DND - RCAF ~Do you miss working with some of the greatest people and technology in the Canadian Armed Forces? Would you like to put your skills back to work for Canada and Canadians?If so, there may be a place for you in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).The RCAF has established the Air Force Intake and Liaison Team (AFI&LT) to work with the Canadian Forces Recruiting Group to actively attract and enroll former trained members of the Canadian Armed Forces.Working together, the two teams are focused on supporting RCAF occupations that face particular personnel shortages, and can benefit immediately from the return of individuals who have the skills and experience that the Air Force needs. The AFI&LT, which is based in Ottawa, works to identify and put into action initiatives that improve the re-enrollment of skilled former members into the RCAF. The team works closely with the Recruiting Group and the career managers to streamline and expedite the re-enrollment process. In addition, they can provide individual support and guidance to each re-enrollee’s file, which helps ensure the process moves forward as smoothly as possible.There are many advantages to re-enrolling fully qualified personnel.The RCAF recognizes the qualities of leadership, maturity and experience that former personnel bring with them. Evidence has shown that these personnel can have an immediate and positive effect on Canada’s aerospace capabilities – as well as on the health of stressed occupations. Returning members also contribute the fresh ideas and perspectives that they gain during the time they have spent outside of the military environment.And as an added bonus, those returning also help to demonstrate to both the public and to serving personnel that the Canadian military remains an employer of choice.-----If you are interested in receiving more information about this initiative, you can contact the AFI&LT through...

[caption id="attachment_15384" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Gary Calvé, 3 Wing Imaging Bagotville[/caption]A CH-146 Griffon helicopter goes through the “bird bath” during Exercise Southern Breeze at Opa-Locka Executive Airport, Florida, Feb. 14.

[caption id="attachment_15247" align="alignnone" width="450"] CPO2 Ken Simoneau of Naval Fleet School (Pacific) receives the CAF Old Timer’s National Hockey Championship Sportsmanship Award from Jessica Taillefer. Photos by CFB Borden Base Imaging[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Despite just one game win at this year’s CAF Old Timers National Hockey Championships, the Pacific Region’s Comox Totems team still scooped a big award – the Sportsmanship Award for goaltender CPO2 Ken Simoneau of Naval Fleet School (Pacific).“It was certainly a surprise to receive this award,” said CPO2 Simoneau, who works as a Primary Leadership Qualification Instructor. “Nobody said anything to me about being named for this honour prior to the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the tournament; so I was really taken aback when my name was called.”He normally tends goal for the CFB Esquimalt’s Tritons, who won the regional battle against Comox but did not have enough players to send to Nationals. Four Esquimalt players suited up for Comox Totems to represent the Pacific Region, including MWO Paul MacQueen, 443 Helicopter Squadron; MS Brett Poulin; Base Information Services; and MCpl Derek Scott, Canadian Fleet Pacific.National tournament play took place Feb. 18 to 22 at CFB Borden.CPO2 Simoneau also won his team’s Most Valuable Player Award after capturing single-game MVP honours in two of his team’s four games.The Pacific Region managed to defeat the Atlantic Region’s representative 2-1 in a shootout, but dropped their other three games to Quebec (CFB Valcartier) 8-1, Ontario (CFB Trenton) 5-1 and the Prairie Region (CFB Edmonton) 1-0. “The end result was not exactly what we wanted, especially after coming so close to moving on to the semi-final round,” said CPO2 Simoneau. “It’s just so tough and competitive playing at the national level, and overall I think the team did well if you take into account we were...

In this episode, we welcome the Champion for the new Public Service Employee Annual Survey, cover Operation NUNALIVUT, stop in at the Conference on Security and Defence, and highlight policy changes allowing ill and injured CAF members to be promoted while undergoing medical care.

PO2 Katrina Bligh, Naden Band ~For years the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy has pursued partnerships and collaborations with many cultural institutions in Victoria, including the Victoria Symphony, Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Royal BC Museum, University of Victoria Faculty of Music, and the Royal and McPherson Society.The latest collaboration is with the Canadian College of Performing Arts for “All That Jazz”, a matinee and evening concert at 2 and 7:30 p.m. respectively at the Royal Theatre March 18.These concerts will feature Canadian College of Performing Arts students, who are some of the country’s top emerging artists. They will be acting, dancing and singing to music played live by the Naden Band.The Canadian College of Performing Arts has been owned and operated by The Canadian Heritage Arts Society, a non-profit society, for over 20 years. Their commitment to excellence has propelled many alumni to careers in the performing arts. Graduates have starred on Broadway, Canada’s Shaw, Stratford and Charlottetown Festivals, and major productions worldwide.“It is an honor and thrilling educational experience for our students to perform with the Naden Band,” says Darold Roles, Artistic and Education Director for the college. “We have some of the top raw talent in the country and they are ready to be fused with one of the finest concert bands in Canada. Not many students can boast about this electric experience on their resumes.”Tickets for both shows are $35 for the main floor and lower balcony, and $28 for the upper balcony.Vouchers, exclusively available for military members and their families, which give a savings of $7.50 per ticket, are available for purchase at the Canadian College of Performing Arts office from Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. These vouchers can then be brought to the Royal or McPherson Box Office and exchanged for a...

In this episode, we feature the new Army Reserve enrolment process, cover Exercise ROGUISH BUOY 2017, highlight two CAF teams’ participation in the Québec Winter Carnival, announce the inaugural Navy Bike Ride, and tell you where to find your electronic 2016 tax slips.

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[caption id="attachment_15241" align="alignnone" width="450"] Romanian Naval Ship Ferdinand sails in-between HMCS St. John’s and the Spanish frigate Juan de Borbon in preparation for replenishment at sea approaches during their transit on the Black Sea Feb. 8, during Operation Reassurance. Photo by LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption] Lt(N) Emily Anglin, HMCS St. John’s ~The Port of Istanbul is always busy. Dozens of ferries sail across the harbour in all directions, moving locals and tourists alike between terminals along the ancient Bosporus, which connects the Sea of Marmara to the Black Sea.This trip gives the passengers a breathtaking view of the historic city.On Jan. 31, they also had the opportunity to see HMCS St. John’s transiting with Spanish frigate Almirante Juan de Borbon into the Black Sea, where the Canadian warship would conduct a three-week deployment.While there, St. John’s conducted Exercise Sea Shield during its deployment on Operation Reassurance. The frigate, which was recently upgraded, integrated seamlessly into a task group of Turkish, Bulgarian, Romanian, American and Spanish ships, aircraft and submarines. The exercise had serials that worked every department on board St. John’s: manoeuvres, replenishment at sea approaches, combined anti-submarine and air defence exercises, maritime interdiction and vessel boarding, search and rescue of a stricken submarine, and communications via radio, flashing lights and flags.The work of the embarked sailors, soldiers and aircrew did not go unnoticed.“I am exceptionally proud of the officers and crew of this ship,” said Commander Sheldon Gillis, Commanding Officer of HMCS St. John’s. “After steaming 4,500 nautical miles to the Black Sea and seamlessly integrating with units of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2, we proved to ourselves and to our allies that we are a first class navy, ready to demonstrate Canada’s commitment to our collective defence obligations.”While in the region, St. John’s visited Istanbul, Turkey;...

[caption id="attachment_15237" align="alignnone" width="450"] HMCS Saskatoon leaves Esquimalt Harbour, passing Fisgard Lighthouse for Operation Caribbe, Canada’s contribution to combat the international drug trade. Photo by SLt Melissa Kia, MARPAC Public Affairs[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~HMCS Saskatoon deployed Feb. 20, beginning its latest contribution to Operation Caribbe, Canada’s decade-long contribution to the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking by transnational organized crime in the Caribbean sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean.The Kingston-Class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel and its crew are fulfilling Canada’s commitment to Operation Martillo – the United-States led multinational effort among Western Hemisphere and European nations aimed at drug interdiction and counter smuggling operations in the area.“By preventing the flow of illicit drugs and denying unlawful access to the sea, our sailors are effectively interrupting a major funding source for organized crime,” said Lieutenant-Commander Todd Bacon, Commanding Officer HMCS Saskatoon. “Our mission success during these operations is a result of the continued support our sailors receive from their family, friends and colleagues back home.” It is usually better to look for a rehab near me in case we know a drug abuse case.It’s the second time in 12 months Saskatoon has participated in Operation Caribbe. On March 19, 2016, Saskatoon assisted members of the United States Coast Guard in the seizure of 10 bales of cocaine weighing approximately 360 kilograms. The drugs had been dumped in the water by a fishing boat before it fled the scene.  That bust was part of the Royal Canadian Navy’s contribution to the seizure and disruption of 5,570 kg of cocaine and 1,520 kg of marijuana in 2016, and 66 metric tonnes of cocaine and four metric tonnes of marijuana over the past 10 years.Canadian warships deployed on Operation Caribbe, along with CP-140 Aurora aircraft from the Royal Canadian Air Force, act in a support...

[caption id="attachment_15199" align="alignnone" width="450"] Left to right: CPO2 Mike Savich of the Naden Band practices his Sousaphone at the band headquarters. CPO2 Savich will retire later this month, ending a musical military career that spanned over 41 years. PO2 Michael Savich met a military tuba player from the Soviet Union during Festival International de Musique Militaire in Saumur, France, in 1987.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~After 41 years hitting all the right notes, the Naden Band musician Petty Officer Second Class Michael Savich will pack up his tuba at the end of the month and call it a career.The band’s longest serving Canadian Armed Forces member, who has also played bassoon, euphonium, bass guitar and Sousaphone in a career spanning four decades, says he really doesn’t want to go. But on Feb. 28, he turns 60, the mandatory retirement age for military personnel.“It will be very difficult for me to leave the band because I have had such a tremendous career. After four decades of playing music for ‘Team Canada’ I don’t think any other career path could have made me happier,” said PO2 Savich.His current and former bandmates will also be sorry to see him go.“Mike has committed his life to the preservation and promotion of the Music Branch, and is also the greatest archivist the branch has ever seen,” said former Naden Band Commanding Officer, Capt Matthew Clark. “I always relied on him to instill a sense of calm, and his natural ability to express proper concern to the chain of command is one of legend. Simply put, when he spoke I listened.”PO2 Savich says his career allowed him to make a living at the thing he loves most – playing music and travelling Canada and the world.Career highlights include playing at Vimy Ridge six times, an outdoor mass at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympics, the Calgary Stampede, and multiple appearances at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo music festival...

[caption id="attachment_15166" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo: LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Canadian National Anthem onboard HMCS St. John’s during Operation Reassurance Feb. 4.

[caption id="attachment_15194" align="alignnone" width="425"] Wearing their uniforms, participants in this year's Wounded Warrior Run B.C. gather at Jim Pattison Subaru in Colwood to kick-off the fundraising campaign. Photo by John W. Penner, John's Photography[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~With each stride they take, the participants in this year’s Wounded Warrior Run B.C. know they are changing the attitudes surrounding mental illness and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).On Feb. 20, a team of seven military and civilian athletes will begin their seven-day, 700 kilometre relay run covering the length of Vancouver Island. The relay run is now its fourth year and co-founder Petty Officer Second Class Allan Kobayashi believes the non-profit charity, which has raised a total of $100,000 for Wounded Warriors Canada since its start, is helping change the perceptions about mental illness and PTSD.“When I started running four years ago, I introduced myself to people and said ‘I’m Allan and I have PTSD’, many people would look puzzled and really wouldn’t know what I was talking about,” says PO2 Kobayashi. “Now people have empathy and compassion, and want to help or find out more for their own educational purposes.”Runners will set off from Port Hardy, located on Vancouver Island’s northern tip, and pound the pavement along the Trans-Canada Highway, regardless of rain, snow, wind or shine. If all goes according to plan they will cross the finish line Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 in Langford.PO2 Kobayashi, previously a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was deployed to Kosovo in 1999 and Kabul in 2003. He was diagnosed with PTSD following those deployments. PO2 Kobayashi now works as an analyst for the Naval Training Development Centre and will be the only runner on the team this year to be diagnosed with PTSD.Like many...

[caption id="attachment_15163" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo: LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Members of the Enhanced Naval Boarding Party onboard HMCS St. John’s repel off the side of the ship during a boarding exercise as the ship transits the Black Sea during Operation Reassurance Feb. 7.

[caption id="attachment_15191" align="alignnone" width="425"] Formation Chief CPO1 Gilles Gregoire (centre) is set to drop the puck in the ceremonial opening faceoff of the first annual Weapons Engineering Trade Hockey Challenge at Wurtele Arena, Feb. 10. The game brought members of the trade together on the ice for an afternoon of esprit de corps. Photo by CPO2 Maxime Michel[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Team White defeated Team Black in the Weapons Engineering Technicians Hockey Challenge game Feb. 10, but the game’s organizer says the final score was of little importance.Even though Master Seaman Aaron Butler played on the winning team and organized the first annual game, the HMCS Ottawa Weapons Tech says his team’s 4-3 victory wasn’t the real triumph. Instead, he says, it was the esprit de corps and the strengthening of trade solidarity that was the true cause for celebration.“Playing a popular sport like hockey is a great way to get everyone from various units together for a good time,” he says. “And judging by the reactions and expressions of the players on the ice we accomplished our mission.”Interest in the game gradually snowballed when it was announced in late January, leading to enough players to create two randomly selected teams, along with a “boisterous crowd” of approximately 40 co-workers and friends in the stands.The Formation Chief, CPO1 Gilles Grégoire, attended the game and participated in the ceremonial opening puck drop.CPO1 Grégoire was there in an official capacity, but also has a personal connection to both the game and the trade. CPO1 Grégoire enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces as a Naval Weapons Technician in 1986, and worked as a Naval Weapons Technician and later as the Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School’s Naval Weapons Training Chief.“I was delighted to be able to attend the event; not only is it an...

[caption id="attachment_15159" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo: LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Crewmembers onboard HMCS St. John’s secure the ship for sea upon completion of the ship’s visit to Constanta, Romania during Operation Reassurance Feb. 6.

[caption id="attachment_15188" align="alignnone" width="425"] U.S. Army diver First Lieutenant Josh Voorhees prepares for a search and recovery procedure during Exercise Roguish Buoy 2017 at the Albert Head Training Centre.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Military divers from seven NATO countries have converged in the waters off Albert Head for Exercise Roguish Buoy 2017 as part of a month-long collaborative effort to share knowledge and skills.Approximately 100 army divers from Canada, the United States, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Germany are making the residences of Albert Head Cadet Training Centre their temporary homes during the month of February, and a small coastal inlet on Vancouver Island’s southern shore their classroom.The exercise is run by the Army Dive Centre at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) in Gagetown, N.B. The exercise began in 1979 and rotates to a different location each year.“Exercise Roguish Buoy is a great benefit for all the divers involved because it provides a unique opportunity for cross-pollination of experience, knowledge and training from Canada’s NATO allies,” said Capt Harry Morrison, Exercise Roguish Buoy 2017 Coordinator. “It’s also an excellent way for Canadian army divers to learn from the methodology of others, and find out how they approach certain common tasks.”From a domestic perspective, Capt Morrison said Roguish Buoy is providing Canadian Forces combat engineers from CFB Gagetown, Valcartier, and Edmonton an unparalleled training experience.Divers have been broken into four Canadian-led teams with this year’s training focusing on underwater construction, demolition, and debris clearance, along with search and recovery.Capt Morrison says each component of the exercise has practical applications for future military deployments down the road. He cited international humanitarian efforts such as an earthquake or a hurricane as a real-life application of tasks carried out during the exercise.“We are learning how to work together in various aspects of...

[caption id="attachment_15156" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo: LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]HMCS St. John’s transits to the Black Sea during Operation Reassurance on Feb. 1.

[caption id="attachment_15185" align="alignnone" width="425"] Photo by Cpl Stuart MacNeil, MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]A ceremonial Guard of Honour comprised of 100 members from Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) were on parade during the opening of the 6th Session of the 40th Parliament of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Wednesday Feb. 14.Also participating was the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy and an artillery saluting battery from 5th B.C. Field Regiment Royal Canadian Artillery.The ceremony began with a 15-gun Vice-Regal Salute when Her Honour, Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon, arrived to meet Premier Christy Clark on the steps of the Legislature Building at 1:40 p.m.The following personnel were in leading parade positions: Guard CommanderLieutenant-Commander Mike ErwinRight Guard Platoon OfficerLieutenant (N) David FillionLeft Guard Platoon Officer Captain Joshua WeissbockColour Guard ChiefChief Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric PohoneyNaden Band Director of MusicSub-Lieutenant Vincent RoyTroop Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Lisa KachanoskiArtillery Troop CommanderLieutenant Krysta Spielmacher Artillery Salute Alpha Gun Detachment Commander Master Corporal Christopher YuillArtillery Salute Bravo GunDetachment Commander Sergeant Bill Colesweb

[caption id="attachment_15153" align="alignnone" width="560"] Image by: Cpl Gary Calvé Bagotville Imaging section[/caption]A CH-146 Griffon helicopter lowers a Search and Rescue Technician onto the deck of HMCS Fredericton, off the coast of Miami, Florida during a simulated evacuation as part of Exercise Southern Breeze Feb. 14.

[caption id="attachment_15181" align="alignnone" width="425"] Maritime Forces Pacific leadership and DND civilian employees in D100 show their support for anti-bullying by donning the symbolic pink shirt.[/caption]The last Wednesday of February is known as Anti-Bullying or Pink Shirt day in Canada.The original event was organized at a Nova Scotia high school following the bullying of a student who wore a pink shirt during the first day of school. Wearing pink on this day symbolizes a stand against bullying.On Wednesday, Feb. 22, Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) will participate in this community recognition of anti-bullying day by encouraging military and civilian personnel to wear pink clothing items. Military members may wear pink over their uniform while on base. Special anti-bullying pink t-shirts can be purchased at London Drugs for $9.80, plus tax. Proceeds fund local anti-bullying programs in the community.The monthly Fleet Run has been moved from its usual time slot of Thursday to Wednesday Feb. 22.MARPAC leadership is encouraging all those running to wear pink during the Fleet Run.

[caption id="attachment_15150" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Gary Calvé Bagotville Imaging section[/caption]A CH-146 Griffon helicopter flies off the coast of Miami, Florida during Exercise Southern Breeze Feb. 14.

[caption id="attachment_15178" align="alignnone" width="425"] Rear-Admiral Art McDonald, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC), presents a $385,000 cheque to Eileen Dooley of HealthPartners Canada and United Way of Greater Victoria CEO, Patricia Jelinski at the MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo at the Naden Athletic Centre, Feb. 16.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Over 120 business and community organizations converged on the Naden Athletic Centre Feb. 16 for the 2017 MARPAC Health and Wellness Expo.The annual expo attracts approximately 1,000 military and DND civilian employees.This year’s event saw representation from local non- profits and businesses representing health and wellness, recreation, sports, fitness, and outdoors activities, as well as area schools and base clubs. The expo is hosted by the Lookout Newspaper and the Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) Health and Wellness Strategy Team. Complimentary meals were given to the first 500 visitors for Deadbeetz and Rolling Reef food trucks.Maryse Neilson, Manager of Health Promotion, says the expo is an important opportunity for the MARPAC community to gain exposure to health and wellness programs and businesses.“Events such as the expo fit into the health promotion approach and address the pillar of health education and individual and group behavioural change,” said Neilson. “Not only does the expo bring awareness to people of the resources available to them, but the event itself communicates a strong message that MARPAC believes in creating a supportive and healthy community.”The Expo was also the venue for the National Defence Workplace Charitable Campaign conclusion of its annual fundraising campaign. This year’s campaign began in September and wrapped up on Jan. 31, 2017. Through a variety of fundraising events and other initiatives this year’s campaign raised a total of $385,000 for the United Way of Greater Victoria, Canadian HealthPartners and numerous registered charities.During the noon hour, Rear-Admiral Art McDonald made an official cheque presentation to Eileen...

[caption id="attachment_15147" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]The Turkish Naval Frigate Fatih and the Spanish Naval Frigate Juan De Borbon sail in formation with HMCS St. John’s as the ships transit to the Black Sea during Operation Reassurance Feb 1.

Darlene Blakeley, Editor Crowsnest Magazine ~The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has adopted a redesigned command badge that better reflects both the current RCN makeup and its traditional identity.The original badge was adopted in 1968 with the stand-up of Maritime Command after unification. It has been out of date since 2011 when the historic names of the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) three services – the RCN, the Canadian Army (CA) and the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) – were restored.“Like the return to our historic name, the redesigned command badge recognizes our heritage and many years of proud RCN service,” says Dr. Rich Gimblett, the RCN’s Command Historian. “It takes its core inspiration from the pre-unification command badge.”The redesigned command badge incorporates the following modifications:The background light “air force” blue has been replaced with dark navy blue, which matches the pre-unification badge and better reflects the RCN’s traditional blue;The central device (anchor) has been flattened to reflect the device found on the pre-unification badge and for consistency with the anchor found on the CAF badge. Also, the eagle has been removed to better reflect the RCN’s current makeup; andThe motto, “Ready Aye Ready”, already translated for common use in French as “Toujours là, toujours prêts”, has been translated to the Latin “Parati Vero Parati” for consistency with the army and air force badges. The English and French translations will be used below the badge where appropriate.For uniformity within the CAF, the redesigned command badge retains the standard CAF command badge style with a central circular rope surround and maple leaves clustered at the bottom.And while the RCAF design element of the eagle has been removed from the new RCN command badge, Dr. Gimblett says it will continue to be a central part of the Canadian Naval Ensign (flag) flown aboard warships.“The...

In this episode, we highlight Exercise CUTLASS EXPRESS, congratulate the team at Information Technology Service Management for achieving a key milestone, recap this year’s Conference of American Armies, and profile the first two contracts under the new Sustainment Initiative for Defence procurement.

[caption id="attachment_15144" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]A crewmember onboard HMCS St. John’s fires off a C-8 Machine Gun during their transit on the Black Sea during Operation Reassurance Feb. 8.

[caption id="attachment_15058" align="alignnone" width="450"] LS Gray (left) and LS Yance (right) show off naval boarding party equipment to visitors in the hangar.[/caption]LS Brendan Gibson, HMCS Winnipeg ~HMCS Winnipeg’s ship’s company entertained family members during a day sail to Constance Bank on Friday, Feb. 3.Friends and relatives arrived at 9 a.m. and received a safety brief while the crew prepared for the departure. Guests particularly enjoyed observing preparations from the bridge.Winnipeg began the sail with maneuvering demonstrations that emphasized the impressive turning rate of a Halifax Class Frigate, and its ability to hastily reach high speeds and to stop within a ship’s length. Younger guests even had the chance to be helmsmen, under supervision, with five-year-old Sean Flynn saying, “It was fun driving the boat.”Guests also observed a man overboard drill. Colin Earl threw the initial smoke marker that indicated the position of the mannequin used for training purposes.“It was cool to throw a smoke marker, and it was awesome to see it light up in the water,” said the youngster.Although this is a well-practiced drill onboard Royal Canadian Navy ships, guests were thrilled to see the ship’s company work toward a common goal – recovering the person.Captain Chris McDonald, Captain Madeleine Dah, and Heidi Dahl were impressed with the coordination of drills and enjoyed the tour of the Operations Room, saying it looked like the bridge from Star Trek. They similarly enjoyed the ship listing during the sharp turning maneuvers.Ernie and Sheryl Semeniuk said they enjoyed seeing the streamlined approach to the man overboard drill, and expressed particular interest in the attentiveness of the boat’s crew, whose attention to detail and organization ensured a seamless evolution.Day sails such as the one conducted by Winnipeg provide guests with a better understanding of life at sea and the comradery of a ship’s...

[caption id="attachment_15140" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by LS Ogle Henry, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]A crewmember mans the .50 mm calibre Heavy Machine Gun as Her HMCS St. John’s enters Constanta Harbour in Romania during Operation Reassurance Feb. 2.