Capt (N) Mike Knippel, CPO1 Paul Helston, and Capt (N) Bob Auchterlonie participate in the Force Fitness test evaluation at the Naden Athletic Centre. About 15 members of the senior leadership team took a familiarization round at the test last week.

Residents of Powell River were treated to a rare sight last week. HMCS Victoria was in the area performing exercises with other naval vessels as part of Exercise Trident Fury.

HMCS Ottawa passes by HMCS Victoria (submarine) during maritime manoeuvres practice while on Exercise TRIDENT FURY, off the coast of British Columbia, Canada on May 6, 2013.

For the past five years the Esquimalt Legion has taken over the planning of the annual Candlelight Tribute honouring veterans at God’s Acre Cemetery in Esquimalt. The effort of these volunteers pays off when more than 800 people attend the ceremony.

[caption id="attachment_3960" align="alignnone" width="300"] About 15 members of the Senior Command team familiarized themselves with the New Force Fitness test last Monday at the Naden Athletic Centre. CPO1 Paul Helston, Capt (N) Bob Auchterlonie, and Capt (N) Mike Knippel in prone position awaiting the start of the intermittent shuttle run.[/caption] Last Monday morning, 15 senior leaders, including RAdm Bill Truelove, donned their PT attire and trialed components of the new FORCE Fitness Evaluation at the Naden Athletic Centre. With stopwatches in hand, Personnel Support Programs fitness instructors coached and timed them on all four components of the FORCE evaluation. “It’s demanding and reflective of the challenges one could face in any element we encounter in the Canadian Forces,” said RAdm Truelove, Commander of Maritime Forces Pacific. “It will be great to see the Formation rise to this new challenge. I found it used different muscle groups and interesting techniques with rushes and lots of lower body strength. Well done to the PSP staff for rolling it out. It’s nice to be here today with senior leadership doing this test.” The evaluation has four components including a sandbag lift (30 lifts in three minutes and 30 seconds or less), intermittent loaded shuttles (five loaded and five unloaded in five minutes and 21 seconds or less), 20 metre rushes (dropping to the prone position every 10 metre and completed in 51 seconds or less) and the sandbag drag (continuous test with no time frame). Between each component there is a five minute rest and typically the test must be completed in the order noted above; however, members may start at any point. “Today we had quite a range of age, demographics, and fitness levels and everybody made it,” said Base Commander, Capt (N) Bob Auchterlonie. “The common task approach is great. I...

“The success of this operation demonstrates the professionalism and tenacity of Toronto’s crew,” said Cdr Jeff Hamilton, Commanding Officer of HMCS Toronto. “Our operations are achieving effects by helping to disrupt terrorist networks, and to enhance coordinated, multinational efforts to understand and map the way these groups resource themselves. Our presence in the region also gives our country the flexibility and capability to respond quickly to emerging crises in the region.”

The largest joint Canadian-United States military exercise on the West Coast.

Amphibious Scout Team 2 comes ashore on Royal Beach near Metchosin during Jointex littoral exercises.

Amphibious Scout Teams taking part in Jointex 13 make their way up the coast of Vancouver Island to practice littoral exercises in the waters off Metchosin.

Sailors with the Royal Canadian Navy navigate rigid hull inflatable boats carrying soldiers from the Royal 22e Régiment, to conduct a beach landing exercise near CFB Esquimalt during Exercise Trident Fury.

Cpl Philippe Morin feels the wind pushing up on his flippers as he jumps out of a  Hercules aircraft near CFB Esquimalt during Exercise Trident Fury 13.

The new naval ensign flies on HMCS Halifax after the colours ceremony held in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

HMCS Toronto provides cover during the naval boarding of a dhow in the Indian Ocean on May 6, 2013. Toronto's boarding party recovered more than 315 kilograms of heroin during the search.

[caption id="attachment_3911" align="alignnone" width="300"] Laden with gear, Amphibious Scout Team 1 swims ashore during littoral exercises off Metchosin.[/caption] When spending a sunny spring day at the beach, one seldom expects to see groups of armed military personnel trudge up out of the surf.That’s what beach-side revellers in Metchosin would have seen last week as military members from the U.S. and Canada performed amphibious littoral exercises.“Littoral exercises take our troops from the wet to the dry,” said Lt(N) Michael St-Pierre of Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific) (FDU(P)). “This is a brand new type of exercise for the Canadian military. We’re writing a whole new book here.”The exercise was part of Jointex 2013, the first in a series of nation-wide joint training and readiness events designed to change how the Canadian Armed Forces train, develop and learn to prepare for future operations.. It also marked the start of Trident Fury 2013, a biennial and joint naval exercise hosted by Maritime Forces Pacific and conducted with the United States.Boats laden with FDU(P) Clearance Divers and Canadian Army Patrol Pathfinders from the Royal 22 Regiment of Valcartier, Québec zipped up the coast towards Race Rocks and Royal Beach. Once they reached their embankment points they tumbled into the water, gear and all. From there it was a 30-metre swim to the beach, where they set up a perimeter, doffed their aquatic gear and transitioned to land-based operations.The mixed group of navy and army members is being called Amphibious Scout Teams (AST), a newly formed type of task group created to address the stark division of labour found between marine and land-based operations.“The skills needed for those two kinds of operations don’t overlap, so we came up with a composite team to bridge the gap,” said Maj Chris Comeau, the lead Army planner for Jointex Stage...

[caption id="attachment_3908" align="alignnone" width="300"] Capt Fahim Awan, LS Luis Lemus, MCpl Brad Axworthy, and MS Sarah Zimmer hold up boots and a sign, ready for their fundraising drive.[/caption] The third annual Nijmegen boot drive in support of the Military Families Fund and Soldier On is taking place May 14 from 6:30 to 8 a.m. at the entrance gates to Dockyard, Naden and Colwood.“We are hoping to raise between $5,000 and $6,000 this year for these charities,” said Nijmegen team leader, CPO2 Chris Koblun.The Military Families Fund provides financial assistance for emergencies caused by the conditions of military service while the Soldier On Fund helps offset the costs for injured soldiers to maintain an active lifestyle.“When we initially did the boot drive, we were blown away with the support from the DND community and in one and a half hours our marching team collected more than $6,000 in donations. Last year we did it again and raised roughly the same amount. It’s for a great cause and we’d like to thank everyone for their continued support,” he said.The Nijmegen team began training at the end of February and just completed their first 40 kilometre march. To date, they have marched more than 400 kilometres.“The 40 kilometre back to back march takes place June 6 and 7 with team selection happening on June 10 when nine marchers will be selected from 20 candidates for the team,” said CPO2 Koblun. As Nijmegen approaches, the team trains five days a week, marching 60 kilometres.The 97th annual Nijmegen march takes place July 16 – 19 in the Netherlands and is the largest marching event in the world involving over 45,000 military members and civilians. Canadian military members will march 160 kilometres over four days in CADPAT carrying a backpack weighing at least 10 kilograms. -Shelley...

[caption id="attachment_3905" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Litter helps fellow diver LS Marc Andre Ouimet get into the water for a dive.[/caption] Nine sailors are hoping to join an elite group of divers this August by enduring the rigours of the year-long Royal Canadian Navy Clearance Diving Officer/QL5A Clearance Diver course.Last Tuesday off Brentwood Bay, Lookout joined the sea portion of the CUMA Rebreather phase from this specialty course to talk to the trainers and divers to find out more about this specialized dive training, which is only offered at Fleet Diving Unit Pacific (FDU(P)).“There are only 120 clearance divers in Canada,” said senior dive instructor PO1 Sean Ratz. “The students find this course challenging, rewarding and they also love bonding and working as a team,” he said. “It’s a difficult course, and the learning curve is steep.”Seven Leading Seamen and two officers, including one exchange officer from the Irish Navy, are taking this course.The course began in September and since then divers have conducted pool training at Commonwealth Pool, navigated a one kilometre underwater rope course and completed a series of work-ups for deep dives to 21, 30 and 45 metres. They have also learned to use new equipment and apply theories learned in the classroom. Now at sea for a two week course, they are aiming for the maximum depth of 81 metres using Canadian Underwater Mine Apparatus (CUMA) rebreather dive gear. The CUMA Rebreather uses a mix of helium and oxygen, which allows people to dive much deeper than traditional SCUBA air supply. “The CUMA rebreather allows you to dive deeper and are much quieter and less invasive acoustically and magnetically,” said Irish exchange officer SLt Shane Mulcahy. “We have naval divers in Ireland, but there is no rebreather training like this. This training allows us to carry out...

LS Alex Ihmels, LS Leon Buser-Rivet, AS Chloe Moisan and AS Derian Ward of Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps Rainbow raise the flags during opening day at the Canadian Forces Sailing Association.

HMCS Algonquin docks alongside the pier at Canada Place in downtown Vancouver. Canadian and American ships were in Vancouver for a four-day port visit.

HMC Ships Saskatoon and Nanaimo along with four ORCA Class training vessels moored alongside the Burrard Pier next to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver.

Canadian Armed Forces members stand on parade during a ceremony at Sackville Landing in Halifax, NS, to commemorate the 68th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic May 2.

A Royal Canadian Air Force Cormorant search and rescue helicopter, taxis it way through a high powered pressure wash located in front of the air traffic control tower at CFB Comox.

[caption id="attachment_3877" align="alignnone" width="300"] Fitness and Sports Instructor Matt Carlson (green shirt) leads the Run to Succeed group through Dockyard.[/caption] Are you ready to take your personal running goals to the next level? Whether you would like to run stronger and faster, or focus on injury prevention and running form, two new lunchtime running clinics have been set up to help members of all levels achieve their targets and run their best in the upcoming June 23 Navy Run.Every Monday and Wednesday on base, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., PO1 Chris Fraser leads the Learn to Run clinic, while Fitness and Sports Instructor Matt Carlson leads Run to Succeed.“This is a way for people to prepare to meet their goals and try to improve on what they have already accomplished,” says PO1 Fraser.Both groups meet outside the Dockyard Gym for a warm up and hour long run clinic.“For participants just beginning to run it’s important to run in a safe and progressive manner, and also be in a relaxed educational environment,” said PO1 Fraser. “Some people find running five or 10 kilometres is challenging, and this clinic will help them prepare so they can have a positive experience. Learn to Run is focused on participation and completion rather than speed. It’s about learning in a safe proactive manner and finishing the distance.”Run to Succeed is for those who wish to run their best Navy Run ever. “This is a group designed for the runner who is looking to run their fastest and we are focusing more on speed,” said Carlson. Topics include intervals, learning how to pace properly, running up hill and nutrition. “We set this running clinic up as a way to promote the Navy Run and a way to get people ready for the run. Injury reduction...

[caption id="attachment_3874" align="alignnone" width="300"] LS Wolls (foreground) and MS Ferguson from HMCS Algonquin clean the grounds of Honour House in New Westminster April 26. The crew members, along with four of their counterparts took the day to give back to the community by assisting Honour House volunteers with yard maintenance and clean up duties.[/caption] Canadian and American Navy sailors teamed up to support six different charities as part of the Vancouver Port Visit April 26-29. Eighty-two volunteers from USS Lake Champlain, HMC Ships Algonquin, Victoria, Nanaimo and Saskatoon did everything from mowing lawns to motivating new Canadians.Six sailors spent a day improving the grounds of Honour House, a home away from home for Canadian Armed Forces personnel, first responders and their families while they are receiving medical treatment in Vancouver. The home was selected to be part of the 2013 New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour. Although the interior of the home was in good shape, the exterior needed a facelift. RAdm Truelove also paid a visit to Honour House. He met residents and thanked volunteers who provide regular support to the facility. Five female sailors from HMC Ships Nanaimo, Saskatoon and Algonquin spent a day volunteering at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Emergency Shelter. They donated clothing and goods, organized the storage rooms and helped with meal preparation and serving. Meanwhile, three other sailors spoke about their experiences as new Canadians and being in the Navy at S.U.C.C.E.S.S., an immigration settlement and integration agency. Seventy-five sailors from Patrol Craft Training ships, HMC Ships Nanaimo and Saskatoon, and USS Lake Champlain braved April showers to rehabilitate Heywood and Doran parks in North Vancouver. They removed invasive species, planted natural vegetation and cleaned up litter. “It was so great to have so many volunteers from the navy show up”, said Stephanie Levy, Evergreen...

[caption id="attachment_3871" align="alignnone" width="300"] Base Commander Capt(N) Bob Auchterlonie (foreground) and CFSA Commodore CPO2 John Haggis greet Dick Mills, owner of Jetstream.[/caption] Despite rough winds and grey skies, dozens of sailors gathered on the lawn of the Canadian Forces Sailing Association (CFSA) for their annual opening ceremony.Recreational sailors, both civilian and military, met April 28 for the opening of CFSA’s 65th sailing season.The Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy was on hand, playing both the Canadian and U.S. national anthems to acknowledge American sailors present at the event. Following the recitation of the Prayer of the Sea, CPO2 John Haggis, Commodore of CFSA, gave a short presentation.He presented CFSA’s past commodores with specially made ball caps to acknowledge their service to the specialty club.“These are the people that made this association what it is today,” said CPO2 Haggis. “It’s not much, but it’s a small token of appreciation for all they’ve done and what their work has meant to us.”Base Commander, Capt(N) Bob Auchterlonie was also present to give a short speech, which he started with a humorous admission.“I own a power boat,” he admitted to the crowd of sailing enthusiast. “I hope you won’t hold it against me.”Capt(N) Auchterlonie spoke about the appreciation the Canadian Armed Forces has for the CFSA and the work they do in the community.“The sailing programs available for youth are exceptional, as is all of the work the CFSA does in the community,” he said. “This is an exceptionally well run organization, and the work John and his folks are doing is tremendous.”The CFSA’s traditional sail past, in which members sail their boats past the association’s Commodore for inspection, was put on hold this year due to winds that reached up to 30 knots.Choppy waters made the often delicate and synchronized nature of...

Christmas Yuletide Dinners at Nelles Galley from Lookout on Vimeo.

Operation Unified Protecteur Medal Ceremony from Lookout on Vimeo.

Historical re-enactors in War of 1812 uniforms participate in a Commemoration Ceremony for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of York in Toronto.