[caption id="attachment_4112" align="alignnone" width="300"] The new fire hall and emergency response centre opened June 7. This four-floor state-of-the-art building is 44,000 square metres, and would serve as a command platform after an earthquake or natural disaster.[/caption] It was a small parade, but one filled with pride as 30 fire fighters marched last Friday from their old fire hall in dockyard to their new digs on Esquimalt Road. As they strutted up to the massive candy-apple-red building, with Rick LeQesne leading the way, RAdm Bill Truelove, VAdm Paul Maddison and Associate Minister of National Defence, Kerry-Lynne D. Findlay were their to greet them. The special march was part of the grand opening celebrations of the new Fire Hall and Emergency Operations Centre.The ringing of the fire bell three times by the Minister signified the building was officially in service. “Our government’s investment in critical infrastructure for our Canadian Armed Forces are helping to ensure our military and civilian personnel at CFB Esquimalt will have state-of-the-art equipment to assist them in carrying out their critical duties in the defence of Canada,” said Minister Findlay. “Investments like this in defence infrastructure are vital to ensure that members of can train and work together towards our defence objectives.”The new fire hall is 4,438 square metres with two stories and five drive-through bays for emergency vehicles.This project’s overall value is estimated at $27.3 million, which includes all aspects of the project, such as studies, design, construction, administration, contingencies and taxes. “The staff are ecstatic with this state-of-the-art building,” said Fire Chief Steve Mullen. “We are able to consolidate all our equipment and personnel in one building now. The living space, storage and working space are a lot more spacious and there is more room to work.”Aside from being the fire hall, the building will also...

[caption id="attachment_4109" align="alignnone" width="300"] Front Row: Clearance divers from Fleet Dive Unit (Pacific) participating in International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCMEX) 13 on the flight deck of USS Ponce, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, on Sunday, May 12. The Canadian dive team, specializing in Explosive Ordnance Disposal, joined USS Scout, an Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship, to support the neutralization of simulated ordnance during IMCMEX.Back row: The Canadian Underwater Mine Countermeasures Command Team.[/caption] Seven clearance divers from Maritime Forces Pacific have just returned from the Kingdom of Bahrain, where they dove in the warm, clear Persian Gulf during the 2013 International Mine Countermeasures Exercise (IMCM).The annual gathering of 41 nations and more than 6,500 participants took place May 3-30 to address tactics and practices for maintaining freedom of navigation and open sea lines of communications from the threat of sea mines. Fleet Diving Unit Pacific’s (FDU (P)) team was the Canadian dive component for the exercise, joining nine other dive teams that specialize in explosive ordnance disposal.“Divers are usually the last resort in an underwater situation,” says CPO2 Robert DeProy, Operations Chief at FDU (P). “There is a lot of technology used in mine hunting, but when it comes to identifying threats nothing beats a pair of human eyes.”Divers were posted aboard USS Scout, a United States Navy Avenger-class Mine Hunter, and were on hand to investigate possible mines and strange formations picked up by the ship’s sonar.“It was a really great experience. Diving in Bahrain is way different than diving here,” said Lt(N) Demetris Mousouliotis, FDU (P) team leader for the exercise. “The water is so warm and so clear that we were diving in a fraction of the equipment we use in our homes waters. The team loved it.”In the cold Pacific waters clearance divers wear heat retaining suits, but...

[caption id="attachment_4105" align="alignnone" width="300"] Vadm Paul Maddison, Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy, arrives on board HMCS Calgary as part of his week-long tour.[/caption] Last week, VAdm Paul Maddison made a special week-long trip to Victoria, a sort of finale tour to his tenure as Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy. In two weeks, he will retire, ending a 30-year naval career. However, before he officially hangs up his uniform, he wanted to visit his naval community and share a few key messages. At CFB Esquimalt, this included a series of town halls.  “As Commander I have visited Quebec, Halifax and about nine or 10 Naval Reserve Divisions across the country, but I saved the best one for last,” he told the Chiefs and Petty Officers gathered at the Pacific Fleet Club. “It’s been almost two years since I’ve been here, and a lot has happened in that time. Today I want to talk about the four principal themes that shape the Canadian Navy: purpose, platform, people and pride.”With the full attention of everyone in the room, he went on to explain those themes.Purpose, he says, is protecting the seaways, and ensuring the safe travel of goods.  “Our economy floats on salt water,” he explained. “…Most Canadians can’t imagine what we do at sea, but if we explain it to them, they understand we have ships for a reason.”He also reminded his sailors of the need to thwart the travel of illegal goods, something the Royal Canadian Navy is actively engaged in through various operations, such as HMCS Toronto’s work in the Arabian Sea, and HMCS Regina and HMCS Ottawa’s drug busts earlier in the year. “That is why, as Canadians, we need to have a navy ready to fight if we need to. It is our purpose. The future...

Colombian Air Force pilots participating in Exercise Maple Flag 2013 (JOINTEX), walk towards the Super Tucanos aircraft in Cold Lake, Alberta.

Colombian jumpers jump from a Colombian C-130 Hercules during Exercise Maple Flag 2013 (JOINTEX 13), near CFB Cold Lake.

A Georgia Army National Guard’s B/1-169 General Support Aviation Battalion Chinook helicopter carries a sling load of a single story medium girder bridge into place during Exercise Maple Resolve 13 (JOINTEX) in Wainwright, Alberta.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, C Company take up positions in the fictional village of El Pennon during Exercise Maple Resolve 13 (JOINTEX) in Wainwright, Alberta.

More than 3,000 candles were placed at the gravestones in God's Acre Veteran's Cemetery in Esquimalt during a candlelight vigil on May 30. The annual ceremony commemorates the sacrifices of military members.

Members of HMCS Nanaimo ship's company row outgoing Commanding Officer LCdr Michele Tessier ashore, during the Change of Command Ceremony. LCdr Jeffery Hopkins has now taken the helm of the reserve vessel.

[caption id="attachment_4073" align="alignnone" width="300"] Lt(N) Greg Walker, Combat Systems Engineering Officer aboard HMCS Toronto, stands with seized narcotics primed for explosive destruction. The massive haul of seized narcotics is Toronto’s fourth major interdiction in two months.[/caption] HMCS Toronto successfully disrupted its fourth narcotics shipment in two months as part of ongoing counter-terrorism operations in the Arabian Sea. During the search and inspection of a vessel by the ship’s naval boarding team on May 23, Toronto’s crew recovered approximately 300 kilograms of heroin. The narcotics were recovered without incident and will be destroyed.“The success of this operation truly shows the level of cohesion between the ship and our partners,” said Commander Jeff Hamilton, Commanding Officer of HMCS Toronto. “Toronto continues to operate effectively with our Combined Task Force 150 partners to combat transnational criminal and terrorist organizations at all levels, ensuring the seas remain open and secure for legitimate purposes.”Since ship and crew departed Halifax in January, Toronto has recovered roughly 1,300 kilograms of narcotics. On March 29, a massive narcotics shipment in the Indian Ocean was disrupted when the ship’s naval boarding team recovered approximately 500 kilograms of heroin. The crew recovered 317 kilograms on May 6, and an additional 195 kilograms on May 10.Narcotics smuggling in the Arabian Sea and surrounding region is a recognized source of funding for terrorist organizations. By patrolling some of the world’s most important shipping routes, coalition ships are denying financial resources to extremist groups, and helping to keep drugs off of Canada’s streets.“I continue to be impressed with HMCS Toronto’s efforts in the Arabian Sea region. Over the course of their deployment they have consistently made a valuable contribution to the international fight against terrorism,” said Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. “Their dedication to Canada, allies and regional partners has been second-to-none.”Toronto...

[caption id="attachment_4070" align="alignnone" width="300"] Cpl Dominic Pare pauses for a photo at the helm of HMCS Oriole. The ammunition technician from CFAD Angus at CFB Borden was on Oriole for just three days before joining the crew for Swiftsure.[/caption] The best way to learn is to do, or so a group of ammunition technicians from Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot (CFAD) Angus, at CFB Borden, learned when they crewed HMCS Oriole for Swiftsure 2013.The group, here for adventure training, arrived at CFB Esquimalt May 20 and hit the water, many for the first time, the next day. “I didn’t think I’d ever be working on a sailboat, let alone racing one,” said Cpl Dominic Pare, an ammunition technician. “As an army guy I’m used to working on dry land. Being out on a heaving boat has really changed how I see the navy and the kind of conditions they work in.”Cpl Pare was prepared for this year’s Swiftsure Yacht Race alongside his fellow ammo techs with just three days of intensive, on-the-water training.“It was a very challenging experience but very worthwhile,” he says. “When everyone is working together and crewing their individual stations, it feels like a well oiled machine. It’s a rewarding feeling.”LCdr Jeff Kibble, captain of Oriole, says this year’s crew exceeded expectations.“I’ve worked them hard but in three days they came together like a real crew,” he said. “We crammed 30 days of training into a three-day period, and the crew fared very well.”Following their quick trial-by-fire period, the newly minted crew was thrust into action. The Swiftsure International Yacht Race is a gathering of sailors from around the world. Participants take part in a number of races throughout the Juan de Fuca Strait. Challenges range from the Juan De Fuca Race that spans 79.7 nautical miles, to...

[caption id="attachment_4067" align="alignnone" width="300"] CPO2 Mike Babcock is the regional naval attractions co-ordinator for B.C. and Alberta. This summer he will travel with the bus to the Calgary Stampede, Klondike Days in Edmonton, the PNE in Vancouver and the Abbotsford Air Show.[/caption] The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is looking to hire 500 regular force and 360 reserve sailors per year over the next three years.To showcase the face of the navy to the public and help entice potential recruits to a career on the ocean, the RCN, coordinated through Naval Reserve Headquarters in Quebec City, uses five modified commercial buses for total-force naval attraction activities. This is in addition to, and augments the established CF recruiting group organization.“The buses were initiated by the regular force in 2007 to better assist in reaching out to the public and to combat maritime blindness,” says CPO2 Mike Babcock, One Navy Visibility and Attractions Regional Outreach Coordinator for B.C. and Alberta. “We use this piece of kit as a mobile information kiosk to tell the navy story.”Busses are rolling billboards whose interiors house a series of interactive computer systems that showcase the navy’s many responsibilities, operations, and employment opportunities. A 12-seat theatre in the rear plays a wide variety of video productions from the Truth, Duty, Valour series to the latest RIMPAC exercise. In the middle section, a push-button video display with headphones provides job-specific information about all naval occupations.“It’s a brilliant idea that allows people an inside look at what we do in the navy,” said CPO2 Babcock. “Most people are quite surprised at what they find when they walk into the bus. The feedback we receive is very positive.” This summer CPO2 Babcock will travel to events across B.C. and Alberta to connect with Canadians.“When we go to the PNE in Vancouver...

Battle of Atlantic exhibit unveiled

Esquimalt Memorial

FORCE Fitness is coming!

Joint Operational Access Exercise 2013

HMCS Regina returns home

Victoria Royals Hockey CF Appreciation Night

New fleece outerwear for Air Force personnel.

Cpl Éric Gauthier of the Royal 22e Régiment uses his ruck sac as a floatation device as he swims to shore after jumping out of a Hercules aircraft near CFB Esquimalt during Exercise Trident Fury 13 (JOINTEX).

Soldiers with the Royal 22e Régiment carry an assault boat to a water crossing, during Exercise Trident Fury (JOINTEX). The soldiers waited for the cover of darkness before crossing the water, then carried on to their objective through the night.

Members of B Company, Royal 22e Régiment board HMCS Algonquin where they were part of a simulated coastal attack party during Exercise Trident Fury 13 (JOINTEX) off the coast of B.C.

Chief of the Defence Staff, General Tom Lawson, is served lunch by Pte Marie-Pier Brillant in Wainwright, Alberta, during Exercise Maple Resolve 13 (JOINTEX).

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, accompanied by LCdr Gene Fedderly, speaks with LS Diyako Salehi during his review of the Royal Guard at Topaz Park during opening ceremonies for the 150th Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival.

The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy marches past Reviewing Officer, Base Commander Capt(N) Bob Auchterlonie at the start of the 115th Annual Victoria Day Parade.

[caption id="attachment_4006" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Paul Johnson indicates how close the Mark V Zodiac boat is to the shore as he helps bring a wave of Royal 22nd Regiment soldiers to land on a beach during Exercise Trident Fury 13 (JOINTEX).[/caption] During the May long weekend, army personnel from Valcartier, Quebec, joined local navy and air force elements to practice amphibious landings in a joint exercise (Joint Ex) designed to heighten interoperability between Canadian assets.On May 18, more than 130 army soldiers deployed in Mark V Zodiac boats from HMC Ships Ottawa and Algonquin bound for a remote beach off William Head.Once on shore their mission was to evacuate Canadian citizens from a mock hostile environment scenario and then safely transport them to awaiting Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel HMCS Saskatoon.“We are very excited to take part in this exercise as we have been training since March,” said Battery Commander, Maj Sabastien Lemieux. “Amphibious operations involve taking a land element and projecting it to the shore. Usually we train on a unit level with army pretending to be navy. Since we have arrived on May 7 joining Trident Fury, we have learned the mechanics behind the maritime operations, and all the tactics and planning sequences of the maritime elements that need to be done in order to make the ship project the force to shore.”The soldiers from Third Royal 22 Regiment Valcartier usually practice this type of training on the St. Lawrence River, and this is the first time it has been done using joint operations.  During the exercise Cmdre Scott Bishop and fleet staff sailed in Algonquin to oversee command of Joint Ex.Sea King helicopters deployed from Ottawa and Algonquin monitored the situation on the ground. “One challenge we have in an exercise like this is getting a ship to...

[caption id="attachment_4003" align="alignnone" width="300"] MS Mia Lynch discusses the leadership performance of NCdt Benjamin Mason of HMCS Scotian. NCdt Mason had just completed his tasking during the Leadership Potential Assessment Course during the Basic Military Officers Qualification, an 11-week course at Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt.[/caption] The famous coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work.” Lombardi’s comment was in reference to football, but it holds true for the Canadian Armed Forces and the Naval Reserve.If leaders are made then somewhere, someone is making them. That somewhere is the Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ) course at Canadian Forces Fleet School Esquimalt, and those “someones” are MS Mia Lynch and PO2 Robert Templeman.MS Lynch from HMCS Queen Charlotte in Charlottown, PEI, is in her second year instructing BMOQ. “It’s a lot of work,” she says, “But it is so rewarding seeing them on the parade square for their graduation and seeing the transformation.”As the students practice drill in the distance MS Lynch adds, “At first the students don’t understand our insistence on the little things such as tucking in their shoe laces or not having threads hanging on their uniform. We’re helping them create a mindset of paying attention to details.” A smile crosses her face as she says, “If you can’t handle the little things, you’re not going to be able to lead a group of subordinates in a mission.”This is the first year instructing on BMOQ for PO2 Templeman. He is member of HMCS Nonsuch in Edmonton and is taking a break from his civilian job as an electrician. A 16-year veteran of the Naval Reserve, PO2 Templeman has served on ship and participated in domestic operations such as assisting Manitoba flood victims on Operation...

[caption id="attachment_4000" align="alignnone" width="300"] Melanie Williamson, Miss Canada International 2013, takes over as lookout on HMCS Calgary.[/caption] Miss Canada International 2013 winner, Melanie Williamson visited Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Tuesday, May 21. She went on board HMCS Calgary with previous Miss Canada International 2003 winner Lorenza Sammarelli. Williamson showed up in Calgary’s colours, blue and gold. Williamson was born and raised in Kitchener, Ontario, and this was her first exposure to the navy.  She was engaging and attentive and had a wonderful time experiencing the Royal Canadian Navy first-hand.HMCS Calgary recently came out of refit from a mid-life upgrade and modernization Frigate Equipment Life Extension programme. The crew were happy to show off their new ship to both Miss Canada winners. They were taken to the flight deck, operations room and the bridge for a chance to see how Calgary runs and what the ship’s crew do at work.