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[caption id="attachment_23227" align="alignnone" width="591"] A grey dress by AB Li made for her graduation fashion show. It’s a mixture of cotton and leather, with the leather work hand cut by AB Li.[/caption]Melissa Atkinson, Lookout Editor with files from Captain Lisa Evong ~It’s a quiet evening aboard HMCS Nanaimo as the ship’s bow slices cleanly through the Pacific Ocean.The rocking motion isn’t enough to hinder AB Yukii Li’s sketching. On a modest sized pad, she pens her croquis, a fashion world term for an exaggerated tall model form. Bold, black lines connect to create a modern female sailor in a fashion pose – one hand on hip, the other loosely at the side, lanky legs disappearing at the skirt edge. It is a loose drawing, but the talent is obvious.   This is the road not taken. Passion colliding with practicality, but it comes without regret. A few years ago, AB Li was without rank, studying fashion design at Seneca College in her hometown of Toronto. A love of art in high school coupled with an attraction to fashion inspired her to try for one of the most prestigious careers.For three years she learned the A to Z of designing clothes, from an idea to a paper sketch, to sourcing fabrics, buttons, zippers, to measurements to create a pattern, to the construction of a garment. “If everything is done perfect, you can breathe, rest and smile,” she said of the process.Each piece she has created has a hint of inspiration from Japanese fashion, mainly Gothic Lolita and Visual Kei style and Victorian/Baroque era fashion. Her favourite piece is a grey dress from her graduation show. “I put a lot of time and effort into it and am very proud of it. It’s a mixture of cotton and leather. The leather work was hand...

[caption id="attachment_23220" align="alignnone" width="591"] CPO2 Stan Budden’s amazing weight loss is clearly recognizable as he jogs along the New Westminster Quay in Vancouver March 4.[/caption]   Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~ If you ask CPO2 Stan Budden for the secret behind his miraculous weight loss, he is quick to tell. “It really has a lot to do with the old adage: You lose ounces in the gym, but pounds in the kitchen,” he says. A little determination didn’t hurt either, he adds. Two years ago, at 5’ 10”, he weighed 280 pounds. The healthy weight of someone that size is 160 pounds. More than 40 pounds over that average is categorized as very severely obese. “When I worked as an engineer on Canadian warships I would work long shifts and always go for that quick fix of fast foods like pizza or big heavy sandwiches,” says CPO2 Budden. “I had been overweight for much of my adult life and eventually realized I was in a vicious cycle.” Over his 24 years in the navy, his weight slowly ballooned. What was once an easy fitness test, became difficult to pass, although he never failed the test. With the weight gain, came depression and anxiety. It was looking at the Canadian Armed Forces Mental Health Continuum that alerted him to his health issues. Once he sought help for his mental health problems, dealing with the weight was the natural next step. He was assisted in this by an understanding chain of command and by two Personnel Support Programs (PSP) staff members, Alyssa Jesson (Victoria) and Sean Hommerson (Vancouver), who helped him develop fitness goals and provided support when it got hard. They advised he stop trying to find the most effective diet pill and instead change his eating habits – pay attention to...

[caption id="attachment_23216" align="alignnone" width="590"] Lt(N) Jennifer Loye during a Task Force Mali Forward Aeromedical Training in the vicinity of Gao to keep their skills sharp while deployed on Operation Presence. Canadian Armed Forces photo.[/caption]DND ~W hen the call came over the radio that numerous UN soldiers had been injured and needed to be evacuated by helicopter, Lieutenant (Navy) Jennifer Loye and her team were ready to help.During the six months she had been working as the senior aero-medevac nurse at a German basecamp in Gao, Mali, for Operation Presence, she had been conducting simulations with her team and their international partners involved in saving lives using Canada’s Chinooks as flying emergency rooms.The call said there were multiple casualties from gunfire and explosives.“We knew it was going to be a multi-casualty situation and that it was quite far away,” said Lt(N) Loye. “It surprised us all. It happened very quickly. I remember the call coming in.”An al-Qaida-linked group would later claim responsibility for the attack on a group of UN peacekeepers in Aguelhok, a village 450 kilometres north of Gao. The UN’s mission is to increase peace and stability in the region after a resurgence in extremism over the past few years.After grabbing the supplies she thought she would need—extra painkillers and blood product—it took over an hour to reach the injured soldiers by helicopter.Once the team arrived, they landed to drop off the doctor and medics, to scope out the area, and to prepare the injured soldiers to board the helicopter.Helicopters are most vulnerable when on the ground, so they took off immediately.“We landed and they got off. That for me was the most memorable part of the tour,” said Lt(N) Loye. “The feeling of leaving people on the ground—part of your team, right? Nobody quite knowing at that point what...

[caption id="attachment_23211" align="alignnone" width="592"] Commander Jason Bergen, Commanding Officer of HMCS Nanaimo. Photo by Patrick Fisher.[/caption]Captain Lisa Evong, HMCS Nanaimo PAO ~For three months, Commander Jason Bergen has been a long way from his hometown of Saskatoon, with the icy South Saskatchewan River bisecting the city, and a blanket of snow draped over the cityscape. Up until a week ago, he was 5,000 kilometres away in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, seated in the captain’s chair on board HMCS Nanaimo.Accompanied by sister warship HMCS Whitehorse, the two Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels were deployed on Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to a U.S.-led, multi-agency effort to monitor, detect, and deter illicit trafficking in the region.In addition to leading his ship, Cdr Bergen was also Maritime Task Force Commander for the operation. While both ships were called back early because of the COVID-19 outbreak, he and his crew were still able to aid the embarked U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement team in seizing 1,104 kilograms of cocaine from a Panga, preventing approximately $42M USD worth of illicit drugs from entering communities. He attributes mission success to his skilled, dependable crew. As their leader, he uses mentoring and coaching techniques directly attributed to Ross Wilson, his baseball coach at Walter Murray Collegiate Institute two decades ago. Coach Wilson taught his team that sportsmanship and being a “class-act” was not tied to a skill level or socio-economic background, but to a person’s behaviour when things got tough - when it mattered most, says Cdr Bergen. “He was adamant that everyone on the team had a role to play, regardless of points scored.”Just like a team, every member of a ship’s company has a role to play, from the Commanding Officer all the way down to the most junior member. Leadership can be displayed in...

[caption id="attachment_23198" align="alignnone" width="591"] HMCS Calgary conducts a surface firing exercise during the Directed Sea Readiness Training Program off the coast of Vancouver Island March 28. Photo by Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services.[/caption] Lt(N) Greg Menzies, HMCS Calgary PAO ~It was a loud, clear message that boomed throughout HMCS Calgary – a general alarm every sailor knows and trains to address.“Emergency Stations, emergency stations:  Fire, fire fire, fire in zone three golf in the machinery control room.” As the alarm sounded, the crew knew what needed to be done - fight for their ship. This time it was drill - an integral part of Calgary’s Directed Sea Readiness Training.The training is a specifically tailored at-sea program designed to maintain a ship’s readiness state in the middle of its operational cycle. Using a focused training and evaluation plan, Directed Sea Readiness Training prepares the ship and crew to meet the operational requirements given by the Commander of Canadian Fleet Pacific.Calgary’s road to high readiness started with the Basic Single Ship Readiness Training program after the ship completed several extended and short work periods last summer. This training focused on seamanship, damage control, and safety.  The training develops sailor’s skills to enable a ship to conduct ready duty ship, sea trials, force protection at sea and alongside, and the basic unit force generation necessary to move through a tiered readiness program administered by Sea Training (Pacific). They are the group that provides afloat and alongside collective training, certification, and maintenance of standards for ships and submarines through the continuum of readiness, assuring operationally capable sea power.Upon completion of Basic Single Ship Readiness Training, Calgary progressed to Intermediate Multi-Ship Readiness Training in November operating within a task group environment. This training is designed to develop the ship’s capacity to fight within a multi-ship construct, providing the unit...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A full-time reservist from Victoria is the winner of this year’s Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) logo design contest. Corporal Elizabeth Sleen, who works as a detachment clerk for the Canadian Armed Forces Recruiting Centre in Victoria, created the winning design for the world’s largest maritime exercise. She entered the contest after seeing a Lookout story calling for designs last August. Cpl Sleen has no professional training in graphic design, and said it was her first-ever attempt at creating a logo. She was not expecting to win. “Winning, it was the furthest from my mind. When I checked my phone and saw the message informing me I had won, I was thrilled with the news but also a little bit shocked and surprised.”She is the wife of LCdr Darren Sleen, HMCS Regina Executive Officer, whose ship will potentially participate in the multinational exercises to be held off the Hawaiian Islands in June and July. RIMPAC is held every two years with the last exercise involving 25,000 personnel from 25 countries, 46 ships, five submarines, 17 land forces, and more than 200 aircraft. LCdr Sleen said his wife’s winning entry was “an incredibly proud moment” for his entire family. Her logo will appear on RIMPAC’s official branding including stationary, press releases, websites, social media, coins, shirts, hats and more. She beat out more than a dozen entrants to claim top honours. Central in her design is an aircraft carrier and warships sailing in formation, with a backdrop of the world and a trident, and the RIMPAC motto Capable, Adaptive, Partners in a ring around the outside. The third ring is home to Hawaiian flowers, a motif inspired by Hawaiian design, Polynesian art, and tattoo work.“I wanted it to look very classic and vintage, so I went with a...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Cadets from across Canada embarked on a sailing adventure aboard two tall ships of the Sail and Life Training Society (SALTS) earlier this month.Fifty-seven Royal Canadian Sea Cadets returned from their five-day voyage in and around the Southern Gulf Islands on March 13. Each year the Victoria-based SALTS program reaches approximately 1,700 young people between the ages of 13 and 25 with the intention to develop both their sailing and teamwork skills.Lt(N) Shawn Stewart, Information Management Officer with the Regional Cadet Support Unit (RCSU) Pacific, was one of two escort officers for the sail. He says SALTS is exactly the type of programming many cadets are looking for because it engages them in real-life challenges.Cadets and four adult team leaders became the working crew of tall ships Pacific Swift and Pacific Grace under the guidance of SALT’s professional crewmembers. Each ship’s crew was divided into three groups to perform around-the-clock duty watch, which included spotting water hazards and other vessels and anchor watch at night. Other responsibilities included navigation, radio monitoring, sail handling, galley duties, and small boat handling for trips ashore. “This was an opportunity to be crew on a ship, run and maintain the vessel, learn and study seamanship skills on board, go places and explore a coastline that the vast majority have never seen before,” said Lt(N) Stewart. SALTS booking manager Sherilyn Thomson says cadets have sailed with SALTS on a west coast tall ship deployment for the past four years and the reviews have been very favourable. The cadets are always eager to put the skills they’ve been learning with their Corps into practice, she says.“The purpose of our program is to provide an opportunity for young people to be challenged personally and as a group, to take on responsibility, and stretch themselves...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Personnel Support Programs (PSP) staff continue to get creative in supporting the defence community during this tough time. The recreation department has launched an interactive Facebook photo contest with the winner receiving a free children’s birthday party once the Colwood Activity Centre re-opens. The prize is valued at $185; the contest runs until April 6. Participation in the contest is through the PSP Esquimalt CPAC Facebook page. The intention is to provide something fun and challenging for people to do during their time at home, says Gillian Larsen, Manager of PSP’s Community Recreation. “This is a way to engage people and families during this time of self-isolation,” said Larsen. “This contest is geared towards families who were supposed to be having fun doing the activities they love for spring break, but sadly can’t.”Each day the recreation staff will offer a daily post encouraging participants to take part in three themed activities: art, cooking and outdoor activity. Contestants are asked to take pictures of their participation in the activities and then post them to the PSP Esquimalt CPAC  Facebook page.Participants can take part in all three activities for each day and make their submissions at any time until the final day of the contest. Each time they participate and submit a photo their name is entered into a random draw. There is also a fourth way to earn an entry into the draw: by sharing your Facebook post with friends or family. The winner of the birthday party will be notified via Facebook Messenger. The winner of the contest can choose from any of the six themed birthday parties offered by recreation.––––

[caption id="attachment_23085" align="alignnone" width="591"] Capt(N) Stéphane Ouellet, Commander of the Canadian Submarine Force, presented SSM-Expedition medals to members of HMCS Windsor during a ceremony at HMCS Scotian on March 3. Photo by Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff ~Prior to entering its current period of maintenance and repair, HMCS Windsor spent nearly four years as a workhorse for the Royal Canadian Navy’s submarine fleet, culminating in a 133-day deployment to Operation Projection Euro-Atlantic through the spring of 2018.Windsor was officially recognized for its success during that deployment on March 3, with the Commander of the Canadian Submarine Force, Capt(N) Stéphane Ouellet, visiting Halifax to present an Operational Service Medal-Expedition to each member of the submarine’s crew.“These medals are to recognize their hard work, dedication and sacrifices, as well as the sacrifices made by families and the hard work they also did to maintain the homefront,” Capt(N) Ouellet said.The SSM-Expedition medals are awarded to personnel who serve in or provide support to overseas operations, with ribbons that acknowledge the specific theatre or task. The submariners from Windsor were awarded for their work during NATO Operation Sea Guardian, which focused on developing a maritime situational awareness picture and combating terrorism, as well as Exercise Dynamic Manta, during which they worked alongside Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 in anti-submarine warfare exercises off the coast of Italy. This was also the first ever deployment to the Mediterranean for a Victoria-class submarine.“This was also the third time we had sent Windsor to Europe since 2014, so that was a very high op tempo for the submarine, which is impressive,” Capt(N) Ouellet added.Along with Cdr Peter Chu, the Commanding Officer of Submarine Sea Training, Capt(N) Oullet presented a medal to each individual member of the crew. One was also presented to Cdr Chu, who was the...

[caption id="attachment_23032" align="alignnone" width="591"] Chuck LaRocque, Chairman of the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum board, and Gunner Kyle Timm of 1 Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, show off a pair of medals awarded to legendary Artillery officer Major-General Tom Strange that were purchased by the Royal Canadian Artillery Museum. Photo by Jules Xavier, Shilo Stag, DND Canada[/caption]Jules Xavier, Shilo StagIt wasn’t Christmas, but Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) Museum director Andrew Oakden received a special gift: medals once worn by legendary artillery officer Major-General Tom Strange.The medals, one awarded to MGen Strange for his role in the Northwest Rebellion and the other for service in India, cost more than $50,000. They were purchased from Spink Auction House in the UK with funds raised by the RCA Senate, which works to promote and preserve the RCA’s heritage.Fundraising was led by Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Colonel Commandant Brigadier General (Retired) J.J. Selbie.Oakden said staff at the auction house brought the medals to the museum’s attention.“They likely saw him listed on our website as a great gunner and thought we would be interested,” he said. “That was true. A sizeable family collection of Strange medals were up for auction, including those of his son, Harry Strange. We were not successful with the bidding on those.” They had 600 lots on the first day of the auction, recalled a beaming Oakden after unpacking the medals, both contained in plastic coverings similar to those used to protect prized hockey cards or comic books. “They started at lot one and went to lot 600. The general’s medals were lot 501. They came up at 10:15 a.m., and bidding ended about a minute later. The auction started 3 a.m. our time, 9 a.m. in London.”“Given the prestige and historical value of the items up for bidding, there were likely many...

[caption id="attachment_23027" align="alignnone" width="591"] Leading Seaman Bryan Ogle, clearance diver from Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific), completes an ice dive in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Photo by Corporal David Veldman, Dive Task Force Imagery Technician[/caption]Lt(N) Éliane Trahan, Dive Task Force Public Affairs OfficerOperation Nanook takes place each year across the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Labrador. It features up to five deployments throughout the year.One of these deployments was Operation Nanook-Nunalivut in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, which involved the Dive Task Force, from March 2 to 17 with 31 divers from Canada, Finland, France, and Belgium.Clearance Divers, Combat Divers and Port Inspection Divers from the Army and the Navy as well as a Finnish Diver wearing the Air Force uniform were all involved. The Inuit community of Rankin Inlet has approximately 2,000 residents and is one of the most important communities in Canada’s North. It’s a meeting place and hub for the region with all flights to the Kivalliq passing through the bustling Rankin Inlet Airport. The increase in traffic creates new safety and security risks. Canada must be prepared to conduct search and rescue, and to respond to natural and man-made disasters.Operations such as Nanook-Nunalivut demonstrate the presence and capabilities of the Canadian Armed Forces in the Arctic and improve readiness in the region. It is also an opportunity to work with Canadian partners in the North such as members of the 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group. They provided advice and facilitated a smooth integration for the military members into an Arctic environment.“Although winter dive conditions in Halifax consist of cold waters below five degrees Celsius, we rarely have the opportunity to conduct ice-diving operations in the Arctic,” said Lt(N) Kristopher Hicks, Dive Team Officer in Charge. “The dive team’s presence in Rankin Inlet enabled us to revalidate our procedures, test our...

[caption id="attachment_23022" align="alignnone" width="591"] Ron Bath receives the Legion of Honour from Philipe Sutter, Consul General of France.[/caption]~ Peter Mallett, Staff WriterPersonnel from Canada’s navy and army helped make 95-year-old Legion of Honour award recipient Ron Bath’s big moment in the spotlight a little bit brighter.The retired Able Seaman and resident of Graystone Manor in Maple Ridge, B.C., was part of the Allies’ D-Day landings as a member of the Royal Canadian Navy.He received France’s highest order from Consul General of France Philippe Sutter in a March 9 ceremony. Celebrating that moment with him were members of HMCS Vancouver, naval reserve unit HMCS Discovery, and the 15th Field Artillery Regiment.“It’s a great feeling and I am very proud to receive this medal. I was surprised and touched by the number of military personnel who attended,” said Bath.The Legion of Honour award was established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte and has been awarded to more than 93,000 persons worldwide. In 2015, the French Government began honouring 1,000 Canadian veterans with the award to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the D-Day landing.Bath was directly involved in many beach landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944, and the days that followed, working as a Signalman on landing craft with the RCN’s 262nd Flotilla. Facing enemy fire and great peril, they ferried troops to the beaches of Normandy, including Juno and Omaha. “Receiving this award has brought back memories of those I served with on the landing craft and D-Day itself,” said Bath. In the final months of the war, he served aboard Canadian frigate HMCS La Hulloise as its helmsman, and as an aircraft handler on the aircraft carrier HMCS Warrior. Born in Blyth, England, Bath and his family moved to the former B.C. mining town of Michel (near Nelson B.C.). The navy wasn’t Bath’s...

~ Peter Mallett, Staff WriterStay fit while at home. That’s what CFB Esquimalt Personnel Support Programs (PSP) staff are encouraging people to do during this difficult time. Being active raises endorphins and helps curb the anxiety many people are feeling. For military members, it’s an important piece in their job performance. Last Friday, the fitness team began live streaming classes through their Facebook page: NadenAthleticCentre.“For a lot of people, attending a PT class in person is part of their regular schedule, which they are now unable to do,” said Alyssa Jesson, Manager, Fitness and Sport. “We are assisting those people in maintaining good fitness and wellness practices during this unprecedented time.”The Naden Athletic Centre, like gyms and fitness centres across the city, is closed to patrons. But staff are ready to do online classes from their own homes. PSP fitness instructors are now live streaming their classes between 11 a.m. and noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Personal cell phones capture the sessions, which are typically 45 minutes to an hour long. “Right now, the plan is to include variation in our programming to ensure all fitness levels can be active,” said Jesson. “Knowing that members are doing this from home, our program focus is on movements without equipment.”However, staff will make suggestions on household items that can be used to enhance the workout. The idea was hatched during a brainstorming session by PSP staff on ways they could offer their services while working at home and still benefit the defence team. “To be honest, the idea about remote workouts started as a bit of a joke between one of our instructors and her class patrons, but then it really evolved into something fruitful,” says Jesson. “We have never implemented a practice like this before, but there is no time like the...

Capt Jeff Manney, 39 CBG Public Affairs ~Women thinking about joining Canada’s military had a chance to size up its FORCE test, thanks to an initiative that tied into International Women’s Day. A team from Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre Detachment Victoria administered the FORCE test to curious members of the public at the Ashton Armoury March 8. Over the course of several hours, they tested their fitness against the sandbag raise, the sandbag carry, the sandbag drag, and the shuttle run.“I’m so glad we did this,” said PO2 Heather Smolinski, event organizer. “We really wanted to recognize International Women’s Day by doing something different and the feedback we’ve received has been fantastic.”Participants ranged from teens still in high school to mothers with their husbands beside them in a supporting role. Of the test’s four elements, PO2 Smolinski says the sandbag drag was the most challenging. It requires a person to carry one 20-kilogram sandbag while dragging another four a distance of 20 metres.  For someone weighing just 50kg, moving twice that much weight can be daunting.“Our philosophy today is ‘everyone is welcome, and you can do this,’” she said.  “So, we taught them how to properly warm up, how to prepare themselves, and then we cheered them on to the finish line. We tried to keep things informal and reduce anxiety. A lot of women who are interested in the Forces get hung up about the fitness test and delay applying. Those who came out today now know what they need to work on. But they also know they can do it.”The Canadian Armed Forces have been ramping up their recruiting efforts in the last several years, aiming to push the number of women up from 15 per cent, where it has remained stubbornly lodged. “We want the Canadian Armed Forces to accurately represent the public,” PO2 Smolinski said. “Females make up half of our society, but they are still not well represented in the military. We’ve got to change that. There are...

[caption id="attachment_22914" align="aligncenter" width="593"] HMCS Calgary Commanding Officer, Cdr Alex Barlow welcomes David McLean aboard for a tour of the warship. Cdr Barlow presented an official captain’s hat and coin to McLean to be given to his 100-year-old father Leslie McLean. McLean sailed aboard the original HMCS Calgary vessel during the Second World War. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~One-hundred-year-old Leslie McLean will receive a unique belated birthday gift – an HMCS Calgary captain’s baseball hat, an official ship coin, and a ship’s patch. The items were collected by his son David, who toured HMCS Calgary on his father’s behalf on March 6, and will be given to him by his family in the coming weeks.   In the Second World War, the centenarian served in HMCS Calgary (K231) during the Battle of the Atlantic as a Leading Seaman. The ship was a Flower-class Corvette, one of many built to meet the demand for escorting merchant vessels across the Atlantic.“It’s was a delightful experience touring Calgary and I thank everyone in the navy for this experience,” said David after the tour. “I know he is going to be surprised when he sees these gifts.”Leslie suffers from dementia and lives in an Edmonton retirement home, but his son says whenever anything related to HMCS Calgary comes up his father can recant detailed memories of his service days. During his time aboard Calgary, Leslie participated in the sinking of German U-boat U536 in the Azores in November 1943, and U322 in December 1944 in the English Channel.After VE Day, he transferred to HMCS Ontario and the Pacific theatre. He was officially discharged from the military in 1946. David’s childhood chum Lance Allard, who lives in Victoria, arranged the ship tour through the Public Affairs office. The two grew up on the...

[caption id="attachment_22910" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Imagery captured during the Naval Boarding Party Course Graduation at NAD in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Feb. 20. Photo by Leading Seaman John Iglesias, Canadian Armed Forces[/caption]MS Matt Swain, Canadian Fleet Atlantic ~When Canada’s warships head out on missions to thwart crime in the global marine environment, they take with them a highly trained vessel boarding and search capability. To generate these parties of boarding specialists is an equally elite, tiered training program delivered by the Naval Tactical Operations Group. Training starts with the Naval Boarding Parties Basic and Supervisor courses, and then a team training. Three Naval Boarding Party (NBP) Basic courses have been completed – two on the West Coast and one on the East. This fast-paced, physically demanding six-week course teaches students a variety of skills including legal considerations, searching techniques, personnel control skills, tactical shooting, comprehensive close quarter battle, and combat first aid. Each phase of the course ends with an exam that students must pass in order to progress. If the student is unsuccessful, they are returned to their respective units and, depending on the nature of the failure, may be given the option to reattempt. The course ends with a realistic final exercise designed to test all aspects of the course. Senior Instructor, PO1 Chris Nowlan is tasked to ensure the course provides tactical realism and a challenge that leaves successful students with a sense of accomplishment from their hard work. Graduates earn a badge, one of three skill badges introduced by the navy in May 2019 to recognize their specialized skill sets.A badge is earned by achieving progressively more challenging course milestones that ensure students have the right attitude and motivation, regardless of rank. In keeping with NTOG’s culture of invested small team leadership, officers are expected to both lead the...

[caption id="attachment_22907" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Ordinary Seaman Eric Partridge prepares the Snyper Mk II/III for flight. Photo by Corporal Jay Naples, MARPAC Imaging Services.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Warfare has gone high tech in recent years with unmanned aircraft ready to attack through real-time human control from afar. To combat the growing unmanned aircraft threat, the Royal Canadian Navy is investigating the feasibility of employing Class 1 Rotary Wing Unmanned Aircraft Systems - Targets (UAS-T) on board HMC Ships. The Snyper Mk2 UAS-T is one of these systems being tested. It is designed to simulate low and slow unmanned aircraft as a threat to warships in a maritime environment.Four members of HMCS Calgary and two members of Canadian Fleet Pacific - Fleet Target Services West took turns deploying, flying, and landing the UAS-T at Albert Head’s Grenade Range a few weeks ago.“The intention is to train operators to fly the UAS-T for use at sea,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class Gordon Dolbec, CANFLTPAC SO Targets. “This will allow HMC Ships to work on developing force protection tactics to counter the growing UAS threat.”The navy has purchased 12 Snyper Mk2 UAS-Ts from QinetiQ Target Systems Canada, splitting them equally between the coasts. Eight will serve as targets for live-fire training using the ship’s weapons and sensor systems and small arms; the other four will be used primarily for surveillance and high-resolution imagery and video, a capability that was previously only available through a maritime helicopter. Eventually, all five West Coast frigates will have someone on the ship trained to operate the Snyper Mk2 UAS-T. East Coast ships have already used them as a tool for taking imagery and video during at-sea training events. CPO2 Dolbec says the controls and technology are complex, so extensive operational training is necessary. “It’s all about skills and familiarity because it’s not an easy thing to fly and takes plenty of time and practice,” said CPO2 Dolbec. “When you work with someone who starts flying one for the first...

[caption id="attachment_22903" align="aligncenter" width="593"] Photo by Sgt Sam Ladd, US Army[/caption]Antarctica is the coldest of the Earth’s continents, which might explain the name of a recent US-led mission entitled Operation Deep Freeze. From December to February, United States Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, a heavy icebreaker, made its 23rd deployment on the annual joint U.S. military service mission to resupply the U.S. Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation, the lead agency for the U.S. Antarctic Program.Joining the United States Coast Guard dive team was LS Jeff Dubinsky, a Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) clearance diver. The 122 metre, 13,000-ton Polar Star produced a 37-kilometre channel through the one to four-metre-thick ice to McMurdo Station. The three-week process to cut the ice enabled the offload of over 19.5 million pounds of dry cargo and 7.6 million gallons of fuel from three merchant vessels. All three ships combined offloaded enough supplies to ensure the research station has provisions until 2021. Supplies are critical for the science station’s daily operations and are integral to the National Science Foundation’s massive overhaul of McMurdo Station. It is in the midst of a $355 million construction project to remove 104 buildings around the research station and create a central hub of six main structures. The structures will contain science labs, operations offices, and accommodations for the station. Construction is scheduled to finish in 2026. As a member of the dive team, LS Dubinsky integrated with the United States Coast Guard and U.S. Army Dive teams in Honolulu, Hawaii, for a workup dive, ice dive theory training, and embarkation on Polar Star. The ship transit from Hawaii to Antarctica took a month with a port call in Hobart, Tasmania. Upon arrival on the continent, the ship was greeted by large ice flows, 24-hour sunlight, and pods of killer whales following the ship. The dive team provided the icebreaker an emergency diving and underwater repair capability. During the 42 days at sea, between Hobart and the port visit...

[caption id="attachment_22897" align="aligncenter" width="594"] Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie with his sister Susan by his Walk of Achievement plaque. Photo by Janice Lee[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~The Comox Valley has produced several remarkable people who have moved from their grassroots community into the world to do amazing work. To honour them, the city created the Comox Valley Walk of Achievement in Courtenay.The most recent person to receive a sidewalk plaque is Rear-Admiral Bob Auchterlonie, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific. On Saturday March 7, he joined the esteemed list of honorees, including actors John Hodgins (Bones) and Kim Cattrall (Sex in the City); B.C.’s first female Lieutenant Governor, Iona Campagnolo; researcher and biochemist Dr. Fred Leung; and Second World War flying ace Stocky Edwards. Emcee David Durrant said the Admiral, with his 33 years of distinguished service in the Royal Canadian Navy, and still many more to go, elevated him as a remarkable Comox Valley native. RAdm Auchterlonie has deep roots in the village of Cumberland. His grandfather founded a popular bakery in 1920 in the then bustling mining town, until the business was sold in 2003. He attended Cumberland Elementary, Cumberland Junior, and George P. Vanier Secondary before venturing into the military.“I am one person who can say he grew up in one of the best places on the planet and I truly believe that; and I can say this with authority because I have had a chance to travel and see most of the world during my service in the Royal Canadian Navy.”His rise in the navy is due in part, he says, to being well supported by family, friends, and co-workers. But, he adds, his true secret weapon for success came from the “great foundation” of growing up in the Comox Valley, a unique community that gave him the perfect start in life. The induction ceremony also included remarks by Mayor Bob Wells of Courtenay and Mayor Leslie Baird of Comox, members of the Comox Valley Walk of Achievement Committee, and his...

[caption id="attachment_22889" align="alignnone" width="594"] PO2 Alliszon Zaichkowski toots her conch shell during the annual Key West Conch Shell Blowing Contest Saturday, March 7 in Florida. She won top honours by impressing the judges with excerpts from several melodies including composer Igor Stravinsky’s “The Firebird” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Photo by Rob O’Neal, Florida Keys News Bureau/HO[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~On the grounds of the Old Island Restoration Foundation of Key West, Florida, Petty Officer Second Class Alliszon Zaichkowski held a dusty pink conch shell to her lips and blew a melodic note. The Naden Band French horn musician entered this year’s 58th annual Conch Honk contest, using her favourite shell nicknamed ‘Conky’. While others simply bellowed a loud single note, she played a horn solo from Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Neil Young’s After the Gold Rush, and Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. When the last note resounded, the crowd erupted with cheers and thunderous applause. She had sealed the women’s division title, defeating over 12 competitors.“My intention going into the contest was to blow people’s minds and I definitely think I achieved that. They’d never seen anything like it,” said PO2 Zaichkowski.Judges based their decision on the loudness, length, and quality of the sound; novelty and originality were also taken into consideration. “There was actually a lot of practice and showmanship involved in this win. I was on stage performing for seven minutes. Most competitors didn’t play entire songs. Instead, they mostly just tried see how loud they could blow their shells for 30 seconds or so; so my performance was a really was big deal and people really reacted to it.”Former bandmate Sgt Matthew Rowsell, a trombone player for the Central Band of the CAF in Ottawa, travelled with her to Florida. He assisted her during Bohemian Rhapsody playing a couple other...

[caption id="attachment_22731" align="alignnone" width="593"] AB Dyneh Allen-Buckmire, a cook in HMCS Glace Bay, undertakes additional duties aboard the ship. Photo by Cpl Yongku Kang[/caption]Lt(N) Nicole Morrison, HMCS Glace Bay ~There are many ties that bind military members together. Commitment to Queen and country, strong work ethic, and dedication to physical fitness are some shared traits.But what do a cook, a naval warfare officer, and a naval combat information operator have in common? For one, the trio are sailing together in HMCS Glace Bay as part of Operation Projection West Africa. For two, they are all Black Canadians. AB Dyneh Allen-Buckmire, Lt(N) Greygory Wagner-Conserve, and OS Lennox Peprah are part of a mission in the Gulf of Guinea aimed at capacity building and fostering relationships with like-minded partner nations, while helping to support stability and the security goals in the region. For the sailors deployed on this operation, it means getting to work alongside partner navies during two major training exercises, Obangame Express 2020 and Phoenix Express 2020, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Naval Forces Africa. They also interact with local communities during outreach events, furthering efforts towards sustainable development, empowerment of girls and women, and overall conditions for peace and stability.                 February was Black History Month, and the three sailors reflected on what it meant to them.AB Allen-Buckmire, who serves as a cook, said it was a chance to “represent my people and how we overcame and how we keep pushing through obstacles” and to “show my people, and everyone else, that no matter how much we’ve been put down in the past, we’ll always rise up.” Black History Month is a learning opportunity, she says, and a chance to show her community that no one should “be afraid to...

[caption id="attachment_22728" align="alignnone" width="593"] Major Geoff Robinson, left, and Major Master Warrant Officer Donald Clark, right, present the Joint Task Force Pacific Command Commendation to Canadian Ranger Master Corporal Juri Agapow of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol. Photo by Canadian Ranger Lindsay Chung, Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol[/caption]Canadian Ranger Lindsay Chung, Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol ~Master Corporal Juri Agapow of the Quesnel Canadian Ranger Patrol recently received a Joint Task Force Pacific Command Commendation to recognize his work during the 2017 British Columbia wildfires.Major Geoff Robinson, Officer Commanding 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group’s British Columbia Company, and Master Warrant Officer Donald Clark, British Columbia Company Sergeant Major, travelled to Quesnel to present the award on Feb. 11.“Master Corporal Juri Agapow was heavily involved in Operation Lentus during the summer of 2017,” said Maj Robinson. “He spent time fighting fires to save his own property, and then he went ahead and helped everybody else. That’s outstanding work, and that was recognized.”MCpl Agapow served on Operation Lentus 17-04 in western Canada during the wildfires. Between July 9, 2017, and Sept. 15, 2017, Canadian Armed Forces members supported B.C. provincial firefighters in firefighting operations, evacuating locals, transporting first responders and equipment, delivering essential aid to isolated communities, assisting the RCMP in providing information to the public and conducting observation and reporting at assigned points along access roads in affected areas.At the Quesnel Patrol meeting, Maj Robinson read the Command Commendation from the Joint Task Force Pacific Commander, signed by Vice-Admiral Art MacDonald, who in 2017 was the Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific. “Tasked in support of Operation Lentus 17-04, Canadian Ranger Agapow’s performance and dedication to duty were exceptional,” read Maj Robinson. “His knowledge of the local area was an outstanding resource to the Task Force, specifically his in-depth knowledge of the Chilcotin Plateau area...

[caption id="attachment_22722" align="alignnone" width="593"] CPO1 Alena Mondelli is seen at sea during an Operation Reassurance deployment with HMCS Toronto in 2019. Photo by MCpl Manuela Berger, FIS[/caption]Current role: Unit CPO Personnel Coordination Center (Atlantic)Years of Service: 28––What was the best thing that happened in your life over this past year (2019)?The greatest experience up to this point in my career has been my appointment as Coxswain of a Canadian Patrol Frigate. I was a member of HMCS Toronto from July 2018 until August 2019. In that year, we deployed on Operation Reassurance Roto 10.Was there an unexpected joy this past year?During Op Reassurance Roto 10, I co-presented with Cmdre Josée Kurtz at the Ukraine Naval Academy in Odessa, Ukraine, on diversity and gender integration within the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). As a Senior Officer and Senior Non-Commissioned Officer, we spoke as a “leadership team” about our experiences not only as RCN leaders, but how gender integration has assisted in transforming and leading the way to an inclusive and diverse CAF and RCN. It was an incredible honour to show the progress of the CAF as the two most senior (Officer and NCM Corp) deployed women within the RCN at the time. We were making change – globally - just by being who we were.What was your biggest change in the last year?My biggest change this year was my appointment to a key position. This was not because of the differences in jobs between a ship’s Coxswain and the Personnel Coordination Center Atlantic Unit Chief Petty Officer, but because of what it signified. Never again will I be posted to a ship as a member of the ship’s company. This was something that struck me quite heavily as I left Toronto, as our identity of being...

[caption id="attachment_22716" align="alignnone" width="593"] Big Sister LS Marie-Eve Long enjoys a hockey game with her Little Sister and friend MS Dany Nadeau. Photo by LS Mike Golubuff[/caption]Ashley Evans, Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton ~Two years ago, Leading Seaman Marie-Eve Long of FMF Cape Breton attended a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria orientation session about mentoring opportunities.She went with a friend, but she ultimately applied to be a big sister.Having grown up with a father who struggled with alcohol addiction, LS Long could identify with less advantaged children. “Some kids need that added support growing up. Someone to look up to, an added perspective,” she says. It was a two-month process to be matched with her “Little,” as she affectionately calls her, after she started the application process. This included a criminal record check, screening, and a shared skills and interest questionnaire to find the right match. From there, a social worker became involved, sharing information between the two and the child’s family to ensure a good fit. LS Long then made a one-year commitment, which has extended to another year and a second Little Sister. She meets with her “Little”, now 17 years old, biweekly, and her second “Little,” who is 10 years old,  weekly.“The kids and youth are learning a lot of healthy life skills from their mentors,” says Rhonda Brown, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters Victoria. “Overall mental-health, self-esteem, self-confidence, healthy social skills, and problem-solving skills. They are watching and learning from their mentors.”Brown has worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters for 14 years.  Her passion comes from a belief that quality time spent together can change the trajectory of a person’s life. She sees mentoring as a preventative factor in child and youth development. “Children aren’t given up on, and it is awesome to be...

[caption id="attachment_22713" align="alignnone" width="593"] Participants in Soldier On’s 2020 Allied Winter Sports Camp in Whistler, B.C., gather with Minister of National Defence Harjit Sajjan for a group photograph. Photo credit Soldier On[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Amidst Whistler’s towering mountain peaks and crisp fallen snow, former and current ill or injured military members carved a path to recovery through winter sports.Two weeks ago, Soldier On hosted a camp at Whistler Blackcomb for a group of Canadians, Americans, Australians, and Britishers to help them heal both physically and mentally through five activities: Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, bobsledding, snowboarding, sledge hockey, and ziplining. LCdr Raymond Trotter, 38, says it was an experience he will never forget. “It was a high-point in my life because I truly believe it was life-altering. Everyone involved was supportive and non-judgemental, and in a short period of eight days many of us formed friendships I am certain will last a lifetime.”There was a competitive edge to the events, but the real win was the good medicine that comes from sports. “There was an incredibly therapeutic atmosphere doing these sports with people in similar circumstances as you,” said LCdr Trotter. “Barriers came down quickly even though we were all strangers heading into this. We are all soldiers, so we understood each other from the get-go.”Many participants did tours in Afghanistan or Iraq and shared a common experience even though their injuries are different. For LCdr Trotter, he suffered a spinal injury during preparations to deploy to Afghanistan in 2008. He has endured chronic pain over 12 years finding some relief through a pain clinic, physiotherapy, and acupuncture. Sports, he says, is one of his most vital recovery tools as it quickly reminds him of his strengths and weak areas.Soldier On National Manager Jay Feyko, a retired infantry man, is a believer...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~When Esquimalt Panago Pizza store owner Jason Gray wants to let DND employees know they are appreciated his solution is simple, he delivers free pizza. Last Wednesday, he made the largest delivery of his career. Just before lunch hour, he and two employees loaded up their vehicles and delivered 150 pizzas to the over 1,000 military personnel and civilian employees at Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton. Another 15 pies were delivered to workers on the afternoon shift to raise their spirits.He did a similar gesture for the crew of HMCS Nanaimo and HMCS Whitehorse before the warships headed out on Operation Caribbe. “I wanted to show my continued support of CFB Esquimalt and its military members and civilian employees who live and work in the community,” said Gray. “This latest event was a lot of fun and it was awesome to see how much the pizza was enjoyed by the workforce at FMF Cape Breton.” Gray says he turned his pizza parlor into a factory at 8 a.m. in order deliver to a factory. He estimates they used over 180 lbs of dough, 5,000 slices of ham, pepperoni, salami and Italian sausage, 80 lbs of cheese, and 40 lbs of tomato sauce – a total donation of $3,000. A line of ship repair staff extended throughout the hallway of the 35,000 square metre facility in Dockyard to grab a slice or two. CPO1 David Morse and members of the unit’s Health and Wellness Committee set up and distributed the pizza. He says Pizza Day is something the committee does a couple of times a year to offer the team an opportunity to get away from their daily work and join together for a laugh and a smile.“However, word quickly spread about Jason Gray’s generosity, and the fact that...

[caption id="attachment_22707" align="alignnone" width="594"] Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay carries a Canadian flag to lay at a gravesite in Veteran’s Cemetery. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Minister of Veterans Affairs Lawrence MacAulay made a special visit to Veterans Cemetery in Esquimalt last Wednesday to recognize the historic site’s recent expansion. At the iconic cemetery, more commonly known as God’s Acre, MacAulay was joined by Base Commander, Captain (Navy) Sam Sader and other dignitaries to celebrate the renovations and an expansion for 1,400 new internment spaces. MacAulay, who is also the Associate Minister of National Defence, not only reflected on the universal feeling of appreciation for the soldiers, sailors, and aviators buried there, but also the countless individuals who have worked to maintain and preserve God’s Acre since its founding over 151 years ago.“Years of hard work and dedication has led to the incredible transformation of God’s Acre – a reflection of Canada’s pride and respect for veterans,” said MacAulay. “As future generations walk through these rows and read the inscriptions on the grave markers, I hope they will understand what Canadians have achieved and sacrificed in the cause of peace and freedom.”To further that effort, in the past five years Veteran’s Affairs Canada (VAC) has invested $4 million for the expansion, renovations, and upgrades to the cemetery. Approximately $1.9 million of those funds were used to construct granite columbariums that contain the ashes of the dead, and in-ground internments.Capt(N) Sader congratulated Jennifer McFarlane, Chair of the God’s Acre Candlelight Committee, for helping honour those in  the cemetery. Every year on the last Thursday of May, a candlelight tribute is held  with children and veterans to remember those who have served and continue to serve their country. “For every flag, grave, march, and trumpet there is a face, a...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Erika Johnson is building a self-care movement one event at a time. The military member has joined Kara Poyntz, a military spouse, to host A Night of Self Care at the Colwood Activity Centre Saturday, March 14, 6 to 9 p.m. Together they will present information on meditation, essential oils and exercise.“There can be a lot of stress associated with being a spouse or member of the military. We believe everyone needs to find their own self care solutions,” said Johnson. “Finding these methods can be difficult, so we are offering a sampling of different techniques to achieve that goal.”To aid them in their goal, they have enlisted healing experts Meagan Bagnall, a kinesiologist who will offer instruction on kettlebell fitness techniques; Sarah Hofing will provide instruction on yoga and chakra meditation techniques; and Victoria-based dance instructor Miss Cheryl will teach a Zumbini music dance class for children and a Hot Hulu exercise class for adults.Education and sampling of various essential oils will be taught by Johnson and Poyntz.To round out the event, local health industry representatives and vendors will have booths on site.  There will also be free giveaways and samples of health care products. Daycare will be provided for parents with children. There are 40 spaces available for the event at a cost of $25, available through Eventbrite.ca.

[caption id="attachment_22690" align="alignnone" width="593"] Members of 39 Signal Regiment covered plenty of ground Feb 21-23 as they took part in Exercise Mercury Thunder II, a test of the unit’s ability to provide communications support to other military units taking part in earthquake relief operations. Graphic by Capt Jeff Manney, 39 Canadian Brigade Group[/caption]Capt Jeff Manney, 39 Canadian Brigade Group ~It was just a test, but when Major Jeff Hamel showed up for work at his Vancouver unit over the weekend he could feel the ground shaking.A simulated 8.1 magnitude quake had just struck B.C., triggering Cougar Tremor, the army’s response plan for a major earthquake in the province. Signallers and line technicians of 39 Signal Regiment, streaming in for a routine training weekend, were given a no-notice order: deal with it.  This was Exercise Mercury Thunder II.“Normally the army plans in a methodical way – prepare, rehearse and execute a plan to seize that bridge, that sort of thing,” says Maj Hamel, the Regiment’s ‘A’ squadron commander.  “But earthquake response is different.  It’s a call in the middle of the night to get something to work come hell or high water.”In this exercise, the quake levelled the bridges around Vancouver, brought down a hospital, sent looters rampaging through debris, and pushed citizens, who felt the government wasn’t responding quickly enough, to occupy critical federal land where they could set up their own evacuee camps.“We all hope we never have to do this. But if it happens, and if we suck at this task, thousands of people will die because we didn’t want to step outside our comfort zone,” Maj Hamel says.On paper, the task for the Army’s Reserve signallers in a domestic emergency is a simple one – provide communications to military units responding to the disaster. “The Canadian Armed Forces is...

[caption id="attachment_22687" align="alignnone" width="591"] Photo by Peter Mallett[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~As LS Daniel D’Sa sees it, the best things in life are by design.Currently a stores man at Naval Fleet School Pacific by day, he also owns and operates a local business in Victoria. Last year he launched his company Daniel D’Sa Designs Inc. which focuses on designing and renovating homes. “While some people find it enjoyable to read a novel in their spare time, for me it’s all about combing through technical manuals and architectural journals; that’s what I gravitate towards,” he says. Before a back injury developed at sea got him posted to shore, he relished his work as part of the marine systems engineer department with the navy. He’s drawn from those skills and applied them to transforming people’s living spaces.“I focus mainly on interior design and see a project through from its infancy to completion,” he explains.  “I am the guy who works directly with my clients to find out what they want, and come up with a concept that reflects the practicality of the space, cohesion of the design, and the mood the client is trying to create.”He enlisted as a reservist with 32nd Brigade Group in Toronto about the same time he studied industrial design and design foundations at Humber College.The 2008 recession led him to move to Wainwright, Alta., where he was offered a full-time Class B position with The Canadian Maneuvering Training Center. During his time in Wainwright, D’Sa bought a state-of-the-art large format printer/cutter and opened his own printing business after recognizing a need; area businesses wore a path to his door. “All businesses have been positive experiences,” he says. “I’m really good at moving to a location, finding out what the need is, and adapting.”He re-mustered to the navy and...