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[caption id="attachment_13481" align="alignnone" width="300"] LCdr Angus Fedoruk, Lt(N) Justine Aucoin, and Lt(N) Sonya Sowa, review their Lessons Learned notes on Operation Staunch Maple. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout Newspaper[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new Lessons Learned Program is helping the Canadian Armed Forces enhance the effectiveness of their emergency response.It was recently tested following Exercise Staunch Maple, a training exercise conducted by Joint Task Force Pacific June 7. It focused on the military’s operational readiness to support the Province of British Columbia in the event of an earthquake disaster.With the exercise complete, recent graduates of the Lessons Learned Staff Officer Course are analyzing the feedback in order to right what didn’t work and ensure the successes are repeated.“Most organizations in the public and private sector are about continuous improvement and often perform functional solutions analysis similar to these,” says LCdr Angus Fedoruk, Lessons Learned Coordinator. “Unlike the private sector, which uses Lessons Learned programs to improve profitability, our bottom line is to increase effectiveness, save resources and equipment, and most importantly save people.”He says that while no training program, exercise or operation can ever reach 100 per cent effectiveness, Lessons Learned is a methodology to make things run more smoothly.For Staunch Maple, the two recent graduates of the Lessons Learned (LL) course, Lt(N) Justine Aucoin, RCAF LL Staff Officer,  and Lt(N) Sonya Sowa, NATO LL Officer of Primary Responsibility, are developing those solutions.The two are working in a second floor boardroom at the Wardroom, writing down their key findings on pieces of paper taped to the wall, after pouring over hundreds of observations, notes, recorded comments, interviews and email responses from military personnel who participated in Exercise Staunch Maple.“There has been a high level of participation at all levels and all ranks,” says Lt(N) Aucoin. “The pieces of paper on...

[caption id="attachment_13475" align="alignnone" width="300"] Ordinary Seaman Mark Narozanski from HMCS Vancouver prepares for the Multiple Ammunition Softkill System (MASS) firings for TAPA trials in the Pacific Ocean during RIMPAC 16. Photo by LS Sergej Krivenko, HMCS Vancouver[/caption]Samantha Bayard, Defence Research and Development Canada ~It is getting increasingly complex to defeat a naval threat in today’s defence environment. However, Defence Research and Development Canada’s (DRDC) Radar Electronic Warfare team aims to provide the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with the technology it needs to defend against threats to its fleet.“The objective of the project is the improved defence of naval ships against modern anti-ship missiles,” explains Frederic Arpin, lead defence scientist for the project at DRDC. “Improvements to current and future threats mean the RCN has less time to defend itself. It has become increasingly difficult with opponents having improved electronic protection measures to move threat targeting off the ship.”A project is moving forward within the RCN to attain two to four systems for an operational evaluation.“The project is going to allow us to purchase some commercial jammers because what we developed is experimental. It’s not rugged or combat ready in any sense,” says Arpin.DRDC prepared the specifications for the project based on years of lessons. The jammer technology has evolved over 10 years of trials and data analysis. The first proof of concept was demonstrated with a basic noise jammer that tested its effect on threat simulators.“The noise jammer was basically passive; we knew the frequency of the threat simulator and we just output noise,” explains Arpin.The next step was to develop a coherent digital radio frequency memory (DRFM) jammer to target cutting-edge threats.“The DRFM jammer captures and digitizes the incoming radio frequency pulse which the threat is transmitting. Next it stores and retransmits a modified signal that indicates a false target with different coordinates and a different signature,” says Arpin. “This technology is a smarter way of defeating the threat.”The DRFM jammer is fitted on an unmanned vessel or drone,...

[caption id="attachment_13472" align="alignnone" width="300"] Apprentice Dustin Ross explains to the cadets about precision cutting of metal.[/caption]Captain Angela Sargent, Albert Head Cadet Training Centre ~While the sights and sounds of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt may be commonplace for the military and DND civilian personnel who work here, for those invited guests it is a mysterious place.So when a group of air cadets from Albert Head Cadet Training Centre toured Fleet Maintenance Facility Cape Breton (FMF CB) Aug. 4, their excitement sparked through the group like an arc welder.As part of their Basic Aviation Technology and Aerospace Course the cadets received a tour of the facility to gain insight into the techniques, technology and sheer effort that goes into maintaining the ships of Canadian Pacific Fleet.Safety hats and glasses were handed out before the group of wide-eyed cadets was shown a few decommissioned weapons and an old ceremonial cannon.In the metal shop, apprentice boiler maker and fabricator Dustin Ross explained how metal is cut to detailed specifications using equipment operated by a computer. His eloquence mesmerized the cadets.  They then watched a more specialized machine cut small metal silhouettes of warships, which were presented to them as a keepsake.Cadets were then led outside to the dry dock to see where the servicing of ships and submarine has taken place since the nineteenth century. On that day, a submarine rested on blocks, and the youth marveled at its black hull. A short walk away HMCS Winnipeg glowed resplendent in the sunlight. Cadets stared up at its massive hull, mouths agape. For cadets from the prairies, it was a thrill to see this majestic warship in such an intimate circumstance.At the tour end the cadets headed back to Albert Head, clutching their metal ship souvenir, and chatting non-stop about their visit.

[caption id="attachment_13468" align="alignnone" width="300"] Inspecting the engine of Bryant’s plane after his crash at Victoria on August 6, 1913.[/caption]Vic Atkinson, Contributor ~Ten years after the dreams of Orville and Wilbur Wright were realized, the American husband and wife team of John Bryant and Alys McKey visited Canada with their Curtis type biplane in 1913.Unlike the Wright brothers, whose first venture to the sky in a fragile biplane was witnessed by only five people, the couples‘ flights were witnessed by thousands.Their first flying demonstrations were in Vancouver on Aug. 1 and 2.  John Bryant thrilled the crowd with his expert handling of the machine. Then his wife Alys took the machine up and set two Canadian records for women: the first flight made in the Dominion of Canada by a woman pilot and attaining a height of 2,200 feet.Their next demonstration was in Victoria.Alys was first to take the biplane up.  She took off from Willows and flew towards Uplands, but strong ocean winds forced her to turn around and land.  John was to make the next flight over Victoria.  For this demonstration, he removed the wheels from the aircraft and substituted a single float.  This allowed the machine to take off and land on water.Taking off from Cadboro Bay, he headed for the city centre.  Every vantage point was jammed with cheering spectators as he flew overhead and then landed just outside the Inner Harbour.At 5:30 p.m. he took off for another demonstration, circling the city until he was over the business section. Reaching the height of 800 feet, the machine was seen to falter and then dive.  When it was over City Hall, the dive steeped and the aircraft began to spin and disintegrate until the right wing broke off.  Completely out of control, the aircraft plummeted down striking...

[caption id="attachment_13464" align="alignnone" width="300"] Polish Navy frigate ORP Gen. Kociuszko follows astern of HMCS Charlottetown in the Black Sea. Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, DND[/caption]Lt(N) Bill King, HMCS Charlottetown ~HMCS Charlottetown participated in Exercise Sea Shield in the Black Sea with its Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) consorts, Standing NATO Mine Counter-Measures Group Two (SNMCMG2), and maritime assets from other partner states, July 19 to 22.More than 14 warships, 10 aircraft, and one submarine from seven NATO countries and one partner state participated in the exercise, which focused on strengthening and developing common procedures for maritime operations including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and mine clearance operations.“Exercise Sea Shield was an opportunity for NATO allies and partner state navies to develop proficiency, confidence, and trust during joint operations,” said Commander Andrew Hingston, SNMG2 Task Unit Two Commander, and Commanding Officer of Charlottetown. “There is no substitute for exercising directly with our allies in terms of developing interoperability.”Charlottetown provided support in all warfare disciplines, but the ship’s most notable contributions were to maritime interdiction operations and anti-submarine warfare.The ship employed one of the Royal Canadian Navy’s first enhanced naval boarding parties. The highly-trained team of boarding specialists supported a boarding event that included the search and seizure of a merchant vessel.Charlottetown also participated in several anti-submarine warfare exercises during which the crew demonstrated their proficiency at detecting, tracking, and attacking submarines hidden beneath the ocean.SNMG2 is an allied task group of high-readiness maritime assets from NATO countries that responds to a variety of operational contingencies in Central and Eastern Europe and around the world.Charlottetown has been serving with SNMG2 since late June when it replaced HMCS Fredericton.This exercise was part of Charlottetown’s deployment on Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.

The 24th Annual Canadian Peacekeeping Memorial Day Parade took place at the Legislature of British Columbia, Aug. 9.[caption id="attachment_13456" align="alignnone" width="560"] A Ferret Armoured Car from the Ashton Garrison Military Museum drives by the reviewing stand as Reviewing Officer Cdr Jeff Watkins salutes. Photos by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13457" align="alignnone" width="400"] Terri Orser, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, salutes during the playing of the Last Post.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13458" align="alignnone" width="400"] Reviewing Officer, Commander Jeff Watkins receives the General Salute in front of the Cenotaph at the B.C. Legislature.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13485" align="alignnone" width="400"] A trumpeter from the Albert Head Cadet Band plays the Last Post while a member of the 443 Military Helicopter Squadron Pipe and Drum Band salutes at the 24th Annual Canadian Peacekeeping Memorial Day Parade. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_13447" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lieutenant (Navy) Linda Coleman aboard a rigid-hulled inflatable boat during Op Caribbe.[/caption]Lt(N) Linda Coleman, DND ~What is it like learning to be a sailor in the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) and going to sea for the first time after years in a Canadian Army uniform?Back in February, I was new to the navy and going through the Naval Environmental Training Program (NETP) to prepare for my first naval deployment as the Public Affairs Officer for Operation Caribbe, Canada’s participation in the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.I completed NETP on March 1 and left the next day for San Diego, California, to meet up with HMCS Saskatoon and Edmonton to start the operation. I barely slept in the days leading up to my arrival, and the days following. Despite completing NETP, I was excited, nervous and a little terrified about experiencing the real deal.Even though NETP taught me how to fight fires and floods, it certainly didn’t prepare me for day-to-day life at sea. I contacted every sailor I knew asking for advice and tips on everything from wardroom etiquette to what kind of pajamas to bring. For example, I was told to bring a bathrobe. If I didn’t ask, no one would have told me, and that would have made for an awkward deployment without one. What were some of the best tips I received? Shower flip flops, reading material, music, lap top with movies/TV shows, and a soft fleece blanket ranked pretty high for me.Upon joining Saskatoon, I realized that my first mistake was over packing too many civilian clothes (my family and friends would not be surprised by this news). I luckily managed to fit everything into my tiny locker, which was in a cabin I shared with three other female crew members who ended up being fantastic women to serve with.The mistakes kept coming and for the first week I couldn’t even count the amount...

[caption id="attachment_13392" align="alignnone" width="300"] Executive Officer, LCdr Landon Creasy joins in the fun with a family member of Lt(N) Gleb Makarenko.[/caption]Lt Christopher House, HMCS Winnipeg ~In spite of heavy fog restricting visibility along the coastline, friends and family of HMCS Winnipeg crew were given the opportunity to come aboard July 8 and experience first-hand what their loved ones do day-to-day while at sea.This event, coming at the tail end of a short, four-day sail, allowed over 200 guests to see life aboard an HMC Ship.There were several activities, including tours of the ship, displays from the Boarding Party and Ship’s Team Divers, high speed manoeuvres, a man overboard exercise, and lunch with the crew in one of the ship’s three messes.The fog in the harbour may have reduced visibility for the ship’s watchkeepers, but it wasn’t hard to see the excitement and pride present on the face of every person welcomed aboard that day.“We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if it weren’t for the support provided by the crew’s family and friends,” said Commander Jeff Hutchinson, Winnipeg’s Commanding Officer. “I’ve found it challenging to describe what we do when we go to sea; so to have this short opportunity to show parts of what it’s like, it’s incredibly important. With a better understanding, the bond between the sailor and their family is strengthened.Strong families make strong sailors and strong sailors are the backbone of the RCN.”HMC Ships take great pride in showing Canadians what life at sea is like. Earlier this year in May, guests from their namesake city were invited aboard HMCS Calgary for a day of sailing as part of their “Operation C-Cowboy.”  Later, Winnipeg welcomed thousands aboard for tours as part of West Shore Navy Day in Colwood on June 11.As the summer moves...

Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~The Victoria Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC Victoria) in Esquimalt is the joint Canadian Armed Forces-Canadian Coast Guard Centre for Search and Rescue (SAR) monitoring, alerting, and emergency response.Each year, the Victoria JRCC responds to an average of 3,000 calls for assistance. Calls are attended by Royal Canadian Airforce members specializing in aeronautical emergencies and the Canadian Coast Guard who specialize in marine rescues.General safety tips while operating smaller pleasure craftMajor Justin Olsen, Officer in Charge at the JRCC Victoria, explains that as the weather improves in the summer, often those with ample experience paddling on lakes decide to try taking their canoes out on the ocean.“But the ocean is a different animal,” he says. “The ocean subjects the paddler to tides, winds, and often unpredictable waves that may quickly build in size to over two or three feet. Paddlers often find themselves in challenging sea states.”Every year, notes Major Olsen, the JRCC responds to calls from concerned citizens on land or at sea who have spotted an upturned canoe and paddler requiring a rescue.“For anyone choosing to go out onto the ocean, it is extremely important to bring your safety gear,” he says. “Wear your life jacket. Bring a radio. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when you will be coming back.”He also stresses that mariners ensure their vessels are well maintained to avoid break downs and consequent drifting while at sea.“It’s all about preparedness,” says Major Olsen. “There are preventable accidents and mistakes we can prepare to avoid.”Use a radio while at seaUnlike larger commercial or fishing vessels, small pleasure craft are not required to bring radios on board, but in the event of an emergency, the radio allows the skipper of a vessel to reach a wide audience quickly and...

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~LS Josée Cholette normally spends her spare time patrolling the 90 feet of dirt between second and third base, but recently she presided over a different spot at the ballpark.This time the shortstop for the Esquimalt Triton women’s slo-pitch team had a bird’s-eye view of the field after earning starter’s role as a French-language public address announcer for three days at the Women’s World Softball Championships.She was the voice behind the microphone for opening day festivities on July 15, and then again on July 23 and 24, announcing team lineups, batters and final scores and statistics to the crowd and closing ceremonies at Surrey’s Softball City Sports and Entertainment Complex.It was her first experience working as a support staff member at a major international sporting event and one which she says she thoroughly enjoyed.“I was initially a little nervous and had some butterflies because I had never been in front of a microphone, but then I realized just like on the field, it’s all about teamwork in the press box,” she says. “After my initial first-inning jitters I gradually began to feel more comfortable because I know baseball, and the important information that is necessary to convey to the crowd. I think I did a good job.”LS Cholette, 45, grew up in suburban Montreal and said one of her most emotional moments during the tournament was announcing the lineups for France’s national team in their opening game against Venezuela and the universally heart-felt moment of silence prior to the opening ceremony. That’s because France’s game occurred less than 24 hours after the terrorist attack in Nice that killed 84 people, and LS Cholette noted at least three or four members of the team hailed from the picturesque southern seaside town.“It was an extremely sad moment and...

[caption id="attachment_13380" align="alignnone" width="300"] Sgt Moogly Tetrault-Hamel brings the Canadian Armed Forces Eagle Staff ashore during a ceremony on Esquimalt Nations territory, Aug. 19, 2015. Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Throughout his 15-year military career, Sgt Moogly Tetrault-Hamel has helped strengthen ties and build a greater understanding of Aboriginal issues for Canadian Armed Forces and DND personnel at CFB Esquimalt.Now he’s headed to the Nation’s Capital to take the role of Aboriginal Advisor, helping establish proper guidance and direction in regards to Aboriginal spirituality.In this new role, the Abenaki First Nations soldier from 39 Canadian Brigade Group will share his cultural knowledge on a national level so chaplain services can better serve Aboriginal personnel.Since much of Aboriginal cultural knowledge comes from oral teachings and personal experiences, Sgt Tetrault-Hamel says he has the tools to build that greater understanding.“This acknowledgement is a huge step forward for all of our Indigenous cultural backgrounds. Aboriginal Canadians, Metis, First Nations and Inuit have wide ranges of Indigenous ways, and I hope to entitle our ways with proper support.”At CFB Esquimalt, he served on the Defence Aboriginal Advisory Group (DAAG) as the Regional Military Co-Chair for British Columbia. DAAG advises military leadership on significant issues and trends affecting the role and quality of life of Aboriginal people serving in DND and the Canadian Armed Forces.His involvement in DAAG began when he first joined the CAF as a supply technician in 2001. Subsequently he became involved with the Raven Program in 2003 and was DAAG Regional Military Chair for Alberta between 2010 and 2013, before taking on a similar position in British Columbia in 2013.“Following his years of outstanding support to the MARPAC DAAG, Sgt Tetrault-Hamel’s appointment as the Aboriginal Advisor to the Royal Canadian Chaplain Service is richly deserved,” said Base Commander,...

[caption id="attachment_13377" align="alignnone" width="300"] Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) Summit team at the top of Mt Baker: Pte Geoff Baldwin, Cpl Erik Carveth, MCpl Denis Byrne and Seth Goodwin from the Langford Fire Department.[/caption]MCpl Denis Byrne, Canadian Scottish Regiment ~One day after Canada Day three soldiers from the Canadian Scottish Regiment, and a volunteer firefighter from Langford Fire department, stood atop Mt Baker, Washington, and gazed across the landscape.In 27 hours they had climbed 3,286 metres (10,781 feet ) on one of the most heavily glaciated of the Cascade Range volcanoes. Mt Baker, located in the Cascade Mountain range, was formed by massive tectonic plate movements and upheavals deep in the Earth’s crust. It is covered in snow and ice all year. It is the third highest mountain in Washington State and the fifth highest in the Cascade Range.The Summit Team was led by myself, MCpl Denis Byrne, 53. I am a mountaineering enthusiast and have climbed for over 20 years, with two other successful ascents of Mt Baker, and two of Mt Rainier. I have also scaled Mt Kilimanjaro in East Africa, and have made an attempt on Mt Denali (formerly  Mt McKinley) in 2006.Accompanying me were Cpl Erik Carveth, 23, a strong lead technical rock climber and mountaineer who climbs ­locally. He has summitted many Vancouver Island peaks, notably Kings Peak at 2,065m (6,775 ft).The third Canadian Scottish Regiment soldier was Pte Geoff Baldwin, 23, who has some technical rock climbing skills and general mountaineering.The final member of the team was Seth Goodwin, 23, a volunteer firefighter with the City of Langford. He is a recreational climber and is trained in rope rescue. He is also a primary care Paramedic.We arrived at the 5,000 foot base camp on June 30 after travelling from Victoria. For 24 hours we...

[caption id="attachment_13374" align="alignnone" width="300"] Firefighter Alex Donald helps Raphael and Michael Gravel from Big Brothers and Big Sisters dress in firefighting gear during a tour of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt July 29. Photo by Cpl Stuart MacNeil, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Two children and their mentors from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Victoria got an up-close look at the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) with a tour of Dockyard on the morning of July 29.The group started their visit by meeting personnel from Esquimalt’s Fire and Rescue Services and the Military Police Unit, where the children tried on fire-fighting gear and were permitted to sound the sirens and horns in a police cruiser, and the hook and ladder truck.They then moved on for a tour of the RCN’s submarine HMCS Victoria and participated in an escape-training drill.Finally, the group boarded HMCS Regina for a tour of the bridge and Captain’s Quarters of the Halifax-class frigate where they were each presented a souvenir RCN baseball hat.Their day concluded with lunch in the Submarine Shore Office cafeteria where MS Devin Maxwell, a Naval Communicator in Victoria, presented Big Brothers Big Sisters Victoria a $500 cheque from the submarine’s charitable fund.MS Maxwell facilitated the outreach and said he got the idea for the tour after he and his girlfriend drove past the charitable organization’s headquarters.“I knew how much I enjoyed field trips when I was a kid and thought a tour of the base would be a great thing for Big Brothers Big Sisters,” said MS Maxwell. “I know they had a blast and were smiling ear-to-ear the entire time because it gave them a chance to come to Dockyard and see things they normally wouldn’t have a chance to see.”Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada currently matches over 42,000 children with...

[caption id="attachment_13370" align="alignnone" width="300"] Vice Admiral (Retired) Gary Garnett was presented a long lost cup from his former command, HMCS Kootney by Lieutenant (N) Malorie Aubrey, Aide-de-Camp to the Commander Maritime Forces Pacific/ Joint Task Force (Pacific) during the recent Change of Command Ceremony on July 22. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Sonya Chwyl, MARPAC PA Office ~If you’ve spent time at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt in the last two months, you may have noticed dredging underway in the harbour by A and B Jetties.It’s all part of the Esquimalt Harbour Remediation Project, which aims to remove contaminated sediment from the area and improve the harbour for sailors and marine life alike.But it’s not just sediment that has been brought to the surface – so far, hundreds of man-made artifacts have been recovered including lighters, keys, dishware and identification cards from as far back as 1955.While most of the items can’t be traced back to their origins, at least one has found its way back to its owner.At the recent Maritime Forces Pacific Change of Command ceremony, Rear-Admiral Couturier presented Vice-Admiral (Retired) Gary Garnett with a coffee mug that belonged to him almost 30 years ago.VAdm (Ret’d) Garnett’s name, along with the name of his squadron and ship, is still visible on the worn plastic coffee mug that was pulled from the harbour.From August 1986 to July 1988 VAdm (Ret’d) Garnett was Commander of the Second Canadian Destroyer Squadron. He says that’s when the mug must have found its way overboard.“It was somewhat worse for the wear, like myself,” said VAdm (Ret’d) Garnett, who is recovering from recent surgery.And while VAdm (Ret’d) Garnett may not have plans to use the souvenir to hold coffee anytime soon, he says it will find a good home in his office amongst...

[caption id="attachment_13327" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Ji-Hwan Park gets his sweat on while at sea en route to Pearl Harbor, Oahu.[/caption]SLt Samantha Bayne, HMCS Calgary ~While participating in RIMPAC 2016, HMCS Calgary is challenging its crew to their fourth consecutive fitness challenge.The challenge aims to improve the general health and fitness of participants by having them measure and track their fitness activity.Each activity, such as running, weight-lifting or playing sports, is assigned point values and participants are attempting to do enough activities within the challenge window to meet the fitness challenge goal of 335 points (the same number as the Calgary’s hull).Earning points by working out is only one aspect of the challenge. By forgoing desserts and smoking, participants can net a higher number of daily points.Additionally, while the ship is in port, sailors can earn more points by making healthier lifestyle choices, such as not consuming alcohol.The challenge was first initiated on Calgary in 2015 by the ship’s fitness coordinator Sergeant Steven Lewington.“The aim of the fitness challenge is to allow the ship’s company to set attainable fitness goals, which in turn entices sailors of all fitness levels to work out. It also helps the crew deal with the stresses of sailing and increases work productivity,” said Sgt Lewington.The number of participants grows with each challenge, amassing to over 300 challengers over the past year. PT classes at the gym were arranged twice a week during the fitness challenge while the ship was alongside in home port. The crew were given more points to join these classes, which encouraged the crew to participate with their shipmates and build team cohesion.Some members are doing it to challenge themselves or each other, but all are striving towards improving their general fitness and aim to lead healthier lifestyles.While the ship was alongside in...

[caption id="attachment_13323" align="alignnone" width="300"] PO2 Chris O’Leary is the winner of the B.C. Amateur Body Building Association Championships held on July 9. In the photos above he shows off his medal and award-winning physique.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Dressed only in a royal blue bikini, Petty Officer Second Class Chris O’Leary wowed the judges with his elegant posing routine, deeply tanned body, and well-defined muscles in the July 9 B.C. Amateur Body Building Association Championships.Judges assessed his tan colour, condition, how crisp his poses were, how symmetrical he is, the flow of his routine, and his confidence.After the judges tallied their scores, the sailor was awarded first place in the welterweight division, earning him an extraordinarily large medal to add to his collection.He has won seven provincial championship titles in four different provinces since he began competitive bodybuilding in his early twenties, starting in 1999.“My competitive nature comes out when I’m on stage,” he says. “I want to showcase my physique the best I can and put on an entertaining show for the audience.  I absolutely love it. It makes the 12 to 16 weeks of hell worth it for just those three minutes of glory.”He refers to the human body as a clay sculpture, which, with a little persistence and discipline, can be pushed to new levels of achievement by adding a bit more muscle to those areas that require more balance.“You identify your weaknesses and try to improve them through training to transform any weaknesses to strengths,” he says. “The main goal is to improve the physique so that you can be the best version of yourself you envision, and can be.”Weightlifting has been a part of his life since his teen years. It wasn’t until he caught the bodybuilding fervour that his physique began to take shape, and...

[caption id="attachment_13318" align="alignnone" width="385"] Photo by: Kathryn Mussallem[/caption]Lt(N) J. Ryan Edgar, HMCS Calgary ~Vanilla, strawberry and chocolate ice cream with a choice of toppings; this is the morale-boosting dessert sailors of HMCS Calgary can look forward to after Sunday suppers while at sea during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016 in Hawaii.Sundaes on Sunday is a naval tradition that even the saltiest Chief remembers chowing down on from when they first joined.Its origins are unknown but for many sailors on deployment it is used as a marker to help orient them to the day of the week. It is also a way to take time to socialize with fellow crew members and reflect on the hard work, challenges and achievements of the past weeks and those to come.A sundae on a Sunday evening at sea is relied upon by all sailors as a time of camaraderie and cheer.

[caption id="attachment_13309" align="alignnone" width="385"] Cadets on the Boatswain Mate Course gather together in the Flood Room for a group photo.[/caption]S/SLt Nathan Wong, HMCS QuadraThirty-eight Boatswain Mate Course Cadets from HMCS Quadra Cadet Training Centre participated in a firefighting and flooding introduction at Damage Control Training Facility (DCTF) Galiano, part of CFB Esquimalt, on July 21.The purpose of the training was to familiarize the cadets with basic damage control techniques, so they can respond to critical situations as a crew on board a ship.“We were filled with excitement to be there, and to work with our division.  We got so much closer as a team while learning new skills,” says course cadet Tyler Reynolds, 17.In the firefighting portion, cadets learned about the basic sciences of a fire, and the different classes of fires. They had the op­portunity to watch a demonstration of the various types of extinguishers, and took turns extinguishing a fire.Cadets were also placed in a burn room (a mock-up sleeping quarter on a naval vessel), and then the instructors turned on the fire, which spread rapidly around the room. In the burn room, cadets practiced using thermal imaging cameras, which can easily detect casualties and hot spots in complete darkness.“With the fire training, we really needed to exercise our communication skills to work together,” says Reynolds.Afterwards, cadets learned various fire hose handling techniques, and had fun in a Fire Hose Olympics, which involved knocking down pieces of wood and filling a bucket with the fire hose.In the flood portion, cadets learned how to prevent water from entering the ship. The goal is to reduce the rate of water flowing into the ship so it is manageable by the ship’s pumping systems. Cadets were shown ways to plug holes, reinforce broken doors and hatches, and practiced stopping a leak in a high pressure pipe.Then cadets were placed in a flood tank, which is a full mock-up room on board a ship, complete with holes and damaged bulkhead where water...

[caption id="attachment_13303" align="alignnone" width="235"] SLt Emily Wood on the bike portion of the CAF National Triathlon. Photo by Michel Hurtubise[/caption]Peter Mallett, Lookout Staff ~SLt Emily Wood claimed her second national sports title in less than a year after the sailor from HMCS Brandon captured first place at the CAF National Triathlon Championships.The July 8 event, co-hosted by the municipalities of Ottawa and Gatineau, Que., brought together over 100 military triathletes from across the country.SLt Wood finished with a top time of 2:23.42 for females competing in the Olympic Distance category, a gruelling race course that includes a 1.5 kilometre swim, 40 km cycling course and 10 km run.SLt Wood, 25, who works as a bridge watchkeeper, was also a midfielder for the MARPAC’s women’s soccer team that captured the CAF national title at camp Borden in September 2015.If that wasn’t enough for the family trophy case, she also collected four gold medals at the CAF Swimming Nationals at Markham, Ont., in April 2016.She says the latest victory came as a surprise because she had not raced in a triathlon for the past seven years since quitting the sport after high school, and had not done very much training for the race.“It was pretty exciting when I found out I had won and was happy to see I still had something in me since I had been out of it for so long,” said SLt Wood. “I used to do triathlons all the time but I have been taking a break because of school and work commitments, and also because it is hard to train for a triathlon while you are at sea. I didn’t know I had won until the results were posted later that day because the weather was so miserable and everyone had left the race site.”SLt Wood and the other nine competitors from the base were forced to contend with heavy rain and severe thunderstorms while competing in this year’s event. According to team manager and triathlete...

[caption id="attachment_13298" align="alignnone" width="300"] Members of MARPAC’s marching team complete the last five kilometres of their journey during the Victory Parade on Annastaadt Street on day four of the 2016 International Four Days Marches Nijmegen. Photos submitted by Lt(N) Marianne Knai.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Sore feet aside, the Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Nijmegen marching team are elated to have won the prestigious Woodhouse Trophy at this year’s Four Days International Marches Nijmegen, July 19 to 22.The trophy is awarded to the top Canadian military contingent at the march who best represents the spirit of Nijmegen, and has the most positive impact on the Canadian contingent.While it is an honour to win the award, office in charge of the contingent, Lt(N) Marianne Knai says the real victory is the camaraderie among all Canadian Armed Forces personnel that kept them united and crossing the finish line each day.“We didn’t compete for the trophy, but instead our focus was working together with all of the teams to achieve 100 per cent completion for the entire Canadian contingent,” she says. “We also marched to remember the fallen and to connect with the locals who appreciate our presence.”The 11-member team representing MARPAC participated in the 100th version of the march through the Dutch countryside. They covered over 40 kilometres a day in hot and humid conditions alongside approximately 50,000 other participants.“The performance of the team was excellent and I could not be more proud,” says Lt(N) Knai. “We dealt with extreme weather conditions with temperatures of 35 Celcius or above for three of the four days, and torrential rain on day four. We suffered heat exhaustion and other physical fatigue but managed to pull through and fulfill the Commander’s intent of 100 per cent completion.”From the outset of their training Lt(N) Knai was quick to quash any talk of competing for the Woodhouse Trophy.Instead she wanted her team “fully focussed” on representing the Canadian Armed Forces, and the overall historical significance of the event. She...

SLt Michael Van Vlaenderen and MS André Bienvenu, HMCS Yellowknife ~When HMCS Yellowknife arrived in San Diego for Rim of the Pacific 2016 (RIMPAC), the ship’s crew welcomed four members of the Royal Norwegian Navy and embarked their Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), also known as the HUGIN.Developed over the last 15 years by Kongsberg Maritime and the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, the HUGIN 1000 conducts autonomous, semi-autonomous and supervised mine hunting operations and can operate in waters as deep as 3,000 metres.Embarking the HUGIN and its equipment involved configuring Yellowknife, a Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel, in such a way that had never been done before, including fitting two additional containers to the back of the ship. This meant that any response from the ship’s company to commonly practiced emergency procedures, such as a man overboard or fire and flood control, had to be adjusted to fit the new layout.“The ship’s engineering department carefully analyzed the impact the new payload would have on the ship’s stability, requiring them to make adjustments to the ship’s ballast,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class Evan Mills, Chief Engineer. “Other considerations for the integration of the HUGIN system included running cabling and antennae to the bridge to ensure proper integration of HUGIN’s command and control systems.”The HUGIN is launched off the stern of the ship, directly out of its container using a hydraulic launch and recovery system. Once in the water, the HUGIN begins travelling on its pre-programmed course. Within a few minutes, it dives below the surface, conducting a survey of the ocean floor with its high-resolution sonar, or identifying previously found objects with its onboard optical imaging system.“While underwater, HUGIN finds its way using a state-of-the-art aided inertial navigation system, and relays its position to the ship using an underwater acoustic modem deployed...

[caption id="attachment_13240" align="alignnone" width="300"] Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Vancouver departs Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for Rim of the Pacific 2016. Photo by Mass Communication Specialist First Class Shannon Chambers, U.S. Navy[/caption]DND ~Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver recently joined Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Warramunga and United States Ship (USS) Howard for a live anti-ship missile defence (ASMD) system test in Hawaiian waters, as part of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016.For Vancouver, the aim of the exercise was two-fold: to technically assess the operational effectiveness and suitability of Halifax-class ships in anti-air warfare and ASMD roles; and to tactically assess the application of knowledge and skills of the combat team in Vancouver in realistic operational ASMD. This shoot was the culmination of training reaching back to May of this year.Lieutenant (Navy) John Claymore, Vancouver’s Above Water Warfare Officer, is responsible for the ship’s sensors division – the team of sailors responsible for surface and air warfare. This includes directing surface and air engagements using Harpoon and Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM), Bofor 57mm cannon, Phalanx Close-In Weapon System, MASS and RAMSES weapons systems, and the detection of ESSM/communications signals via sophisticated electronic means.For Lt(N) Claymore, the ESSM was the final weapon he had yet to fire while employed as a Sensor Weapons Controller, an achievement accomplished by few in the Royal Canadian Navy.“RIMPAC really is the perfect venue for us to trial and evaluate the employment of our weapons and command and control systems, and also to assess our ability to respond to threats such as anti-ship missiles,” says Lt(N) Claymore. “Ultimately, nothing can replace the experience of firing real munitions – and being successful on a live-fire exercise like this gives a huge boost in morale to the entire crew.”Vancouver conducted a successful engagement against a...

Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Youth attending Personnel Support Programs’ (PSP) Fun Seekers Day Camps this summer have the opportunity to create art for a special picture book, “A Pollen Fairy Named Squirt.”The book is authored by Fay Maddison, CEO and President of the Natasha’s Woods Foundation.The book is one of four written by Maddison, and supported by her foundation. It embodies a fantastical and magical main character with the ability  to overcome everyday life challenges that children of first responder families may face. These challenges include having a loved one suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), or amputation, or the death of a loved one in service.This particular book features a tiny pollen fairy that gets moved or “posted” frequently.Like her books, Maddison’s foundation aims to raise awareness of and unconditional support for the mental wellness of children in both first responder and military families. The charity focuses on harnessing the power of story-telling and the arts to generate resources required to provide programs and support services for children affected by their parents’ service.During PSP’s Fun Seekers Summer Camps Ryan Anderson, Manager for Community Recreation at CFB Esquimalt, says children will read “A Pollen Fairy Named Squirt” and then be asked to draw a picture interpreting the story.The pictures will be submitted to the Foundation for possible inclusion in the book.Original art selected will best depict the storyline, explains Maddison, and the work of multiple young artists will be included in the book.“Sales of this children and youth illustrated picture book series will always give back to children and youth services programs,” says Maddison, who notes that the books will create a legacy by children, for children.In partnership with PSP, the Natasha’s Wood Foundation will also provide funds for grants that PSP Recreation departments can apply for to organize and...

[caption id="attachment_13232" align="alignnone" width="300"] Image of Dunn’s Nook Fish Habitat project, taken at F Jetty, CFB Esquimalt. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]Lorraine Crinkley, FSE ~Public Works Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and Formation Safety and Environment (FSE) were onsite July 18 at Colwood for the unveiling of the Dunn’s Nook Fish Habitat Compensation Project.The project created intertidal marsh habitat at Dunn’s Nook located adjacent to F jetty in Colwood.As part of the PWGSC’s Esquimalt Graving Dock Waterlot Remediation Project, the Dunn’s Nook habitat was created to offset impacts caused by project activities.As part of the agreement, PWGSC cleaned up a contaminated site within Dunn’s Nook, improved the local habitat, and will transfer any surplus habitat credits to DND for application on future marine capital projects. Dunn’s Nook had been impacted by human activity since the mid 1900s when Wilfert Road and the culverts beneath it were constructed. This original development restricted tidal flow and passage of fish and other marine life into the marsh, and caused standing water to remain during low tide events. This resulted in anoxic, low quality fish habitat that had the potential for stranding and killing fish.Intertidal marsh area in Esquimalt harbour is a rare feature, and successful re-establishment of this habitat would be a substantial contribution to local biodiversity. Salt marshes are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth; they act as nurseries for plant and animal species, provide food and habitat for birds and other wildlife, slow shoreline erosion, absorb excess nutrients, and help to protect coastal areas from flooding.The Dunn’s Nook Fish Habitat Compensation Project began with the completion of several site assessments including a tidal flow assessment, chemical analysis of soils, and archaeological assessment to ensure the protection of nearby archaeological site DcRu-137.Once the assessments were completed, 930m3 of...

[caption id="attachment_13227" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Brian Broom[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~In recognition of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay, Transgender and Queer Pride Month, the iconic Rainbow Flag was flown for the first time during the opening summer parade at HMCS Quadra Cadet Training Centre.More than 800 cadets and staff were in attendance as the colourful flag waved in the wind overhead.Lieutenant (Navy) Brian Broom, a B.C. Course Officer for Drill and Ceremonial, organized the Rainbow Flag’s presence to ensure all cadets on course felt welcomed and respected.“As an officer in the cadet organization’s administrative and training service, I wanted to be the voice for cadets that may not necessarily feel safe or who may struggle with identifying themselves,” he said. “I wanted to show silent communication to everyone that we are a youth program of equality, and we were able to show this to everyone by raising the Rainbow Flag.”Lt(N) Broom, who identifies as a member of the LBGTQ community, says his experience as a young army cadet in Ontario was fraught with harassment. He was made fun of routinely for his identity.“My experience happened years ago, but to see the Rainbow Flag going up now shows the forward thinking our youth programs are based upon,” he says.To have the flag raised, Lt(N) Broom consulted with his command staff; he then drew up a memorandum that was sent to the Commanding Officer of the Regional Cadet Support Unit. His suggestion was given the green light without hesitation.As the cadet band played on, and just shortly after the Canadian Flag was raised, the Rainbow Flag was hoisted up by a cadet  as the first division of cadets marched by for the summer.“I was standing just off of the parade square, watching it be raised up,” says Lt(N) Broom. “It was a very personal...

[caption id="attachment_13224" align="alignnone" width="300"] Captain Kevin Naismith with his children Halsey, Arina, and Adam.[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Canada Company, an organization that provides outreach between Canada’s Armed Forces (CAF) members and the corporate world, announced June 24 an enhancement of their Scholarship Fund at their annual scholarship awards ceremony in Toronto.The scholarship fund exists to provide financial assistance towards the post-secondary education of eligible children of Canadian soldiers who have been killed while serving in domestic or international operations of the Canadian Armed Forces and Reserves any time since Jan. 1, 2002.For the purpose of this Scholarship Fund, “killed while serving” shall include Canadian soldiers, who, while still serving in the military and having served in an active role in a domestic or international operation of the Canadian Armed Forces and Reserves any time since 2002, or who took their own lives where the suicides have been determined by a Board of Inquiry to be death by suicide attributable through military service.Eligible candidates who enroll or continue their enrolment in full-time post-secondary academic studies may be awarded annual scholarships of up to $4,000 per academic year and may be available for a maximum of four years.An initial contribution of $100,000 from the Canada Company Board of Directors to the fund has since been matched by TD, Scotiabank, RBC and BMO. This spurred an additional $10,000 donation from The Globe & Mail bringing the total additional funding to $510,000.“It is important to Canada Company that we support the men and women in uniform, and their families,” says Angela Mondou, President of Canada Company.Belinda Naismith and her family are one of over a hundred families who have been supported by the fund. Her eldest son Adam was one of the first recipients of the scholarship fund when it was founded in 2008.Adam...

[caption id="attachment_13221" align="alignnone" width="300"] A diver selected to survey USS Arizona swims slowly alongside the decaying ship. Photo courtesy LS Joe Falletta[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Three Clearance Divers had a rare opportunity to dive an American historical site.Leading Seaman Joe Falletta, LS Raphael Marcouiller and LS Benoit Leonard from Fleet Diving Unit Pacific, and Master Corporal Nathan Rommens, Combat Diver from CFB Gagetown, were among the first non-Americans to complete a diving survey of USS Arizona, a ship bombed and sunk in Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in 1941.“The ship is a war memorial, and isn’t open to the public because it is an actual gravesite with 900 American sailors still trapped inside of it,” says LS Falletta.He and a group of 10 divers from Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, and the Netherlands were selected to attend the dive, led by an American National Parks representative diver.They are now among the less than 100 people who have ever seen the ship from beneath the surface.Before donning their Compressed Air Breathing Apparatuses, the group was taken to the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, a large white shrine situated in the middle of the harbor, to pay their respects and more fully understand the story of USS Arizona, located in the water almost directly beneath the memorial.The group dove about eight metres into the green waters, working with about 10 to 15 feet of visibility to view the ship, which stands upright on the ocean floor.“I felt shock and awe that I was even down there, because this dive had been scheduled and cancelled at the last minute at previous RIMPACs due to the sheer magnitude of the dive,” says LS Falletta. “So to be honest, up until I had my tanks on, there was still a part of me that thought...

[caption id="attachment_13217" align="alignnone" width="300"] From the left: Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier, Vice-Admiral Ron Lloyd, and Rear-Admiral Art McDonald sign Change of Command Certificates. Photo by Leading Seaman David Gariépy[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~A crowd of military personnel and invited guests took their seats at A Jetty on Friday morning, July 22, to witness the change of command between Cape Breton native Rear-Admiral Art McDonald and Rear-Admiral Gilles Couturier.Following an inspection of the Guard of Honour, the two Admirals signed the certificates officially changing command of Maritime Forces Pacific and Joint Task Force (Pacific) to RAdm McDonald. Overseeing the event was Vice Admiral Ron Lloyd, the new Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN).“I look forward to the privilege of working with the integrated military and civilian team here as we continue to ensure that we deliver operational excellence – at home and abroad, both today and tomorrow,” said RAdm McDonald in his formal address.Prior to assuming the Maritime Forces Pacific command, then-Commodore McDonald served as Director General of Naval Force Development from 2013 to 2016, overseeing planning and conducting one of the largest peacetime renewals in RCN history.In his address, RAdm McDonald highlighted the important milestones solidified by previous the commander, RAdm Couturier, including listening to, and working with Canada’s First Nations, and noting the previous commander’s respect for diversity and ability to tackle conduct issues head-on.He closed his speech by sharing his feelings of dedication to the future of the RCN.“You need to know that I am committed to helping you continue the great work of RAdm Couturier in the watch ahead, and that I wish to remain focused on the ships – yes, our warships for sure, but in addition to warships, I’m talking about relationships, mentorships, and ownership,” RAdm McDonald said. “These words will serve as the lead...

[caption id="attachment_13169" align="alignnone" width="200"] Detail of the statue unveiled to commemorate Company Sergeant-Major Francis Pegahmagabow’s contribution to the Canadian Armed Forces. Photo by MCpl Precious Carandang[/caption] Capt Jonathan Link, 4th Canadian Division Public Affairs ~One hundred years after earning his first of three medals in the Great War, a life-sized bronze statue of Company Sergeant-Major (CSM) Francis Pegahmagabow was un-veiled at a ceremony in Parry Sound, Ontario, on June 21st, 2016, National Aboriginal Day.The event, attended by Lieutenant-General Marquis Hainse, Commander of the Canadian Army, representatives of the Government, First Nations, the Canadian Military as well as other dignitaries, honoured the incredible life of CSM Pegahmagabow both on and off the battlefields of France and Flanders.“Company Sergeant-Major (CSM) Francis Pegahmagabow is one among many indigenous people who chose to proudly serve their country. I was delighted to attend the unveiling and recognize such an important military and historical figure,” said LGen Hainse in a prepared statement for National Aboriginal Day.The monument was commissioned by the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association, which raised half of the $169,000 needed to realize it. The remaining half was provided by the Department of Canadian Heritage.Standing approximately three metres or 10 feet tall, the monument depicts CSM Pegahmagabow in his wartime uniform with an eagle above and a caribou at his side. The eagle represents the connection to the Creator while the caribou represents the Pegahmagabow family clan.“He stands for something more than just who he was,” said Tyler Fauvelle the Sudbury-based sculptor of the statue, noting CSM Pegahmagabow’s life as a warrior in peace and war. “His fight, both here for Native rights and on the Western Front, resonates with all Canadians.”It is difficult to overstate CSM Pegahmagabow’s accomplishments. When war broke out in 1914, Pegahmagabow, then a 24-year-old orphaned member of the Wasauksing...

[caption id="attachment_13166" align="alignnone" width="300"] CPO1 Mikaela MacMullin, HMCS Quadra. Photo by Rachel Lallouz, Lookout[/caption]Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~Eighteen-year-old Chief Petty Officer First Class Mikaela MacMullin will have more responsibility than most teenagers this summer as the newly-appointed Coxswain of HMCS Quadra, Cadet Training Centre, based in Comox.From June 29 until August 22, CPO1 MacMullin will oversee eight chiefs assisting her to manage 158 staff cadets and 855 course cadets being trained at HMCS Quadra in courses spanning rifle drill, marching and sailing.“Finding out I’d be Coxswain was a great blessing and amazing opportunity for me,” says CPO1 MacMullin, who was notified just prior to the beginning of summer. “I really enjoy watching the younger cadets grow and I love seeing them learn new skills, and then teach other cadets the new skills they’ve just learned.”Six years ago, CPO1 MacMullin joined Cadets in Edmonton, Alberta, when she was in Grade 7. She explains that she enjoyed learning how to march on her first night, and kept going back.“Since then, I’ve been attending HMCS Quadra every summer, where I trained as a Drill and Ceremonial Instructor and then eventually worked my way up to Senior Petty Officer for a drill course,” she says. “Last year I was Chief of Land Operations.”She says it was her early years in the Cadet Training Program where she learned the leadership skills so crucial to her current role: leading divisions and parades, learning how to teach activities and grow the skills of others and learning how to be the best possible team mate.“Apart from the skills I developed, I’m really patient, outgoing and I tell the truth – plus I try to be funny,” she laughs. “I try to promote the fun aspect of what we are doing while maintaining the professionalism of a training centre.”For...