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Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Operation Pegasus Jump is not a typical military mission, but a skydiving camp designed to help injured military members heal by letting go of their fears. This summer on Vancouver Island, groups of veterans, current serving military members, and first responders will make their jumps from a Cessna 182 Jump plane at heights ranging between 3,500 and 10,000 feet. Operation Pegasus Jump is organized by Campbell River Skydive Centre owners, former Canadian Airborne Regiment member Sergeant (Retired) Rob McNeill and former Search and Rescue Technician Master Warrant Officer (Retired) Bob Verret. The two men are the operators of the only veteran-owned drop zone in Canada. The skydiving camp is a therapeutic team-building exercise for men and women living with PTSD and other occupational mental illnesses, says McNeill. “I know from personal experience parachuting is the best therapy for injured airborne members,” he says. “It’s all about taking service members and first responders out of their comfort zone and presenting them with a challenge.” The camp is an extension of McNeill and Verret’s company Us For Each Other (U4EO). The pair operates five parachuting businesses and education programs in Campbell River. Finding bliss After completing a First Jump Course, which offers four to five hours of instruction, participants will make their first jump from 3,500 feet. They will then have the option to continue to make jumps or make a tandem skydive from 10,000 feet while attached to an experienced instructor. Other activities at the camp include a first-day meet-and-greet barbeque, golf day, flyboarding, and helicopter tours. Master Sailor Jennifer MacKinnon, a skydiving volunteer coach and instructor with the Campbell River Skydiving Centre, says she thoroughly enjoys the experience of instructing first-timers who have never jumped before. “I love the passion people bring to this sport and...

  Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors at all ranks and civilian employees at all levels have a mentorship program to call their own. Personnel are invited to attend the program’s first session, which will take place on May 26 from noon to 1:15 p.m. EST (sign-in begins at 11:30), and will be available Canada-wide on Microsoft Teams, or dial in at 343-803-5382, phone conference ID: 692 197 804#. In the first session, titled “Why Mentorship?”, RCN members will share their thoughts on why mentorship is important. The session will feature the following speakers: Chief Petty Officer First Class (CPO1) Alena Mondelli, Halifax Base Chief Petty Officer; Formation Master Sailor Kevin Dave from Maritime Forces Atlantic; Command Master Sailor Maude Lauzon; Formation Master Sailor Stephanie MacAndrew from the Naval Reserve; Lieutenant-Commander Calley Gray; Sailor First Class Ella York; and Rear-Admiral Casper Donovan, Acting Deputy Commander RCN. “The program is designed to create a space where individuals, regardless of their rank or experience, can share their knowledge and expertise with others who want to learn and grow in a personal and professional capacity,” says program director Dennis Witzke. The program will consist of group sessions led by a subject matter expert. These sessions will be available to all on MS Teams. The group sessions will be held monthly and everyone is encouraged to actively participate, share their insights, and ask questions. Although this program was developed with RCN military and civilian personnel in mind, it is open to all Canadian Armed Forces members and Department of National Defence employees at all ranks and levels. “It is important to facilitate the transfer of knowledge between Defence Team members to prepare them for the complex roles they’ll be expected to perform as their careers progress,” says CPO1 Tara White, the navy’s occupation manager for boatswains and clearance divers, and member of the program development team. “This way we can ensure important lessons and skills that have been learned are passed on and support the...

[caption id="attachment_29791" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Saskatoon sails in formation with United States Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Blueshark during a PhotoEX with HMCS Yellowknife and USCGC Osprey as the formation prepares for their upcoming deployment to Operation Caribbe on February 17, 2022. Photo: MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] Capt(N) Timothy Blois Operation Caribbe Public Affairs Officer — A change of command ceremony for HMCS Saskatoon took place Friday, May 20 at Y jetty between out-going ship commander Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) Nadia Shields and in-coming commander LCdr Michael Vanderveer. Overseeing the ceremony was Commander S. G. Kelly, Commander Coastal Division (Pacific). The ceremony marked two years since LCdr Shields took command of Saskatoon. During her command, she deployed twice on Operation Caribbe, contributing to the seizure and destruction of over 5,000 kilograms of cocaine and preventing them from potentially hitting the streets of Canada. Highlights of her time in command also included circumnavigating Vancouver Island and being the first Commanding Officer of a Kingston-class vessel to use demolitions in a theatre of operations. LCdr Shields will now become the Officer-In-Charge of Patrol Vessels Sea Training (Pacific). “I went through the achievements of Saskatoon and I realized it wasn’t the miles steamed, time away from family, or our mission accomplishments that made this an amazing time for me as a Commanding Officer. It was that if I was given the opportunity to take command again, I would choose this crew every single time,” she says. LCdr Michael Vanderveer has a wealth of experience, including operational tours with HMCS Regina on Operations Artemis and Reassurance. He has been a bridge watchkeeper, instructor for the Fleet Navigation Course, Operations Officer, Weapons Officer, and Executive Assistant to the Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. In looking forward to his command, LCdr Vanderveer remarks he is excited to have this opportunity. “Coming down to Y jetty and working with a small but capable team is one of the greatest experiences to have in the navy,” he says. “At all ranks and in all...

[caption id="attachment_29786" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A long exposure of HMCS Yellowknife while the ship is deployed on Operation Caribbe, March 19, 2022. Photo: MARPAC Imaging Services, Canadian Armed Forces photo[/caption] Capt(N) Timothy Blois Operation Caribbe Public Affairs Officer — After travelling 33,874 nautical miles, HMC Ships Saskatoon and Yellowknife returned to their home port in Esquimalt last Thursday after a combined 147 days at sea. Both ships participated in Operation Caribbe, a U.S.-led enhanced counternarcotic operation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Their arrival home was marked with the hallmarks of naval tradition: the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy performing while sailors’ loved ones waited on Y jetty. While away, each ship worked different areas of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Their efforts saw them seize and destroy about 872 kilograms of cocaine, and obtain valuable intelligence into smuggling networks. The ships went as far south as Ecuador, stopping in the USA, Mexico, and Panama for fuel and provisions. Canada has been contributing to Operation Caribbe since 2006, which led to the seizure of more than 112 tons of cocaine.

[caption id="attachment_29782" align="aligncenter" width="596"] Left to right: Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Vice-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Vice-Admiral Craig Baines, and Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson sign the Change of Command certificates for Maritime Forces Pacific at Duntze Head in HMC Dockyard on May 16. Photo by S1 Kendric C.W. Grasby, MARPAC Imaging Services.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The winds of change swept through Esquimalt’s dockyard last week as the reins of command for the Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) passed from one leader to the next. Newly promoted Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Angus Topshee handed over command of MARPAC and Joint Task Force Pacific (JTF(P)) to Rear-Admiral (RAdm) Christopher Robinson at Duntze Head on May 16. Holding the in-person event was a major change from the past two years. Last year’s MARPAC Change of Command Ceremony, which saw RAdm Topshee replace VAdm Bob Auchterlonie, was held virtually due to health and safety regulations surrounding COVID-19. This year’s event saw the return of the traditional naval pageantry, usually reserved for such ceremonies. VAdm Topshee saluted HMCS Brandon and three Patrol Craft Training Vessels during the ceremonial sail past, as well as a fly-past from a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter. Florence Dick and Christine Sam from the Songhees Nation conducted a First Nations blessing, and the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, the Honourable Janet Austin attended the event. Saying Goodbye After a little more than one year in command of MARPAC, Vice-Admiral (VAdm) Topshee moves on to Ottawa to his new job as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. He, along with other speakers, noted many challenges the formation has dealt with over the past year, including a global pandemic and the ongoing climate change. More locally, MARPAC dealt with environmental disasters such as forest fires, floods, and personnel shortages. Despite all the pressing issues, VAdm Topshee said the fleet and...

Don Sheridan, with CPO1(Ret’d) Bruce Cake, and CPO1 (Ret’d) John Arsenault Contributors — In this article we celebrate an innovation in the Royal Canadian Navy that started specifically in HMCS Assiniboine – when the ship’s office trialed a Canadian word processing system that was, at the time, a world leader in this new technology. Flashback to 1979 When CPO2 Bruce Cake became the Chief Clerk of HMCS Assiniboine, he started with one manual typewriter, then an electric typewriter, and later a Gestetner to produce copies of routine orders. Operating a Gestetner involved typing on a skin - foolscap-sized, thin membrane. The skin was placed on a drum and ink seeped into cuts made by typed characters. There were no erasers, so fixing a mistake meant using correction fluid or starting over. Assiniboine was in refit when Chief Cake replaced the typewriters with modern electric typewriters, and the Gestetner with a Xerox photocopier. Although the photocopier seemed like a good idea, it broke down on the first day at sea because the top of the machine moved back and forth to produce a single copy. It was unable to function for long in a warship at sea. However, a more impressive innovation was to come The AES word processors were revolutionizing office management. They allowed users to create, store, and revise text electronically before printing. They had a monitor to enter, edit, and format the text, making the AES known as the world’s first programmable video screen word processor. CPO2 Cake first learned of the AES during Assiniboine’s Joint Naval Force Atlantic deployment in Chatham, England, from a demonstration at an office supplies shop. He asked if he could input a paragraph on the device, and was able to immediately see the text on a monitor. It was a “eureka” moment for...

Joanie Veitch Trident Newspaper — Participants of a defence innovation program recently put their work to the test with a public demonstration in Halifax. Following a call for applicants last fall, nine participants were selected to submit their technological solutions to a defence [...]

[caption id="attachment_29762" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Interior of Chapel of Our Lady Star of the Sea.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Lookout Editor — Parishioners at the Chapel of Our Lady Star of the Sea Roman Catholic Military Chapel in Belmont Park performed a seven-day miracle. They collected $780.52 in one week to aid the citizens of Ukraine. Captain (Padre) Justin Peter, Faith Community Co-ordinator, says the money will be sent to the Roman Catholic Military Ordinariate of Canada, who will transfer the money to a local Catholic humanitarian organization in Ukraine. “This particular issue seems to have really touched our congregation in a very deep way,” he says. The congregation has been at less than half strength since COVID, reducing from about 100 people to 40 on a good day. When the chapel put out the call for funds, everyone pitched in, from parishioners to their neighbours and co-workers. Over the week, Capt Peter talked to people about the Ukraine humanitarian crisis. “I’m envisioning one person in particular, who was telling me about the horrible things she was reading, and you could see tears in her eyes. She doesn’t know anybody who’s from Ukraine, but there she is coming to pray every day,” he adds. To help parishioners remain mindful of fellow Catholics in Ukraine, the chapel acquired a golden tapestry. The $90 tapestry was made in Ukraine by a local mom-and-pop shop. “It was just [an] Easter gift to the chapel,” he says. The tapestry was met with excited gasps during the unveiling at the Easter Vigil. Capt Peter says the tapestry is now part of their history. “If 10 to 20 years down the line new people take over the chapel, that tapestry tells of when the chapel answered the call to be generous.”

Nineteen engineering students from the University of British Columbia (UBC) travelled from Vancouver to Esquimalt in HMCS Vancouver on May 2, for a unique Navy experience. UBC students took part in the Canadian Students at Sea (CSaS) program, which is an opportunity for post-secondary students to gain a deeper understanding of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) through hands-on and immersive experiences, both at sea and ashore. During the sail to Esquimalt, students had experiences and interactions primarily with engineering aspects of the warship. They toured various departments and learned about marine systems engineering, naval combat systems engineering, damage control, and emergency responses onboard ship. On completion of the at-sea portion, while HMCS Vancouver remained at sea to continue on their program, students were transferred ashore at CFB Esquimalt via a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) ride. Over calm seas and sunny skies, the boat ride ashore was another highlight of the students’ experience during the CSaS program. The following day, students visited various units at CFB Esquimalt, such as the Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMFCB), HMCS Whitehorse, the Naval Officer Training Centre’s Navigation and Bridge Simulator (NABS), and briefs from the Regional Operation Centre (Pacific) and the Marine Security Operation Centre (West). The Naval Personnel and Training Group (NPTG) also provided briefs and showcased interactive displays of new technologies used to enhance sailor training and exposure to their navy. Davin Birdi, a fifth-year electrical engineering student, says the program gave him an opportunity to see things he would not normally get a chance to see. “They built this tracking software, which is a very complete in-house solution to a problem. I thought that was a very interesting application, as well as seeing the machine shops,” he says. “It was really cool to see the scale at which things can be produced, like when they were cutting that really thick steel piece [at FMFCB]. That was really amazing.” Hillary Oldford, a fourth-year ocean and naval architectural engineering student, says the...

[caption id="attachment_29754" align="aligncenter" width="595"] HMCS Nanaimo celebrates 25 years. The Kingston-class vessel went into service in 1997.[/caption] Nanaimo News Staff  — A navy ship bearing the name of the Harbour City is celebrating 25 years since it was commissioned. HMCS Nanaimo, designed for coastal patrols, mine sweeping, law enforcement and pollution surveillance, and response, celebrated its silver jubilee May 10. “This maritime coastal defence vessel (MCDV) has accomplished much in a quarter century of service,” noted the Royal Canadian Navy in a social media post. The first vessel of its class based on the west coast was commissioned in 1997 and its first crew was comprised mainly of reservists. Over the past 25 years, the ship has supported the Royal Canadian Mounted Police  (RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency, and Canadian Coast Guard, and has been involved in search-and-rescue operations and environmental disaster response. The ship is also used for training and survey missions. HMCS Nanaimo was one of 12 Kingston-class MCDVs constructed as part of a 1992 contract with Halifax Shipyards Ltd. in Nova Scotia. Nanaimo left leaving Halifax in November 1996 and arrived at Esquimalt a month later. HMCS Nanaimo is dry-docked for maintenance at Point Hope Shipyards in Victoria Harbour until the spring.

[caption id="attachment_29747" align="aligncenter" width="595"] CFAV Glenevis prepares to move HMCS Sackville from HMC Dockyard to the waters off Point Pleasant Park on the morning of May 1, Battle of the Atlantic Sunday. Photo by Joanie Vietch, Trident staff.[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Newspaper — As the crew of HMCS Sackville readied the ship for sea, a small group of people gathered on the jetty at HMC Dockyard Halifax on the morning of Sunday, May 1. Many of them were family members preparing to say a final goodbye to their loved ones at a committal of ashes ceremony held aboard the ship.  “Today is Battle of the Atlantic Sunday. It’s an honour and a privilege to take your loved ones to their final resting place,” said Commander (retired) Gary Reddy, Sackville’s Commanding Officer with the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, a non-profit that operates the ship. Aided by two tugboats, Sackville sailed to a point off Point Pleasant Park to serve as the backdrop for the Battle of the Atlantic ceremony held at the Sailors’ Memorial. At 11 a.m., both at the memorial and on board the ship, a service was held to commemorate the devastating losses during the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest campaign of the Second World War. “The elements were often more violent than the enemy. Raging storms, ice, cold, fog, and dense blackness confronted navy and merchant sailors alike. Ships collided, ran aground, or were lost to enemy action,” said Cdr (Ret’d) Reddy. The number of service members who died during maritime operations were staggering: 1,797 Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) men and women, 1,578 Canadian merchant marines and 752 personnel from the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). The Canadian Army and RCAF lost another 380 men at sea when the ships carrying them were sunk. Following the service, family members gathered in small groupings for the committal of ashes ceremony. With CNMT Chaplain, Padre Andrew Cooke officiating, 20 families took part in the ceremony. As each family group came forward,...

    [caption id="attachment_29741" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of the Royal Canadian Navy and the United States Coast Guard’s Law Enforcement Detachment recover bails of cocaine that were thrown overboard during a counter-narcotics operation. Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Technician photo.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — HMCS Harry DeWolf and its crew continue to protect North America from illegal narcotics in the high seas. The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship participated in two interdictions and seized a combined 386 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of USD $15 million. The busts were made as part of Operation Caribbe 2022. The multinational campaign targets transnational criminal organizations and illegal narcotics shipments in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. The first drug bust took place on April 19 when Harry DeWolf intercepted two vessels containing 231 kilograms of cocaine, with the help of U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and United States Navy vessel USS Wichita. Then, in the early morning hours of May 1, the ship noticed a suspicious vessel and conducted an interjection using involving the ship’s two multi-role rescue boats. This time Harry DeWolf’s crew recovered 165 kilograms of cocaine. Arrested suspects were processed by the U.S. Law Enforcement system. Seized drugs were collected as evidence for court proceedings and will then be destroyed at a facility in the U.S. This is Harry DeWolf’s second Op Caribbe deployment in six months. In December, while operating in the Eastern Pacific, Harry DeWolf worked alongside USCG staff in two drug interdictions, seizing a combined 2,589 kilograms of cocaine. The ship began operating on its second Op Caribbe deployment on April 4, making its third and fourth seizures of illegal narcotics. Harry DeWolf’s Executive Officer, Lieutenant-Commander Ryan Bell, says the ship’s crew worked diligently before interdicting the vessels. “The successful interdiction is a tangible way of demonstrating we are protecting and safeguarding North America and society from illegal narcotics,” he said. “Achieving this success in combined operations proves allied navies can...

[caption id="attachment_29732" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Cpl Jeff Li carries out his duties with the CAF. Photos: Canadian Armed Forces[/caption] Marie-Christine De Tilly Contributor — To mark Asian Heritage Month, the Strategic Partners Engagement Office invited two military members of Asian descent to share their stories and provide advice to new members in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Asian Heritage Month, celebrated in May, aims to highlight the culture and history of Asian Canadians. Sergeant Mingxin Li was born in Nanjing in the Republic of China and arrived in Montreal with his parents at the age of one. The birth of his younger brother Jeff completed the family. The brothers grew up in Mont-Royal. Both Li brothers enlisted in the CAF within a year of each other (2013 and 2014) and have since contributed to several domestic and overseas operations. These include Kuwait in 2015 and Iraq in 2018. Their desire to learn new skills, combined with the opportunity to help their community, convinced them to answer the call and join the Primary Reserve. “As a university student, employment in the Primary Reserve of the Canadian Armed Forces offered an interesting challenge and provides significant flexibility to successfully complete one’s education,” Cpl Li says. During their last few years in the Forces, the two brothers were able to assist their community by responding to the several spring flooding incidents as part of Operation Lentus. “Canada is where I was born and raised. I am very proud to serve my country and grateful for all the opportunities the Canadian Armed Forces have given me,” says Cpl Li. When he is not in uniform, he practices as a business lawyer with Stikeman Elliott. Sgt Li enlisted as a military intelligence specialist with 4th Intelligence Company after completing his bachelor’s degree in political science and economics. “I came to Montreal at a young age and was able to discover and keep my roots while being exposed to many other cultures. I owe part of my success...

  [caption id="attachment_29728" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Jacob McFarlane (right) receives a gold medal at the BC Skills competition. Photo supplied.[/caption] Ashley Evans FMFCB/CS — The Pipefitter Shop at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMFCB) has cause for celebration this month. Their apprentice Jacob McFarlane won a gold medal in the Steam/Pipefitter challenge at the Skills BC competition, held in United Association (UA) 170 Hall/ Training Facility. McFarlane, a third year steam/pipefitter apprentice, attended the competition on April 9 after getting scouted with another member of his class by the Training Director at Vancouver Island Piping Industry Joint Training Committee at Camosun College and a union representative from UA 324. Contestants went into the competition not knowing what tasks they would have to tackle, making preparation somewhat challenging. “I wasn’t sure what we would be making; so, I didn’t know what I should practice,” says McFarlane. “So I practiced a bit of everything.” Contestants arrived to a workstation with a tool cart and an envelope that held directions to what they were to fabricate within the allotted time of seven hours, with a 45-minute break. McFarlane says the project included making a three-piece mitered 90-degree bend with an equal offset Y on the end. He had to ensure his measurements were correct and that his math had been done accurately to achieve the right angles and to make the cuts. He also had to put a 37-degree bevel on the ends of each pipe, with a 1/8th weld gap. He then had to ensure the structure was all level with correct gaps before tacking it together, which he said took a couple of tries. The most challenging aspect of this project was cutting the pipe with an oxy-acetylene torch, which is something he had not done much other than in school. Additionally, it...

Over the May long weekend, Canadian Rangers and Junior Canadian Rangers from across the country will converge in Victoria to celebrate their 75th anniversary. 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group will host the Anniversary Rendezvous, a multi-day event to honour the formal establishment of the Canadian Ranger [...]

Peter MallettStaff Writer — SLt Katherine Walker was brimming with pride when her crime novel All is Well was published by Thistledown Press last year. She didn’t think it could get much better than holding a hard copy filled with her writing. However, on April 20 All is Well earned her a nomination for Best Crime First Novel in 2022 by Crime Writers of Canada. She joins four other first-time Canadian authors, all vying for the win. “It feels so good and affirming on so many levels to be recognized,” she says. “To be able to craft a good crime novel and then have all the pieces fall into place was wonderful, but then to be included in an awards presentation with so many great writers is simply magical.” The central character in her novel is Christine Wright, a former Special Forces soldier transitioning into her role as a minister at a church set in downtown Victoria. SLt Walker is in the final stages of her training to become a chaplain, and says writing about a former military member turned chaplain was slightly surreal. The plot follows the protagonist after she murders her attacker with a candlestick in the book’s opening chapter. After which the dark comedy unfolds as Wright’s poorly planned cover-up slowly unravels. “Writing is the way I can share myself and my stories with the rest of the world,” she says. Award winners will be announced later this month in a ceremony streamed live on YouTube. Crime Writers of Canada was established in 1982 by Globe and Mail crime and fiction reviewer Derrick Murdoch. It is a national non-profit organization for Canadian mystery and crime writers, associated professionals, and others with a serious interest in Canadian crime writing. For more information and for a complete list of nominees for its annual awards visit www.crimewriterscanada.com  

[caption id="attachment_29701" align="aligncenter" width="595"] S3 Kate Briand (left) looks on as S3 Noah Locke gets ready to fire his arrow during a trial shoot night for the newly re-formed CFB Halifax Archery Club. Photo: Joanie Veitch, Trident Staff.[/caption] Joanie VeitchTrident Newspaper — After a hiatus of more than eight years, the CFB Halifax Archery Club is back on the shooting range. Officially starting up again on April 1, the recently re-formed club has been running trial shoots over the last few months in the drill hall at S-120, the Consolidated Seamanship Training Facility at Stadacona, with new and returning members from the former club participating. Judging by the amount of traffic on the club’s Facebook page — Front Line Archers — the resurrection of the club has generated a lot of interest, says CPO2 Ian Smith, one of the organizers and a member of the club’s executive board. “We currently have 66 members on Front Line Archers. Many have been keenly following the club’s progression over the past two years. Many of those members have been out for our trial shoots and the feedback has been positive.”  From the early 1990s until 2014, when the former drill hall was demolished, the CFB Halifax Archery Club was a popular and competitive club.  The club was originally formed to give military families an activity they could do together on base. Some members of the club went on to compete at an elite level. Despite the years of resounding success, as some of the key organizing members got posted away from Halifax, the original CFB Halifax Archery Club began to lose some momentum. Then the club’s home, the old drill shed, was deemed unsafe to use and that became the final arrow in the club. Equipment was stored in a shed beside the...

[caption id="attachment_29695" align="aligncenter" width="595"] S1 Kevin Leung shows off his fencing gear and Épée (sword). The 29-year-old has been training several hours per week in preparation for fencing’s Canadian National Championships in Toronto, May 20 to 23. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — He may be a late bloomer to the sport of fencing, but S1 Kevin Leung is ready-aye-ready to put his sword skills to the test against Canada’s best. It was only three years ago that the 29-year-old Naval Communicator first discovered the historic art of fencing and the subtle differences between the three swords: the foil, sabre, and Épée. Later this month he will put his best foot forward at the 2022 Canadian National Championships in Toronto. The tournament, May 20 to 23 at the University of Toronto, is his second national competition and 10th tournament. He sees gradual improvement in his performance with each competition. To prepare, he practices his moves and footwork four times a week at local club OSM Fencing, takes private lessons, and participates in a highly demanding workout program that involves intense exercise. All about strategy S1 Leung’s introduction to fencing came in 2019 during a port visit to Hawaii while in HMCS Ottawa. He watched videos of elite fencers Eli Schenkel, Georgina Usher, Max Heinzer, and Áron Szilágyi compete at the Olympics. “These Olympians were all lightning fast and precise, it was inspiring. Then it hit me, I have always liked swords and there was a sport that allows for sword play, so I thought this might be fun.” The appeal of fencing, he says, is because it’s added more of a mental game than a test of physical prowess. “On the surface fencing looks like a bunch of people hopping around and trying to stab each other, but in reality it’s all about strategy, tactics, and exploiting the gaps your opponent makes. You plan your next move and read your opponent’s next move.” Impressive start  His first...

[caption id="attachment_29692" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Roger Payne takes a break from his Coding for Veterans class. Photo supplied[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Editor — After retiring from the navy in 2015, Roger Payne wasn’t quite ready to pack in work life. He wanted to transition into a civilian job that would be beneficial to Canada, just as his navy job as a Naval Communicator had been. The IT world interested him, but he knew he needed additional training, and that’s when he found Coding for Veterans (C4V) through a vocational rehabilitation specialist. Now, he is on track to obtain industry-recognized qualifications in cybersecurity through the Coding for Veterans program. “I’m loving every minute of it,” Payne says. “The program is helping me achieve an actual certification, as well as teaching me how to market myself. C4V also puts on seminars for students to meet companies and understand what they’re looking for, and to understand how to market ourselves when we wade out into the unknown private sector.” Coding for Veterans is a not-for-profit that provides software and cyber security qualification training to veterans and their families in two streams of Canada’s tech sector: software development and cyber security. The eight-month program is a partnership between Coding for Veterans and the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI). Graduates receive a certificate from the PDI and industry-recognized qualifications. At the end, the organization helps veterans find job placement opportunities. There are approximately 200 students in various stages of the program who are veterans and their family members. Payne started his studies in September 2021 and is currently taking the Cyber Security Network certification program. Upon completing the 650-hour course, he will receive a University of Ottawa Professional Development Certificate and the CISCO Certified Network Associate certification. The course also provides him with the CyberOps Associate certification. “I think every service member needs to know what C4V offers and that it’s not only an offer to veterans, but also their spouse. I think that’s incredible,” he...

[caption id="attachment_29685" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The Battle of the Atlantic Fleet Weekend 2022 was brought to a close with a parade on Saturday, May 1 at the Sailor’s Memorial Park in North Vancouver. Current serving Royal Canadian Navy members, veterans and civilians united to honor the sacrifices of all those in the Second World War naval battle. Photo: Master Corporal Nathan Spence, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] SLt Wilson Ho MARPAC Public Affairs — On the first Sunday of May, sailors from the Royal Canadian Navy and Maritime Forces Pacific commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic with marching contingents and a commemoration ceremony at Sailor’s Point Memorial in Waterfront Park, North Vancouver. The parade and ceremony was part of the navy’s inaugural Fleet Weekend at Burrard Dry Dock Pier. Joining the parade were contingents from the ships participating in Fleet Weekend, and members of HMCS Discovery, the Naval Association, the Navy Cadet Corps, and the Navy League. Together they marked from the Burrard Dry Dock Pier to Sailor’s Point Memorial. During the ceremony, the names of each ship sunk during the longest continuous Second World War naval battle were read out loud, and a ship’s bell was rung eight times after each name. As the ships were lost at sea, and no answer returned, the bell ringer would then call out, “They do not respond.” A special announcement was also made to mark the anniversary of Stalker 22, the Royal Canadian Air Force CH-148 Cyclone that crashed into the Ionian Sea with six Canadian Armed Forces members lost on April 29, 2020, as well as the four Officer Cadets who died April 29 in an accident at the Royal Military College of Canada.    When wreaths from all of the contingents were laid and the Last Post and Reveille were played, a moment of silence was observed.   The Battle of the Atlantic began on the opening day of the war in September 1939 and ended almost six years later...

[caption id="attachment_29676" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Cdr Matthew Otoupal, left, was presented with his Platinum FORCE Test pin by RAdm Brian Santarpia, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic on April 20. Photo: Mona Ghiz, MARLANT PA.[/caption] Joanie Veitch Trident Newspaper — After scoring 398 out of 400 in his most recent FORCE fitness evaluation, Cdr Matthew Otoupal is understated when asked how he reached the Platinum level, a feat accomplished by fewer than one per cent of Canadian Armed Forces members. “I wanted to push myself during the test,” he says. “I tend to hold onto the (score) cards to write down and compare for all the different things I have to do during the test. It helps to motivate me.” It’s actually the second time Cdr Otoupal, who is Comptroller for the Formation — Maritime Forces Atlantic (MARLANT) and Joint Task Force Atlantic (JTF(A)) — has scored at the Platinum level. The first time was in 2019 when he was posted in Kingston, Ontario. Due to restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, FORCE fitness evaluations weren’t held in 2020. When asked how he’s managed to reach the top level twice, he is quick to give credit to his wife Jennifer for introducing him to CrossFit training about four years ago, after she joined a CrossFit gym when they were living in Victoria. “To be honest, she dragged me along with her at first but it didn’t take long for me to get into it.” After he was hit by a car while riding his bike to work at CFB Esquimalt, Cdr Otoupal took about three months off to recover. When he was able to get back to doing workouts he appreciated the functional fitness part of the program even more. “My biggest challenge in staying fit is making sure I don’t re-injure...

[caption id="attachment_29662" align="aligncenter" width="595"] S1 Jaime Santisteban Bazan is congratulated for his Sailor of the First Quarter honour by Capt(N) Jean Ouellet, Commander Canadian Submarine Force.[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Editor — The good work of Sailor First Class Jaime Santisteban Bazan has earned him Sailor of the First Quarter honours. The award recognizes the outstanding achievements of a junior non-commissioned member of a fleet unit. The HMCS Victoria sonar operator was humble about his recognition. “I don’t think I’m special. I look around me and everyone is trying to do something for the community. I feel like the light happened to shine on my actions by chance,” he says. It was his work with the RCMP on a pamphlet to help police officers communicate with hard of hearing drivers during traffic stops that garnered leadership appreciation. With the help of an RCMP officer acquaintence, he created a pamphlet for 90 officers on the lower mainland to trial. S1 Santisteban Bazan was also responsible for introducing the Sentinel Program to his unit. “We had a bit of a morale problem within the Canada Submarine Force. I contacted the chaplain and explained what was going on and asked him to come [talk to the crew]. At first it was going to be a seminar on recognizing symptoms of stress. But it turned into organizing a Sentinel Program within the Canadian Submarine Force, with designated people wearing this special patch.” Sentinels are people trained by the chaplains to recognize when someone is having problems, and then guide them towards the right resources. They are not qualified mental health professionals, but trusted co-workers. “The designation doesn’t mean anything if people don’t trust you. So, I’m very happy that some people do come to me,” he says. For his Sailor of the First Quarter award, he received a coin from the Canadian Fleet Pacific Chief and another coin from the Commander of the Canadian Submarine Force. He expects to head to Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School...

SLt Wilson Ho MARPAC Public Affairs — As seven navy vessels passed under the Lions Gate Bridge in North Vancouver Friday April 29, curious onlookers lined the Stanley Park Seawall and the Burrard Dry Dock Pier, where the ships were berthing. Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships Vancouver, Calgary, Brandon, and Edmonton, and three Orca Class Patrol Training Vessels were in town the last weekend in April for an inaugural Fleet Weekend and Battle of the Atlantic Commemorative Ceremony. Fleet Weekend 2022 was created to increase the navy’s presence in Vancouver, to foster awareness of Royal Canadian Navy capabilities and opportunities, and allow the general public the opportunity to see and experience what sailors do on a day-to-day basis. On Saturday, the general public flocked to the pier for ship tours and to see displays from HMCS Discovery, Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), and Naval Tactical Operations Group. Although the weather was overcast and rainy, it did not dampen visitor spirits – long lines formed as curious visitors queued to get aboard. The weekend cumulated with a parade and a commemorative ceremony marking the 77th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, which was held at the Sailor’s Point Memorial in Waterfront Park, North Vancouver. 

[caption id="attachment_29647" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Wrens on parade at the WRCNS basic training school, HMCS Conestoga,December 1942. Library and Archives Canada[/caption] With the 80th anniversary of the inception of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS) approaching on July 31, Canadians are invited to share their stories about a friend or family member who served in the WRCNS. Submissions may be published on the RCN’s website, base newspapers, and social media accounts. Please include high resolution, scanned photos if available, as well as your name and contact information. Mail your submission to: NavyPAInternalComms.APMarine-Communications-Internes@forces.gc.ca   [caption id="attachment_29646" align="aligncenter" width="595"] Members of the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service arriving in Britain, October 1944. Courtesy Royal Canadian Navy[/caption]    

DND/CAF — Do you have the right contacts listed on your CF 742 Emergency Contact Notification (ECN) and DND 2587 Next of Kin Identification (NOK) forms? If you’re like the majority of us, you joined the Canadian Armed Forces right out of high school or during university. At that point, your parents and possibly a sibling or two were likely the only people listed on these forms. Over the years, you may have gotten married, had children, or changed marital status, which requires an update to your emergency contacts and next of kin designations. As the years in uniform add up, and each Annual Personnel Readiness Verification seems to come around more frequently than the holidays, we often become complacent with our ECN and NOK updates. Review the toolkit on the HR-Civ intranet website or the HR Go RH app, which you can access on your mobile device while you are on leave. ECN Form The ECN form (CF 742) is used by the chain of command to inform those you have identified if you become ill, injured, are missing, or pass away. The ECN form is distinct from your NOK form, as it only serves for emergency notification purposes should anything happen to you; it does not entitle anyone listed to potential benefits. Members need to ensure they select the right individual(s) they would want to be contacted in case of an emergency. The ECN form can include immediate family or persons most close to you. They can be related to you, or not, they can be adults or minors. They can be your spouse, children, step-children, parents, siblings, in-laws, or friends. Incorrect ECN forms have led to significant delays in emergency contacts being notified and in some cases, the wrong person(s) have been informed. NOK Form The NOK form (DND 2587),...

[caption id="attachment_29640" align="aligncenter" width="595"] A rendering of the pavillion the Comox Air Force Museum is fundraising to build.[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Aviation history will soar to new heights when the Comox Air Force Museum places its prized De Havilland Vampire Mark III fighter jet under a glass protective display structure. To do this, they need $1.5 million in donations to build a pavilion in the museum’s Heritage Air Park, hopefully in time for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 100 anniversary in 2024. Acting Deputy Wing Commander, Major Niomi Caldwell is representing the campaign and says the pavilion is essential because the Vampire’s wooden construction makes it fragile to the outside elements. It is currently housed in a hangar, away from public viewing. “There is a protective metal skin on the outside, but its inner structural workings are partially constructed from wood, which is incredible,” she says. “It’s a fascinating piece of aviation history that most people don’t know about or know we have at the Wing.” Initially named the Spider Crab, the Vampire is one of 86 aircraft manufactured by De Havilland for the RCAF, with the first aircraft arriving in 1948 and put into service as a Central Flying School training aircraft at RCAF Station Trenton. By 1958, it was phased out with newer jets, the F-86 Sabres. The museum’s Vampire is one of a few remaining vintage aircraft. The jet, tail number 17031, was obtained through a National Defence Headquarters approved trade in 2000. It was previously owned by a private collector in the United States who flew it in air shows. It was declared an artefact by the RCAF in 2001. [caption id="attachment_29639" align="aligncenter" width="595"] The De Havilland Vampire Mark III at CFB Comox.[/caption]   A local legend The plane and its legacy also have a special significance for CFB Comox and Comox community as Second World War fighter pilot and Comox resident James ‘Stocky’ Edwards once piloted the Vampire in the years after the war....

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A few Canadian Armed Forces members have created and posted on Facebook a video celebrating the Sikh Holiday Vaisakhi and Sikh Heritage Month. Vaisakhi is one of the most important days on the Sikh calendar and occurs each year in mid-April along with Sikh heritage month. Military personnel of Sikh heritage from across Canada appeared in the short video to deliver their well wishes. They included Lt Bavleen Deo, Lt Balraj Singh Deol, and S1 Ashish Bhagria, S3 Udhay Singh Nijjer, and PO1 Kanwar Singh Nijjer.  The video acknowledges the significant contributions Canadians of Sikh faith have made to Canada. It was produced by 2Lt Vatsal Shah of Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Public Affairs and MARPAC Base Imaging members S1 Valerie Leclair and S1 Sisi Xu.

[caption id="attachment_29611" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Volunteers use Canadian Forces Sailing Association boats to tow and position docks into place at their new home in Lang Cove. The club provides recreational sailing opportunities to the Defence Community and their families and is in the process of moving its headquarters from their former home at Munroe Head. Photo credit: CFSA[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — Lang Cove is the new site of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA). The protected inlet, visible from the entrance to Naden, will be the home for the recreational boats of club members. “We really like our new home because it brings CFSA into the heart of the CFB Esquimalt community,” says LCdr Chris Maier, Club Commodore. “Instead of being in an out-of-site location, everyone at the base will see our boats in the harbour as they drive into work each day and this offers a much larger presence for our club.” The club’s original location since 1954 was off Maple Bank Road with the clubhouse on Monroe Head, but that land has been transferred to Public Service and Procurement Canada for development. “There is a lot of history at our Maple Bank location and it is very sad to say goodbye because we even have some [current] members who joined the club when it was first established,” he explains. Since the end of March, LCdr Maier, the club’s network of volunteers, members, and community supporters have been slowly moving the docks and 95 boats to the new location. It’s about a one-kilometre journey. The move will also see CFSA’s youth sailing programs and sailing camps suspended for the summer months as safety and operational procedures are established. During the move, CFSA has been working closely with Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) to ensure the relocation of docks and boats causes minimal disruption to the ecosystem. Chief among the concerns is the placement of concrete blocks to anchor the marina. The process also involves the monitoring of  water turbidity...

Peter Mallett Staff Writer — The Royal Canadian Navy wants to send you to Data Boot Camp. There are no chin-ups, obstacle courses, or early morning inspection required in this digital Basic Military Qualification. Instead, it’s a starting point on the road to building a digitally-ready future fleet and crew, and involves three introductory data analytics courses. They teach simple, basic data analysis skills that all sailors can use in their career. Instruction is geared to all navy ranks and trades, regular force and reserve, says LCdr Fraser Gransden, Section Head of Ottawa-based Digital Solutions (DDN3). Canada’s navy began offering its Data Foundations, Data Analysis with Excel, and Data Visualizations with Power B1 courses in 2021. The courses are part of an overall effort to help sailors fulfil their pathway to data analytics proficiency. “The purpose is to build data literacy across the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) so there is greater awareness of how data analytics can be used in support of planning and operations, and to enable better engagement with sources of data,” says LCdr Gransden. “Training is aimed at providing members the core skills required to transform unprocessed data into insights that enable effective decision making.” Participants can start the learning process online at their own pace or participate in more intensive instructor-led learning. All training can be accessed from a military member’s personal device or on the Defence Wide Area Network (DWAN) computer; instructor-led training uses MS Teams to link instructors to students. WYWM Legends The courses were custom-designed for the Canadian Armed Forces by Australian-based tech company With You With Me (WYWM). Sean Naugle, an engagement manager with WYWM, says the goal is to provide participants with leading-edge analytics training through practical projects. Some of the skill sets developed are how to structure, clean, and transform raw information into usable data and merging data records, as well as interpreting data to answer questions. “Candidates will also learn how to visualize the information into dynamic and easily digestible...

[caption id="attachment_29601" align="aligncenter" width="595"] PO2 Lance Ingeberg shows his daughter how to operate the ship’s binoculars during a day sail in HMCS Brandon. Photo by Kateryna Bandura, Lookout[/caption] Kateryna Bandura Lookout Editor — Surrounded by 30 civilians on the deck of HMCS Brandon, Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Lance Ingeberg explained the person overboard exercise unfolding in the water before them. “The fleet standard is five minutes, from the second alarm is raised to the person recovered safely in the Zodiac,” he explains. The recovery drill on April 22 was one of many to showcase the ship and crew’s capabilities to family and friends sailing with them for a day sail.  “I’m really happy to have my daughter along,” says PO2 Ingeberg. It has been almost a decade since the 14 year old sailed with her father. The day sail is not an actual working day at sea; a program is created so visitors get to see some of what the crew does, explains PO2 Robin Moncrief, Brandon’s acting Coxswain. “For the kids, it’s great to see where mom or dad goes for three or four months, get a feel for where they live. They get to see the spaces where their families or friends work, which is really cool, especially for families that haven’t been on board before,” she says. She joined in 2008 and has been posted on all the West Coast Kingston class ships since 2011. She has been posted to Brandon since 2018 and is one a few sailors who’ve sailed only in the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs). To showcase the ship’s ability to maneuver, Lieutenant (Navy) Sam Coffey, Operations Officer, took control of the ship to conduct a full-stern reverse thrust, weaving, and sharp turns that demonstrated their unique thrusters. “Fun thing about Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels is they have thrusters, as opposed to a rudder, that can rotate the ship 360 degrees. The bonus of having this system is it makes the ship overall...