[caption id="attachment_14453" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]A bridge lookout on board HMCS Edmonton uses the ship’s binoculars during Operation Caribbe Oct. 28.

In this episode, we learn how Exercise SPARTAN WARRIOR provides experience in modern naval operations, prepare for the first phase move to the Carling Campus, cover the donation of a Vimy Ridge grave marker, update you on the Phoenix pay system, and report on the military review at the Royal Military College of Canada.

In this episode, we commemorate National Veterans’ Week, mark the 25th anniversary of the crash of Boxtop 22, give an update on the Canadian Surface Combatant project, and we tell you about a CAF Agency and its recent achievements.

In this episode we look into Exercise VIGILANT SHIELD, follow the Minister’s three-stop trip to Europe, catch up with the CAF Long Course Triathlon team and celebrate the power of sport with CAF Sports Day.

In this episode, we take a look at Exercise ALLIED SPIRIT, check out the newly upgraded Royal Canadian Air Force fleet, raise awareness of Patient Safety Week, and we also highlight Ethics Week.

In this episode, we provide an update on Operation IMPACT, and tell you how the CAF court martial system is being reviewed. It’s also Cyber Security Awareness Month - time to assess your best practices.

[caption id="attachment_14403" align="alignnone" width="400"] Fourteen bales of cocaine weighing an estimated 700 kilograms rest on the sweep deck of HMCS Brandon after being jettisoned by a suspected smuggling vessel, a small fishing boat known as a panga, off the Pacific coast of Central America during Operation Caribbe on Nov. 5. Photo by U.S. Coast Guard[/caption]DND ~HMCS Brandon, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), seized an estimated 700 kilograms of cocaine in international waters off the Pacific Coast of Central America on Nov. 5.The cocaine, worth an estimated $28 million (USD), was recovered from the ocean after being jettisoned by suspected smugglers in a panga-style fishing vessel that had been spotted by a USCG HC-130J aircraft patrolling the region.Brandon launched two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) with USCG law enforcement teams onboard to pursue the vessel and secure the 14 jettisoned bales.“This latest seizure serves not only as a testament to the dedication and hard work by the crew of HMCS Brandon and the U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment, but to their ability to work in concert,” said Lieutenant-Commander Jolene Lisi, Brandon’s Commanding Officer. “Our efforts, both leading into this operation, and on the operation itself, have led to this interdiction, which ultimately means fewer drugs reaching our shores. I am incredibly proud of my team.”Brandon’s RHIB was unable to apprehend the suspected panga vessel.Since February 2016, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) have seized or disrupted a total of approximately 3,630 kg of cocaine and 1,520 kg of marijuana.Operation Caribbe is Canada’s participation in the multinational campaign against illicit trafficking by transnational organized crime in the Caribbean Sea and the East Pacific Ocean.Joint Interagency Task Force South, a subordinate command of United States Southern Command, oversees the detection and monitoring of illicit traffickers and assists US and multinational law...

[caption id="attachment_14393" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Jay Ekin, Op Reassurance Land Task Force Imagery Technician[/caption]A handmade poppy is placed on the top of a headstone at the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery during a Remembrance Ceremony in Poznan, Poland during Operation Reassurance on Nov. 9

[caption id="attachment_14375" align="alignnone" width="400"] Master Seaman Brett Poulin enjoys a moment in Parliament.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~MS Brett Poulin was one of three sailors from CFB Esquimalt honoured with the Exceptional Sailor Award during Navy Day celebrations on Parliament Hill.Lt(N) Krisztina Rekeszki, the Operations Officer in Maritime Forces Pacific’s Joint Logistics Operation Centre, and CPO2 Andre Aubry,  Ship Service Officer with Fleet Maintenance Facility, also received scrolls from Senator Terry Mercer and were honoured for their service.MS Poulin, who works as a naval communicator, Lt(N) Rekeszki, and CPO2 Andre Aubry were among a larger group of seven Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors and three Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) personnel from across Canada recognized in the Oct. 25 ceremony in the Red Chamber of the Senate of Canada.“It was an amazing experience, definitely the highlight of my career, and I am truly honoured to be selected for this special award,” said MS Poulin. “It feels great and gave me a sense of pride and appreciation for my hard work and dedication. There have been a lot of long hours and days to get me the point where I am.”With 12 years of service in the RCN, MS Poulin has worked as an IT (Internet Technology) support worker and was recognized for his efforts in trouble shooting computer issues aboard RCN vessels, his role as Unit Security Supervisor, helping oversee the largest removable media account in CFB Esquimalt, and participating in community outreach programs such as Yukon Sour Days in Whitehorse where he helped educate the public about the navy's role and responsibilities.“The whole team were thrilled that he was chosen as a recipient of the award and the office is now inundated by visitors wanting to congratulate him,” said Base Information Services (BIS) Commanding Officer, Cdr Byron Derby. “MS Poulin is...

[caption id="attachment_14390" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Jay Ekin, Op Reassurance Land Task Force Imagery Technician[/caption]A Polish soldier adjusts a wreath at the cenotaph at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery during a Remembrance Ceremony in Poznan, Poland during Operation Reassurance on Nov. 9.

[caption id="attachment_14371" align="alignnone" width="400"] Dr. James Boutilier, Special Advisor on Asia and the Pacific, MARPAC, has been named the 26th recipient of the Vimy Award.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Dr. James Boutilier, Maritime Forces Pacific’s (MARPAC) Special Advisor on Asia and the Pacific, has been named the 26th recipient of the Vimy Award for 2016.The annual award presented by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute in Ottawa recognizes one prominent Canadian who has made outstanding contributions toward the security and defence of Canada, and the preservation of democratic values.The award was presented to Dr. Boutilier at a gala reception dinner at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa on Nov. 4.“I was stunned, humbled and flattered to hear the news that it would be me,” said Dr. Boutilier.“The previous recipients were, and are, an illustrious band of brothers, and I hope I can live up to their high standards.”Former Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark received the inaugural Vimy Ridge Award in 1991 and other winners have included former Governor General of Canada Adrienne Clarkson (2010), Major-General Jonathan Vance (2011), General Rick Hillier (2008), and Honorary Colonel Blake Goldring (2014), who dedicated the award to the memory of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo.A congratulatory letter from RAdm Art McDonald, Commander of MARPAC, spoke glowingly about Dr. Boutilier’s worthiness for the award, noting he was the “driving force behind the Canadian Armed Forces/Royal Canadian Navy's (CAF/RCN’s) Pacific awareness” and “the incredibly appropriate [person] to be recognized and celebrated.”Captain(N) Steve Jorgensen, MARPAC Chief of Staff for Operations and Planning, noted Dr. Boutilier’s expertise in the Asia Pacific region has been sought after for over a half a century. He describes him as an expert advisor for MARPAC, and the entire Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), and Canadian Armed Forces as a whole.“He has been a constant voice about our attention in the Pacific,” says Capt(N) Jorgensen. “If someone in Ottawa at the policy level has a question on Asia Pacific they will...

[caption id="attachment_14387" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Jay Ekin, Op Reassurance Land Task Force Imagery Technician[/caption]Maj Bernardo, Deputy Canadian Defense Attaché lays a wreath at a cenotaph at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery during a Remembrance Ceremony in Poznan, Poland during Operation Reassurance on Nov. 9.

[caption id="attachment_14367" align="alignnone" width="500"] The Class of 1941 at Royal Roads Military College in Colwood included young Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve Russell McConnell, who died in a German U-Boat attack in 1942 in the St. Lawrence River.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~A new documentary created by Royal Roads University professor Geoffrey Bird explores the stories of those places across Canada related to the the Second World War.The newly released film, his second of a two-part series, War Memories across Canada: Sites of the Second World War made its debut in a one-time engagement at the Vic Theatre on Oct. 11.Funded by Heritage Canada, Parks Canada and Royal Roads University, the documentary comprises 27 short stories that explores both soldiers’ and civilians’ personal attachments to war monuments and historical sites across the nation.“We are at a point in time where the witnesses to the Second World War are passing on and we are trying to get their stories now,” says Bird. “Otherwise, we rely on others to recount the story of what happened, what we can call ‘guardians of remembrance’.”Raised in Victoria, the former naval reservist started his service with HMCS Malahat, and worked as a reservist between 1984 and 1992.He now heads Royal Roads’ Tourism Management graduate program as an Associate Professor. Bird first realized the power of standing in the footsteps of those who fought while he worked at Vimy Ridge in France as a tour guide in 1990.“Later in life, as a doctoral student working at battlefields in Normandy, I was interested in the relationship between tourism, remembrance, and the landscapes of war,” says Bird. “The experience people have when they stand at Vimy Ridge, Juno Beach, or the many sites of memory across our nation and the world trigger a strong connection to the past.”His latest war...

[caption id="attachment_14384" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Jay Ekin, Op Reassurance Land Task Force Imagery Technician[/caption]Handmade poppies sit on the top of headstones at the Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery during a Remembrance Ceremony in Poznan, Poland during Operation Reassurance on Nov. 9.

[caption id="attachment_14364" align="alignnone" width="400"] An artist’s rendering depicts the design for the Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project’s monument. Photo Credit GVAMP[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Efforts by a local citizens’ group to erect a highly visible downtown memorial honouring those Canadians that served in Afghanistan are moving forward.The Greater Victoria Afghanistan Memorial Project (GVAMP) was formed two years ago in an effort to recognize the 40,000 Canadians who served in Afghanistan between September 2001 and March 2014, and the 163 that lost their lives.The monument will be located in the downtown core close to Christ Church Cathedral and will be made from 20,000 lb. of granite slabs and measure 11 feet long, eight feet high. It will feature a Canadian soldier reaching out to the outstretched hand of an Afghan child. The cost estimate for the memorial is $177,000.Official fundraising efforts will begin in the New Year; however, the GVAMP had an encouraging sign after a Sept. 28 meeting at the Bay Street Armoury. Four donors from Victoria made significant donations towards the project.“Despite the initial donation there is still plenty of work to do, including working with all levels of government,” says Brigadier-General (Ret'd) Joseph Gollner, President of the GVAMP Society.He served 37 years in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) before his retirement in 1993. After his retirement, BGen Gollner, while Honorary Colonel of the Regiment Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), twice visited PPCLI battlegroups in Afghanistan in 2008 and 2010.“Our mission is to create a memorial that will recognize the contribution of all the 40,000 CAF members and public servants that served in Afghanistan and their families. The memorial will also recognize those Afghanistan campaign veterans that continue to suffer with physical and mental wounds. Finally, the memorial will recognize and honour those Canadians that paid the supreme...

[caption id="attachment_14381" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by MARPAC Imaging Services[/caption]HMCS Edmonton sails in the Eastern Pacific Ocean during Operation Caribbe Oct. 29.

[caption id="attachment_14359" align="alignnone" width="400"] SLt Vincent Roy, new Commanding Officer for the Naden Band, with his family.[/caption]SLt Vincent Roy speaks about his past, his new position as Commanding Officer of the Naden Band, and his hopes for the future.The musicians of the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy are preparing for the daily morning rehearsal at the band room by warming up and practicing.At nine on the dot the tuning ‘A’ is given; then all sound ceases.Immediately afterward, SLt Roy strides into the room and assumes his position on the podium.“Good morning!” he beams. “Let’s get into music!”On July 19, command of the Naden Band was passed from Lt(N) Matthew Clark to SLt Roy.  Accompanying him for this event was his wife, Marie-Lucie Mathieu and his children Alexia, Olivia, and Benjamin.Since taking command, SLt Roy has travelled with the band to Vancouver for the Pacific National Exhibition, Nanaimo for the Nanaimo Military Music Festival, and to Oliver, Osoyoos, Chemainus, and Sidney for public outdoor concerts. The highlight of his tenure so far has been conducting the band during the Royal Visit at the B.C. Legislature.There he had a chance to speak personally to Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, when he came to inspect the band.Exuding infectious energy and quiet passion, SLt Roy is thrilled about his posting to beautiful Victoria. Adding to the excitement is the fact that this is his first appointment as Commanding Officer of a Regular Force band. His career path, from joining the reserves in his home province of Quebec to his latest posting to the West Coast, has been meteoric; he is currently the youngest commanding officer serving in the Band Branch.He was asked to reflect on what compelled him to join the Forces and his inspirations and thought process as a Director of...

[caption id="attachment_14378" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Royal Canadian Navy Public Affairs[/caption]HMCS Brandon sails through rolling seas during Operation Caribbe along the coast of North and Central America Nov. 2.

[caption id="attachment_14355" align="alignnone" width="400"] Students from Rockheights Middle School prepare poppies for a No Stone Left Alone ceremony with Sgt (Ret'd) Jim MacMillan-Murphy, 1st Vice President, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 172. Photo credit: Rock Heights Middle School[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~In an effort to place themselves in the worn, muddy boots of First World War soldiers, Grade 8 students at Rockheights Middle School in Esquimalt have written letters from the trenches.The essay assignment had young teens imagining themselves on the frontline, living in the water-filled shabby battlefield trenches, longing to be home with their loved ones.“It is absolutely horrendous here,” writes one student as soldier Johnny. “I cannot believe the lies we were told. Nothing is the way they said it would be…We spend all day crouched in the mud and trench water. The smell is unbearable. Gunpowder, human feces, rotting food and dead bodies are a constant reminder that this isn’t a nightmare but surviving what war is like.”Another fictional soldier named Robert attempts to be positive about their plight in his letter home.“The calm deceased bodies of those who have fallen lie at our feet while we fight to stay from lying dead among them. I am here to serve my part and to keep a future for all that live. I am here to keep you safe; to fight for a future. Please know you two are my everything, you both are what is keeping me alive every moment.”The writing assignment was preparation for their participation in last Friday’s No Stone Left Alone ceremony at Esquimalt Veterans Cemetery, God’s Acre.Since mid-October, the 75 students have been learning everything they can about the bloodiest conflict in Canadian military history that claimed 60,000 lives in the brutality of trench warfare.“Social Studies teacher Todd Hallett starts the lesson by telling...

[caption id="attachment_14351" align="alignnone" width="400"] Salsbury House B&B owner James Derry places a ‘I will Remember’ sign on his lawn. Credit Lewis Batholomew/Alberni Project[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~They won’t help sell the family house or declare your support for a political candidate, but Remembrance Day lawn signs are one unique way Comox Valley residents are commemorating Nov. 11.The signs are a fundraising initiative by the HMCS Alberni Museum and Memorial (HAMM) and boldly feature the words “I Will Remember” in English, or in French “Je Me Souviendrai”, below a field of poppies. The placards can be affixed to store-front or apartment windows, mounted to fences, or placed on lawns or in gardens, and come in two sizes, the standard 18" x 27", which cost $35, and the smaller store-front sign which measures 12” x 18”, which sell for $25.Lewis Bartholomew, Founder and Executive Director of the Alberni Project and HAMM, developed the idea for the lawns signs over four years ago. He says the signs hit the right note with a newer generation of Canadians who haven’t completely abandoned the past mantra “Lest we forget” but wanted to express their feelings in a different tone.“I wanted something that was progressive and proactive, yet still maintaining the dignity of what the poppy represents,” said Bartholomew. “So I decided that our slogan would be about commitment, a promise to remember.”His group uses proceeds from sales of merchandise, donations, and other fund-raising initiatives to help fund the non-profit society and its museum. The museum is dedicated to the memories of the sailors who served aboard the Royal Canadian Navy’s flower-class corvette, and the preservation of Canadian military history.Bartholomew said the idea for the sign design grew out of a 2011 idea he introduced for souvenirs such as coffee mugs, hats and shirts, which he...

[caption id="attachment_14341" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Navy Public Affairs, DND[/caption]A sailor onboard HMCS Brandon throws a line ashore to secure the ship for refuelling operations prior to departing for Operation Caribbe, Oct. 13.

[caption id="attachment_14314" align="alignnone" width="425"] Capt(N) James Cotter, Canadian Defence Attaché, signs the guestbook at the museum.[/caption]Capt Jenn Jackson, MARPAC PA Office ~It has been more than 60 years since the armistice was signed bringing an end to the Korean War in 1953. In all that time, the Royal Canadian Navy has not had the opportunity to train on the Korean Peninsula with the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.That chance finally materialized Oct. 15-23 during Clear Horizon 16, a multi-national mine countermeasures exercise hosted by the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy in Chinhae, and Busan, Korea, and surrounding coastal waters.Clear Horizon 16 also provided an occasion for Captain (Navy) Michael Davie, Commander of Naval Force Readiness, to meet with senior ROK Navy Commanders to discuss future collaboration between the two navies.Capt(N) Davie and Capt(N) James Cotter, the Canadian Defence Attaché to ROK, observed demonstrations of the mine counter-warfare operations that formed the basis of Clear Horizon 16. Embarked on ROKN Chunwangbong, the naval captains were able to watch demonstrations of a U.S. Aerial Mine Countermeasure mine search, ROK mine sweepers sweeping for mines, an ROK mine hunting vessel detonation, explosive ordnance disposal dive team pouncer operations, which included divers from Canada, ROK, Philippines, Thailand and the U.S., and an EOD underwater detonation conducted by ROK and Pilipino divers.The demonstration day also included a press conference with members of all major Korean media outlets. Capt(N) Davie was able to address those gathered.“Today’s level of globalization means any crisis in this region would be felt not only militarily, but also by the civilian population—both here in Korea and around the world,” said Capt(N) Davie.“Canada’s goal in participating in Clear Horizon 16 is to help with the coordination of allied forces to ensure there is a capability available to counter that threat.”Being able to...

[caption id="attachment_14338" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]A .50 calibre machine gunner from HMCS Charlottetown prepares to deter a simulated maritime threat as the ship conducts naval warfare training during Exercise Joint Warrior, Oct. 12.

Darlene Blakeley, Navy Public Affairs Ottawa ~An historic part of Canada’s naval past has returned home after nearly 100 years.The ship’s wheel from HMCS Niobe, one of Canada’s first two warships, has been acquired by the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.Niobe saw active service in the First World War and its crew members played a significant role in responding to the 1917 Halifax Explosion.The Canadian War Museum purchased the wheel from the Camden Shipyard and Maritime Museum in New Jersey with the support of the National Collection Fund, which was created to acquire and conserve artifacts of significance to Canada’s heritage.The acquisition came as the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) marked Niobe Day, celebrated annually on Oct. 21.“The process to acquire Niobe’s ship’s wheel took place over the past year after the museum in New Jersey approached us to see if we wanted it,” says Jeff Noakes, Second World War historian at the Canadian War Museum. “We are excited to have it back in Canada.”Noakes says the acquisition of the wheel is “one of those fascinating stories about how objects like this can go around the world and then come back to Canada.”The Canadian War Museum also has one of the ship’s wheels from HMCS Rainbow, the second of Canada’s first two warships.Niobe’s wheel requires conservation work before it can be displayed. At over 158 kilograms, with a diameter of two metres, the wheel also needs a custom-made stand.“This was the largest remaining artifact from Niobe,” Noakes says. “We had a rare opportunity to acquire something of importance to Canada’s naval history. We were in a position to take advantage of the opportunity and are thrilled that we will be able to preserve the wheel for present and future generations.”Launched in 1897, Niobe served with the Royal Navy until 1910. That...

[caption id="attachment_14335" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Imaging Services 12 Wing Imaging[/caption]The Executive Officer of HMCS Kingston supervises crew members preparing for departure out of Key West, Florida, during Operation Caribbe, Oct. 14.

[caption id="attachment_14305" align="alignnone" width="425"] Submariner LS Laura Allan checks some wiring aboard HMCS Victoria.[/caption]Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~Just three months after HMCS Victoria was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy in December 2000, the ban on women becoming submariners was lifted.The small living space had kept them out of the Oberon class submarines because of privacy concerns, but the change in submarines brought a change in mindset, and so the hatch was opened to both genders wanting their Dolphins.Fast forward 16 years and one can find a handful of women, such as LS Laura Allan and PO2 Stephanie Wheaton, working in the 70 metre-long submarines.As the only female Electrical Technician onboard submarines, LS Allan works in a cramped engine room in the aft of the sub, ensuring the two diesel generators, and two 240-cell lead acid batteries are operating in top condition. Her job requires her to be physically fit, which she has developed from competitive powerlifting in her free time. The 31-year-old submariner can deadlift 355 lbs and lives by the mantra “nothing is impossible.”At the other end, in the control room, PO2 Wheaton, 34, supervises junior non-commissioned members in all external voice, radio teletype and data circuits, and provides real-time tactical information in support of operations to the command team, as the Senior Naval Communicator. Naval communicators are the IT department for the submarine and use hi-tech systems to encode and decode signals.The women are two of 10 out of 275 submariners in the Canadian Submarine Force across Canada, but neither feels they are ground breakers for their gender.“I don’t really see myself as a pioneer or someone for others to look up to. I am all about doing my job and doing it well,” says PO2 Wheaton.“I don’t see myself like that either,” adds LS Allan. “I don’t want to be the person who gets promoted or is deemed successful because I am a woman. I want to be the person that people respect for the work...

[caption id="attachment_14331" align="alignnone" width="560"] Photo by Cpl Blaine Sewell, Formation Imaging Services[/caption]Crewmembers from HMCS Charlottetown prepare for a Replenishment at Sea with Spanish Navy ship Cantabria (background) during Exercise Joint Warrior, Oct. 14.

[caption id="attachment_14302" align="alignnone" width="425"] Members of Parliament Chandra Arya, Marwan Tabbara, Pierre Paul-Hus, and Cheryl Gallant suit up for their Canadian Leaders at Sea program at Canadian Forces Base Halifax on Oct. 11. Photo by MCpl Alexandre Pacquin[/caption]Ryan Melanson, Trident ~A 24-hour adventure under the waves in HMCS Windsor, one of Canada’s four Victoria-class submarines, was the highlight of a visit to the East Coast by four parliamentarians from Oct. 12 to 13.The politicians made the trip as part of the Royal Canadian Navy’s Canadian Leaders at Sea (CLaS) Program. For nearly a decade, CLaS has been embarking government officials, community and business leaders, and other strategic stakeholders on board HMC ships and submarines to showcase the skill sets and equipment the navy employs in defence of Canada.Guests included Liberal Members of Parliament Marwan Tabbara and Chandra Arya, as well as opposition Members Pierre Paul-Hus and Cheryl Gallant, both of whom sit on the House Standing Committee on National Defence. They were accompanied by Rear-Admiral John Newton, Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic.The submarine with embarked guests submerged more than 100 metres under water, and guests dined in the boat’s small messes alongside personnel, and slept on metal racks alongside submarine trainees and Mark 48 heavy torpedoes.MPs also got a small taste of the slow-moving game of hide and seek that is submarine warfare, with Halifax-class frigate HMCS St. John’s and a CH-124 Sea King helicopter participating in a short exercise about 20 kilometres offshore.Windsor closed within 2,000 yards of the warship at periscope depth, giving everyone a chance to observe the “adversaries” from the search periscope, before the participants took turns listening to St. John’s acoustic signature through the boat’s newly advanced AN/BQQ10 sonar, the same system employed by the newest submarines in the U.S. fleet.Sitting at the fire control system,...