 cadets, coaches and support staff from across Canada descended on CFB Esquimalt May 7 to 10 for the National Cadet Marksmanship Championship hosted by the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific).Cadets competed in five-person teams representing all 10 provinces, Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as a competition for top individual marksman and best aggregate scores. British Columbia’s team included 13-year-old cadet Shauna Bae from Victoria’s 2483 PPCLI Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, and two teams from Surrey, including the national champions 907 RCACS.Using Daisy 853C air rifles and shooting in both prone and standing positions, the competitors took part in 10 relays plus a rousing final elimination match on the concrete floor of the arena.“The National Cadet Marksmanship Championship is the highest level of competition for us in a sport that teaches safety, focus, and stress-calming techniques as well as teamwork and leadership,” said Captain Cheryl Major, Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific).During the week, cadets took time out for a tour of HMCS Regina, the CFB Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum, Fort Rodd Hill, and the Royal B.C. Museum. They also went for a ride on the new rescue boats of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific) will host the National Marksmanship Championship again in 2019.--Top teams:Gold: 907 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron (RCACS), Surrey, BCSilver: 2820 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps (RCACC), Lévis, QCBronze: 51 RCACS, Ottawa, ONIndividual Open:Gold: Samantha Benjamin, 272 Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps (RCSCC), Etobicoke, ONSilver: Marie-Clara Delage, 2950 RCACC, Windsor, QCBronze: Teresa Liao, 907 RCACS, Surrey, BCIndividual Junior (Under 15): Gold: Anna Bélanger McGuire, 51 RCACS, Ottawa, ONSilver: Shauna Bae-Trottier, 2483...

[caption id="attachment_18656" align="alignnone" width="581"] Leading Seaman Aleksandar Antonovic is awared the Canadian Fleet Pacific’s Sailor of the Quarter for Q4 2017 from Cmdre Zwick, CCFD Commander Canadian Fleet (Pacific).[/caption]Leading Seaman Aleksandar Antonovic has been selected as Canadian Fleet (Pacific)’s Sailor of the Fourth Quarter 2017.He acted as a Master Seaman of HMCS Regina’s Acoustic Division for fiscal year 17/18, through sea acceptance trials, basic single ship readiness trials, and intermediate multi-ship readiness trials of which he received accolades from Sea Training (Pacific). He was awarded the Operations Department’s “Ultimate Warrior” award for most outstanding and deserving member as voted by his peers and supervisors.He volunteers for a multitude of tasks that include Quick Reaction Team I/C, Force Protection Storesman, Ship’s Photographer, Naval Boarding Party Stores 2 I/C, Naval Boarding Party unit level trainer, and Divisional NETP and OJPR coordinator.In his off time, LS Antonovic volunteers teaching English as a second language to civilians in Victoria. He is a member of the Search and Rescue Society of British Columbia, has completed many qualifications this year, and is a valuable member of their team.He also volunteers as sponsor for immigrants who have arrived in Canada, and more specifically to Victoria, by helping them integrate into Canadian culture, and show them how to complete most daily tasks Canadians take for granted that may confuse a new member of our society.Stay connected, follow Lookout Navy News:Facebook: LookoutNewspaperNavyNewsTwitter: @Lookout_newsInstagram: LookoutNavyNews 

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~With HMCS Oriole now on the East Coast, all eyes are on Her Majesty’s Sail Training Vessel Goldcrest to make navy waves at the upcoming Swiftsure yacht race. The international race, held over the May 26 weekend, is hosted by the Royal Victoria Yacht Club, and is the premier international long distance race in the Pacific Northwest. Goldcrest will race a distance of 106 nautical miles beginning in Victoria with the turnaround point at Cape Flattery, Washington, against teams from across British Columbia and the United States. Crewing the 36-foot training vessel will be eight sailors: skipper and Canadian Fleet School Pacific Division Commander, Lieutenant Commander Chris Maier, three sailors from the school, and four from the Soldier On program.Soldier On provides opportunities for ill and injured serving and retired military personnel to enjoy sports and recreational activities.The new team members will undergo four days of intensive sail training on board Goldcrest in the days leading up to the race. Sailing, says LCdr Maier, is a great sport for people of all physical abilities, or for those seeking focus, teamwork and community in life or therapy – and it’s a sport for life.“I firmly believe sailing and the act of being out on the open ocean is therapeutic for a lot of people coming from all walks of life,” said LCdr Maier. “It’s great to be involved in the process of helping Soldier On, and assist people in their road to recovery by leading more active lifestyles, setting goals, and establishing new routines in their lives through the sport of sailing.”LCdr Maier is also Commodore of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA), and recently coached members of Canada’s 2018 Invictus Games sailing team during a training camp held at the base in the second week of April.Goldcrest will...

[caption id="attachment_18645" align="alignnone" width="581"] MS Shane Barker (centre) presents the Stewards’ Flag to MWO Renee Hansen (left) and Maj Caden Stiles (right). Photo by Cpl Jay Lapid[/caption]2Lt Daniel McCall, CFS Alert ~After many decades of managing both of the Canadian Forces Station (CFS) Alert messes, and running the Alert Trading Post, the steward trade is at last departing the isolated northern station to be replaced by Personnel Support Program (PSP) staff. This marks the end of an era for the station in Nunavut, as the presence of stewards aiding with the morale and welfare of Alert personnel has been a constant since the station’s inception. The last of the CFS Alert stewards, MS Shane “Tradie” Barker, is sad to see his trade leaving the station for good, but is proud of everything that has been accomplished by the stewards during their long tenure.“Alert is more than just a place, it’s an experience,” said MS Barker. “It’s been a big part of my life, and I’m glad I’ve had the chance to give something back. Everyone should have the chance to experience a place like this.”MS Barker’s presence at CFS Alert will certainly be missed. His constant positivity and relentless enthusiasm have consistently boosted the morale of station personnel. His skill as a natural entertainer is always sure to draw laughter and smiles at any station event. A born salesman, MS Barker managed to increase the sales at the Alert Trading Post by more than 50 per cent during his time at the station, and has left a lasting mark on all who have worked around or alongside him.Melanie Earle, the PSP staff carrying on the torch as manager of the Alert messes and Trading Post, is excited to take on the challenge of creating her own legacy at CFS Alert.Stay connected,...

[caption id="attachment_18669" align="alignnone" width="581"] Participants team up to complete a challenge during exercise Cyber Challenge last year.[/caption]DND ~Cyberspace is critical for the conduct of modern military operations, and is recognized as a domain of operations such as air, sea, land and space. Canada’s vision for defence includes a commitment to invest in and evolve its cyber capabilities, and to grow and enhance the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Cyber Force. To help achieve this, events such as Exercise Cyber Challenge are designed to help maintain cyber related skills and identify personnel with strengths and aptitudes for potential employment in the CAF Cyber Force.On May 13, 40 Regular and Reserve Force members from across Canada will participate in Exercise Cyber Challenge 2018 in Kingston, Ontario. “Exercise Cyber Challenge 2018 promises to be an exciting two days,” said Sgt Jeff Oshier, a Cyber Operator in the Directorate of Cyber Operations Force Development (D Cyber Ops FD). “After a day of pre-exercise coordination and training, teams of four will compete in a 36-hour ‘Jeopardy-style’ capture-the-flag competition to win the highly-prized Siebring Trophy.”Indeed, team members will be presented challenges in categories such as cryptography and forensics, and awarded points according to difficulty and complexity. Some of these challenges will be exceptionally difficult to solve and will require team members to use their collective experience.Last year’s exercise was hosted on a newly redesigned network developed and supported in-house at the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics (CFSCE). “It took the development team more than three months and 2,000 hours to create hundreds of challenges based on web and network vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, network defence techniques, and computer and network forensics,” said Sgt Oshier. “The same team continued development over the winter months to improve performance, redesign, add challenges, and create a new scoring methodology...

[caption id="attachment_18634" align="alignnone" width="581"] Photo by MCpl Brent Kenny, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]HMCS Vancouver has arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on the first port visit of its Operation Projection Indo-Asia-Pacific deployment. Vancouver and crew will visit several ports in the Indo-Asia-Pacific in order to enhance relationships in the region.This port visit in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is to support Canada’s diplomatic efforts in China. Canadian sailors will interact with civilians and local counterparts to promote cooperation and friendship, and participate in outreach activities such as school visits to the ship, a charity event, friendly sports competition, and a wreath laying ceremony at the Sai Wan War Memorial.Canada and Hong Kong share a strong and long-standing relationship.  During the Second World War, an estimated 2,000 Canadian soldiers fought alongside local and Allied forces to defend the territory in the Battle of Hong Kong. Today, there are over 300,000 Canadian citizens living in Hong Kong – the largest Canadian diaspora in one city outside of Canada.Stay connected, follow Lookout Navy News:Facebook: LookoutNewspaperNavyNewsTwitter: @Lookout_newsInstagram: LookoutNavyNews