SkyHawks Jump With Parachute Rigger Logisticians To Celebrate 50th Anniversary

Corporal Jason Bent, a SkyHawks parachute rigger and proud Logistician, flies the Logistics Branch’s 50th Anniversary Flag and Pennant during a sky dive at Trenton, Ontario in September, 2017 as part of a global flag relay in advance of the anniversary on February 1, 2018. Photo: Master Corporal Jeremy Canfield, Canadian Army Advanced Warfare Center. ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.

By Master Corporal Annie-Claude Venne, Canadian Joint Operations Command

The Canadian Armed Forces Logistics Branch is ramping up for its 50th Anniversary on February 1, 2018 and a keystone activity involves passing an official Canadian Forces Logistics Branch Flag and pennant among Logisticians across Canada and around the world. The flag began its journey on July 1, 2017 when a group of Logisticians gathered at the National Military (Beechwood) Cemetery in Ottawa to unfurl the Logistics Branch 50th Anniversary Flag for the first time. The flag, which has a GPS tracking system, travels in a weather-resistant backpack and includes a logbook for signatures of serving and retired members.

Trenton, Ontario — As part of the lead up to the February 1, 2018 celebration surrounding the 50th Anniversary of the Logistics Branch, a flag relay has been organized to highlight the contribution to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) by Logisticians. In September 2017, the journey brought the flag to Trenton where two members of the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team, The Skyhawks, took it for a sky dive from 6,000 feet. Along with the two members from the team were six Logisticians on board the aircraft to do various types of airborne currency training.

“The SkyHawks’ team Warrant Officer, WO Steve Ouimet, informed me about (the Flag Relay).  His wife, Sergeant Isabelle Dufour, is a Logistician and they thought that this would be a good opportunity to show that riggers are also Logisticians,” said Master Corporal Jeremy Canfield, a supply technician and parachute rigger. 

Skyhawks depend on Logistician parachute riggers

Parachute riggers are supply technicians by trade.  There are around 50 who are currently qualified to rig parachutes in the CAF. They are mainly located in Trenton, but can also be posted with Search and Rescue squadrons and other units with parachutists. It takes three years of training to qualify as a parachute rigger.

“Perfection” is the word MCpl Canfield uses to describe a parachute rigger’s job. “It has to be perfect every time,” he said. “When we give a parachute to a Skyhawk, there can be no doubt in their mind that the chute is going to work.”

Corporal Jason Bent, a parachute rigger, had the privilege of carrying the official 50th Anniversary Logistic Branch flag during the dive, while MCpl Canfield, who has more experience with camera work, took the lead with imagery. 

Cpl Bent describes this event as a good opportunity to show pride in the Logistics Branch.  “It feels special to be part of the very few people that will have the opportunity to jump with this specific flag,” he said. “Other than that, it was like any other day at work. It was fun to have my teammate filming to get the perfect shot.”

To prepare for the jump, the riggers removed numerous lapel pins attached to the flag and a small banner for safety reasons. These items were put in a small bag and were also part of the jump.

‘Dirt dive’ rehearsal before jump with flag

MCpl Canfield explained that they did a quick rehearsal, what the SkyHawks call a “dirt dive,” to plan the whole sky dive before the actual dive. “This jump is a good opportunity for us to show what we can do, not only as Logisticians, but also to take what we do as a job and show the rest of the community what we can achieve.”

Logisticians are the backbone of military operations and the flag relay contributes to get the word out about the 50th Anniversary of the Logistics Branch. “It is important, we have been around for 50 years,” MCpl Canfield said. “Especially within my unit, this place couldn’t run without Logisticians.”

A Farewell To The Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank

A Canadian Armed Forces Leopard 1 C2 Main Battle Tank pictured at Fort Bliss, Texas during Exercise SOUTHERN BEAR in 2008. The C2, and other vehicles of the Leopard 1 family, including the Leopard 1 Armoured Engineer Vehicles, also known as Badgers, are being retired from service after 40 years. Photo: Sergeant Dennis Power, Army News-Shilo. ©2008 DND/MDN Canada.

By Captain Scott Franklin, office of the Director Land Requirements

Gatineau, Quebec — Royal Canadian Armour Corps (RCAC) members who had the privilege of working with Leopard 1 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) are saying farewell to the venerable workhorses, whose service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is coming to an end.

It is a bittersweet time for armour officers and soldiers, given that only last year, they were marking the 40th anniversary of the introduction of the first Leopard 1s to the CAF. The red ruby is the traditional 40th anniversary stone and they would undoubtedly see the Leopard 1 family as a precious stone in the CAF crown.

“These were by far the best vehicles I had the opportunity to work with in my 38 years of service,” said Major Robert Bouchard. “I went through my Armour Officer training when the Leopard 1 fleet was still new. All the young RCACofficers were hoping to serve in Germany or Gagetown on the Leopard 1 tank.”

The first Leopard 1 MBTs were loaned to the CAF by West Germany in 1977.  Their superior accuracy, ease of use and reliability bore fruit early when the Royal Canadian Dragoons’ (RCD’s) B Squadron won the NATO tank gunnery competition that year against major Allied nations.

Canada began to receive its full order of 114 Leopard 1 C1 MBTs in 1978.

Most of the new Leopard 1s were originally stationed with 4th Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group at Canadian Forces Base Lahr in West Germany and operated by the RCD. The remainder were distributed between Canadian Forces Base Gagetown (now 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown) with C Squadron RCD, known as the “flyover squadron,” and the armour school.

In the early 1990s, eight Leopard 1 Armoured Engineer Vehicles (AEVs), also known as Badgers, were acquired. These vehicles, based on the Leopard 1 Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV) chassis, were used by an engineer squadron in Germany and the engineer school at CFB Gagetown.

With the closing of CFB Lahr in 1993, the Leopard 1s were repatriated to Canada and redistributed to armour regiments and engineer squadrons stationed at Brigade Groups in Valcartier, Petawawa and Edmonton, as well as the Combat Training Centre at CFB Gagetown. 

In 1995, the Leopard 1 C1s were upgraded with add-on armour to provide more protection. Two Leopard 1C1s of this configuration were deployed to Bosnia for use in engineering tasks using mine rollers and mine ploughs.

In 1999, further upgrades to the Leopard 1 MBT included replacing the welded turrets with cast turrets, a new gun sight, an improved hydraulic turret drive, and new turret armour. This upgrade was referred to as the Leopard 1 C2.  An acceptance ceremony for the Leopard 1 C2 was held at the Cartier Square Drill hall in Ottawa in September 2001.

In 2006, a 15-tank squadron with five operational spares, four ARVs and four AEVs were deployed to Afghanistan to support operations in the Kandahar area and remained there until the repatriation of the Canadian contingent in 2011.

During this deployment, the Leopard 1 family was further upgraded with mine belly-plates for additional protection from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines, a crew chiller system and thermal covers to protect the crew from the excessive heat of the south Asian desert. Also during the Afghanistan deployment, the Leopard 1 MBTs were augmented by the Leopard 2 A6M and Leopard 2 A4M.

With the delivery of the new Leopard 2 Tank Mobility Implements in the fall of 2017, the last Leopard 1 tanks have been parked for good.

For 40 years, Canadian soldiers relied on the Leopard 1 to provide direct fire support to manoeuvring forces. They will continue their over-watch duties in front of many Canadian Army buildings and bases.

Gunner (Trained Canine) Loki Is New Mascot For Artillery School

Gunner (Canine Trained) Loki in his youth, at around 9 weeks of age. The Vizla went on to become the official mascot of The Royal Canadian Regiment Artillery School on October 20, 2017. Photo: Captain (Retd) Sarah Kaempffer.

By Captain Nicholas Kaempffer, Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School

Oromocto, New Brunswick — The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School (RCAS) is proud to announce their selection of Gunner (Canine) Loki, an 8-year-old Vizsla, as their official mascot.

This handsome Hungarian pointer-retriever has joined the illustrious ranks of past Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA) mascots as part of the proud canine history of Gunners and dogs.

Proposed as a potential RCAS mascot during a Commandant’s Hour on October 5, 2017, following a compelling pitch that involved history, morale, cost-efficiency and a show of obedience, all Gunners in attendance acclaimed this handsome beast into his present position as unit mascot. Subsequently, on December 11, 2017, he was promoted to the rank of Gunner (Trained Canine).

Gnr (TC) Loki’s duties will include his presence at parades, physical training, inspections and morale-building visits to the loyal Batteries at the RCAS. The following is an abridged biography of Gnr (TC) Loki.

Gnr (TC) Loki was born as Onpoint Vizsla’s Man in the Mirror to Rowdy (sire) and Hotty (dam) on the 2nd of June, 2009, under the expert supervision of kennel owners Kim and John Reid.

Renamed Loki by Captain (then Officer Cadet) Nicholas Kaempffer and Captain (Retired) Sarah Kaempffer, he quickly assumed his canine duties within their household, where his affable and social soul was soon evident.

A graduate of Beginner, Novice and Intermediate training at the Kingston Canine Center, Gnr (TC) Loki distinguished himself with top marks for his obedience and gentle nature.

Relocating to Oromocto following the family’s posting to Base Gagetown, Gnr (TC) Loki quickly marked his territory (both figuratively and literally) within the great province of New Brunswick.

Described as an “old man” following the celebration of his 56th dog year, Gnr (TC) Loki still enjoys long walks, although extended naps feature more prominently within his daily routine.

Gnr (TC) Loki’s noble stature and appearance is evident, with his now greying features adding to a distinguished bearing.

Proud to assume his duties as the RCAS mascot, Gnr (TC) Loki looks forward to building esprit de corps as he wags himself into the hearts of soldiers both young and old, wearing his distinctive canine uniform.

As a “huge fan” of the history of both the Canadian Army and The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery, Capt Kaempffer noted that dogs were often pictured with Gunners, including Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, famous for writing In Flanders Fields.

Armies across the globe have been known to have animal mascots as far back as records show to bring luck and strengthen morale. Goats are a British favourite, while the Norwegian King’s Guard has had a King Penguin as its mascot since 1972. Other mascots from around the world have included dogs, eagles, tigers, sheep, horses, ponies, a kangaroo and an elephant. 

Since he was a lieutenant in 2011, Capt Kaempffer worked on having his family dog Loki officially named as the RCAS mascot. Even before he became the unit mascot, Loki has been a fixture in many events at the RCAS.

“Every time I would bring Loki to work, the instant smiles he would bring out in soldiers was fantastic. To be frank, the Artillery is a serious business by its very nature, and there was something fun about pursuing a relatively irrelevant side project during the few spare moments in the day,” he said.

Canadian Armed Forces changes footwear reimbursement method

Canadian Forces Ranger Danny Smith from Inuvik, NT tries out new wet weather boots during Operation NANOOK 2012 in Inuvik, Northwest Territories. Military and civilian personnel in the Canadian Armed Forces who require safety footwear not provided by their respective units are now receiving reimbursements for the purchases in a new way. Photo: Sergeant Frank Hudec, Canadian Forces Canada Command. ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

The Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has changed how they reimburse personnel, civilian and military alike, for the purchase of safety footwear that is not provided directly by the units where they work.

Corporal Devin Birkby, a member of the 36 Canadian Brigade Group Marching Team, cleans his boots at Groesbeek Cemetery in the eastern Netherlands on July 23, 2015. Safety footwear required for many jobs in the Canadian Armed Forces are not provided by units and the organization has changed the process for reimbursing members for those purchases. Photo: Warrant Officer Jerry Kean, 5th Canadian Division Public Affairs. ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.

The change was brought about by Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), which provides finance and other services to the federal government. Reimbursements are now paid directly by DND from Operations and Maintenance funds and not as a taxable allowance through the larger public service’s Phoenix pay system.

Employees who already have a Pay Action Request (PAR) in the system for footwear procured earlier must not re-submit them under the new system. Existing PARs are being processed and are expected to be completed by the end of December.

The office of the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff (VCDS) has also expanded eligibility for these reimbursements. Previously, only permanent employees or others on work terms of more than three months who are not contractors were eligible. Now all term employees, as well as students, will be. More detail will be provided in an upcoming general order.

This will ensure DND remains in compliance with its obligations to provide safety footwear where necessary under the Canada Labour Code and its associated Canadian Occupational Health and Safety Regulations.

Canadian Army Trialing More Powerful, More Precise Artillery Shells

Artillery soldiers conduct a practice shoot at 5th Canadian Division Support Base during Exercise TURBULENT WINDS on October 26, 2017. Canadian Army researchers are investigating cutting-edge materials with the potential to make munitions more powerful and reducing their potential for collateral damage. Photo: Mylene Frenette, Combat Training Centre, Gagetown. ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

Medicine Hat, Alberta — New technology now being assessed by the Canadian Army (CA)’s research and development arm has the potential to increase the power of artillery munitions while also reducing the collateral damage they may cause.

Results from an initial trial conducted in fall 2017 at Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC)’s Suffield Research Centre in Alberta are promising, explained Jason Braden, DRDC’s Land Combat Systems Program Manager, though as much as five years of research still lies ahead.

The experimental shells are encased in structural reactive materials (SRM) rather than conventional steel. These have what Mr. Braden called “an illogical dual benefit.”

“SRM reacts itself and with the air – burning and increasing the explosive power and blast pressure within the lethal radius of the munition,” he added. “At the same time, because the fragments it produces are smaller and have more deceleration than with steel, they travel less distance and cause less damage outside of your intended blast area.”

The rounds function similarly to thermobaric weapons, which use combustible liquids or aerosols, but with one key difference.

“Solid SRM can be used for munition shells owing to its high mechanical strength, with its fragments having a similar effect of combustion and spreading out but in a solid state and with only one fuse, one explosion,” said Dr. Fan Zhang, lead scientist at the Suffield Research Centre. “So it very much simplifies the whole process, while giving significantly higher energy output than current explosive yields.”

Making the blast power adjustable is also one of DRDC’s objectives.

“We got positive results showing that there is the possibility of adjusting the burn rate in the fuse in order to further reduce the explosive power,” said Mr. Braden, “to tune it or scale it as needed. But there’s still a bit of work to do in finding how best to do it.”

The CA first began investigating this area in 2005 and Mr. Braden noted that Canada has emerged as a leader in research and development along with the United States and Germany. All three nations have been sharing information, he added.

This year’s trial also saw separate elements of the Canadian Armed Forces collaborate. While the CA assessed the viability of SRM in an artillery context, Royal Canadian Air Force researchers tested it in the form of 500-pound (or about 227-kilogram) air-dropped bombs.

Mr. Braden explained also that DRDC is also breaking new ground by bringing industry into the R&D process earlier than before.

“We as an organization have to recognize and partner with industry because they do a good job of finding cost savings and cost effectiveness in making the product. We ask, can a Canadian company or another defence industry actually produce it for a reasonable cost and make the business case?”

Major Travis Maxwell, with the CA’s Directorate of Land Resources, said the CA is keenly watching developments.

“The CA needs artillery ammunition to exploit technological advancements that improve precision, limit collateral damage and concentrate effects so that commanders have options appropriate for a wide spectrum of tactical problems.”

Gagetown Gunners Keep Canadians Safe From Avalanches

An Assistant Instructor-in-Gunnery oversees a C3 105mm Howitzer Detachment at Rogers Pass, British Columbia during Annual Avalanche Control operations on December 13, 2016. Photo: ©2017 Parks Canada.

By Captain Nicholas Kaempffer, The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School

Rogers Pass, British Columbia — Every winter, avalanches at Rogers Pass have the potential to pose a drastic threat to the safety and security of Canadians. At least it did, until The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery (RCA), working with Parks Canada, put in place the world’s largest mobile avalanche-control program more than 50 years ago.

Winter has more than met its match, since through Operation PALACI, Gunners dominate this season with the application of high-explosive projectiles that cause safe, controlled avalanches to keep Canadians secure.

Rogers Pass, the most avalanche-prone roadway found in North America, is located within the federal land of Glacier National Park in British Columbia. It is not just any road and railway crossing – it is a critical traffic link used by more than 4,000 motor vehicles and 40 trains per day, facilitating billions of dollars of commerce and the movement of thousands of Canadians from the Pacific Coast to the rest of Canada.

At 1,330 metres above sea level in the Selkirk Mountains and with an annual snowfall accumulation of 12 metres, Rogers Pass has more than 130 avalanche paths that cross the Trans-Canada Highway alone.

As the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) support to Parks Canada, Operation PALACI is a task force comprised of members from both Regular and Reserve Force artillery units that apply considerable firepower to neutralize the snow demons at Rogers Pass.

During Annual Avalanche Control (AVCON) operations, this task force is directed by Joint Task Force Pacific (JTFP), which is supported by The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery School (RCAS). The RCAS, as the Artillery Centre of Excellence, is responsible for the conduct of the Artillery Fire Effect (AFE) Certification Program, which both certifies new Parks Canada Agency (PCA) staff, and performs refresher training for currently certified PCA members.

With 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA) taking the lead in supplying both personnel and guns to support Parks Canada for 2017-18 AVCON operations, two Gunners from the RCAS were key components in ensuring the safety of all involved.

Captain John Knox, an Instructor-in-Gunnery and Warrant Officer Eric Comeau, an Assistant Instructor-in-Gunnery, were critical members in a joint team of Parks Canada and CAF members who worked in concert to ensure the success of this year’s operations. Both Capt Knox and WO Comeau leveraged their technical excellence to oversee and instruct the AFE Certification Program. Furthermore, they verified the methodology and data correction for the 271 registered targets that are engaged from 17 positions along the Trans-Canada highway.

Once they returned from British Columbia, WO Comeau worked with Bombardier Alexander DeLorenzis to confirm the firing data and crest-clearance for all of the 271 registered targets that fall within one-kilometre safe areas – a challenging job considering the difficult topography of the Selkirk Mountains.

Reflecting on his experience working with Parks Canada, 1 RCHA and JTFP for this year’s AVCON operations, WO Comeau said, “it was awesome to experience the camaraderie between both the CAF and Parks Canada. Moreover, it is a great feeling to know that you’re applying the knowledge you learn as an Assistant Instructor-in-Gunnery into a real-time, real-world application that keeps fellow Canadians safe!”

With 1 RCHA ready to support Parks Canada with firing data verified by the RCAS, Canadians can rest easy knowing that AVCON operations will ensure safe travels through Rogers Pass. Avalanches may be a great force of nature, but they have more than met their match with Canadian Army Gunners!

Army Commander Responds To Ombudsman’s Recommendations On Canadian Rangers’ Health Care

A member of 1st Canadian Ranger Patrol Group leaves base camp on patrol during Operation NUNALIVUT 17 in Hall Beach, Nunavut on March 1, 2017. Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk, Commander Canadian Army, has accepted the findings of a report from the Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman on health care for Canadian Rangers. Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Belinda Groves, Task Force Imagery Technician. ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

Ottawa, Ontario — The Commander of the Canadian Army (CA) said he is committed to addressing recommendations from the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Ombudsman on improving healthcare for Canadian Rangers (generally referred to as Rangers).

CAF Ombudsman Gary Walbourne identified several areas for improvement in a report entitled Canadian Rangers: A Systemic Investigation on the Factors that Impact Healthcare Entitlements and Related Benefits that was published December 5, 2017.

“On behalf of the Canadian Army, I would like to thank the Ombudsman for his report. We accept the recommendations and we will work to address all of the concerns,” said Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk, Commander Canadian Army.

“The Canadian Army is currently working with the Canadian Forces Health Services and with provincial health care agencies to address the recommendations found in the Ombudsman report,” he added. “It is important that we continue to offer the best possible care and support to our people in order to build a strong and agile defence organization, sustained and supported by healthy and resilient members.”

Ranger patrol groups “demonstrated goodwill and strong interest” in his inquiries, Mr. Walbourne noted.

The Ombudsman’s report notes that Rangers face a number of challenges in accessing healthcare.

Rangers, who are a sub-component of the Army Reserve, serve as the CA’s eyes and ears in remote areas and that geography means they must rely on civilian health care options that are not always readily available. The Ombudsman recommends that CA leaders engage directly with Rangers to identify the barriers to healthcare and implement a more responsive service delivery model.

The report concludes that, while Rangers are entitled to the same health benefits as other elements of the Army Reserve, the related policies are “vague” and “confusing.” The report recommends that any ambiguity be clarified no later than the spring of 2019. All Reservists who are injured or fall ill on duty are provided care by the Canadian Forces Health Services Group until such time as their care can be safely transferred to a civilian primary care provider.

Rangers surveyed for the report also said they are unaware of services to which they are entitled through Veteran’s Affairs Canada. More than 80 per cent said they had not even considered submitting such claims.

The Ombudsman also concluded that illness and injury among Rangers are not being consistently reported or adequately tracked. More than a quarter of the paperwork filled out by ill or injured Rangers, he noted, were not being transferred to Director Casualty Support Management, the office responsible.

Just over half of Rangers interviewed for the report are not reporting injuries, and cited several reasons for it. Some had underestimated the severity of their health issues, while others found care through other sources or were concerned about potential career implications.

The Ombudsman is recommending CAF and the Department of National Defence take steps to ensure compliance with existing reporting processes so Rangers are not prevented from accessing healthcare entitlements.

Happy Holidays from the Canadian Army Command Team

Holiday graphic Image by: Joanna Gajdicar, Graphic Designer, Directorate of Army Public Affairs

By Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk
Commander Canadian Army

At this most special time of year, Chief Warrant Officer Alain Guimond and I would like to offer our best wishes to the entire Canadian Army family.

This is also an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the year that has passed. I am extremely proud of the great work that our women and men in uniform and members of the Defence Team do every day. In the last year we have achieved a number of great successes and benefited from many learning experiences. This year, we have taken on the responsibility for Army Reserve enrollment and streamlined the recruiting process. This and other components of the Strengthening the Army Reserve initiative will continue to be one of our priorities in the New Year and years to come.

Our personnel were extremely busy this year while responding to various natural disasters across the country as part of Operation LENTUS including: the ice storm in New Brunswick; flooding in Kashechewan, Ontario; severe flooding in Quebec; and wildfires in British Columbia and Manitoba. Our members demonstrated time and time again, and continue to demonstrate, that they are ready to support and serve alongside our federal, provincial and municipal partners, who are working diligently to serve Canadian citizens in need.

On a different note, I am also very proud of our efforts towards the enhanced Forward Presence mission in Latvia, where Canada has assumed a leadership role as one of four Framework Nations leading a multinational battlegroup. This is our first permanent mission in Europe since the end of the Cold War in the early 1990s. CWO Guimond and I had the pleasure of visiting the men and women of the Canadian Army in Latvia, as well as Ukraine, who continue to display outstanding professionalism in all that they do.

On numerous occasions, the Army Sergeant-Major has recounted to me how he is honoured to travel and witness the high quality, the dedication and the professionalism of our soldiers both across Canada and deployed around the world.

This spring marked the Government of Canada’s unveiling of Canada’s defence policy – Strong, Secure, Engaged – which has provided the clarity the Army needed to balance priorities, respond to emerging challenges, and invest in future capabilities. Maintaining the proper mix of combat capabilities, along with the ability to operate jointly with the rest of the CAF, in concert with key Allies and partners, is crucial for Army success.

This year also marked the 150th anniversary of Confederation, and other significant military anniversaries, including the 100th anniversaries of the Battles of Vimy Ridge, Hill 70 and Passchendaele, and the 75th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid. Many of our soldiers had the honour of representing the Canadian Army at these commemorative events in Europe. In 2017, we also celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Canadian Rangers, who do tremendous work in northern, coastal, and isolated areas of Canada as our eyes and ears on the ground.

To those of you serving Canada far from home, know that our thoughts and good wishes are with you. Those of you who have served overseas during the holidays know how difficult this can be: stay focused and stay safe. A special thanks to all our families for supporting our soldiers each and every day.

To each member of the Army Team: Take care of yourself, your loved ones, and your colleagues during the holiday season and always. Take advantage of the holiday season to spend quality time with family and friends. We also urge you to reach out for support if you, or someone you know, need it.

CWO Guimond and I wish you and your loved ones all the best for a safe, healthy and happy holiday season, as well as a joyful New Year.

Connecting the unit: Meet Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Cheryl Robertson

Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel Cheryl Robertson is pictured during a change of command ceremony for her unit, 37 Signal Regiment. Honoraries are a longstanding tradition in the Canadian Army that HLCol Robertson says she’s proud to be a part of. Photo: HLCol Cheryl Robertson.

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

St. John, New Brunswick — Cheryl Robertson is a retired educator and enthusiastic volunteer in her home community. Her work, paid and otherwise, earned her an Order of New Brunswick in 2014 – the same year she became Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of 37 Signal Regiment, a Canadian Army Reserve unit.

The tradition of honoraries, private citizens given military rank and tasked with acting as volunteer advocates of and advisors to their regiments, is a venerable one Canada inherited from Britain. Sir Robert Borden, our eighth prime minister, said honoraries in his time were useful in garnering “the interest and sympathy of gentlemen of position and wealth by connecting them to regiments.”

HLCol Robertson however, is representative of a modern Army growing steadily into one more reflective of the country it is charged with defending. In the following interview, she shares some of the satisfactions of her work so far, offers advice to prospective future honoraries, and discusses the challenge of learning military acronyms.

How did the Honorary appointment come to you?

In the fall of 2012. I received a call from a businesswoman I know in St. John. She’d been contacted to see if she’d be interested in having her name submitted for the role but she didn’t feel she had the time to give such an appointment. She called and asked me if I would consider it.

How did you go about deciding if it was right for you?

I consulted with, not just friends, but with contacts who know something about me and also had some familiarity with the military, and asked them, ‘Do you think I’d be a good fit?’ They all gave me positive feedback and were encouraging. After the end of that month, I contacted the CO of the regiment and said, if they were still interested, I would agree to their nominating me.

And what was the attraction for you?

My father served in the First World War. My brother served in the Navy for five years. Their service was my closest military connection. I grew up in a house where Remembrance Day was a very special day to be observed, so I respected it. As a retired educator who served mostly in leadership positions, I like to learn new things, and there’s a lot to learn in this role, especially the acronyms.

Every profession has its own acronyms but, my God, the Armed Forces, I think, is the winner on that front [laughs]. Throughout my roughly 35 years of paid work, as I call it, I was always involved in volunteer work of one kind or another, so when I retired it just seemed natural that I would continue giving time to causes I care about.

How does your background in education come in to play in your duties?

When you work in education, especially at the post-secondary level, you have to be involved in the community because you want the community to support your college or your university or wherever it is you’re working. I’m quite good at linking people up around a common interest or goal. Connecting the unit with other people in the community who can help accomplish some of our goals seems to be something I can be helpful in.

What have been the most rewarding parts of being an Honorary for you so far?

I mentioned earlier how I like to learn new things. You are more worthwhile to the organization the better you understand it. That’s been rewarding because I’ve had reinforcements along the way that I am learning. Just a simple thing like getting an email from the commanding officer saying, ‘Good idea,’ or, ‘You’ve been very helpful on this file.’ That’s a good reinforcement. And I would also say observing the Reservists as they acquire new skills and develop into proud, strong, and ready soldiers.

As a woman, what is your view on efforts to make the Canadian Armed Forces more diverse?

Honoraries have, I’ve learned, a noble history dating back to 1895. And those early appointments were captains, quote-unquote, of industry – people with deep pockets. I’m not one of those captains of industry, and I don’t have deep pockets, so I guess the selection process has become more inclusive in the 21st century. When that message comes from the top, from the Commander of the Army down through the ranks, I think that helps a lot. And I think he sees a role for us honoraries in helping to make this happen.

So the emphasis going forward is, let’s look for more diversity: women, visible minorities, and people of Indigenous backgrounds. What more do we need to know? Let’s go find some. And that doesn’t mean that they won’t have all the other attributes. We’re not going to lower any standards. There are lots of good people out there; we just need to work a little harder at finding them.

Do you have any advice to offer other honorary nominees?

I’d say ask yourself these questions: Do I have an interest in this work or this cause? And then, do I have anything to offer this work or this cause? Will I learn anything new? And most often you do. Will it be fun? Because at a certain age and stage you don’t want to be coming home and thinking, ‘My God, why did I sign up for this [laughs]?’

Another piece of counsel I would offer is this is no place for a shy, timid person. If you don’t have the courage to ask questions pretty often you’re going to remain in the dark, especially if you don’t have a military background. I would say most of the answers are positive and it will be a very rewarding experience, as I’ve found it to be.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

To comment on this article, visit the Canadian Army's Facebook Notes.

‘We are fighting evil’: Making the South-West Asia Service Medal

Lieutenant-Colonel Carl Gauthier says he considers it a privilege to be part of the Directorate of Honours and Recognition, which oversees the creation and awarding of medals and other military honours. Photo by: Sergeant D.G. Janes, Army Public Affairs. ©2016 DND/MDN Canada.

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

Ottawa, Ontario — Creating the South-West Asia Service Medal, representing the Afghanistan mission and the threat of international terrorism, presented a unique challenge. It was created to honour Canada’s soldiers who served in Afghanistan and is not only a salute to that service, but is also a symbolic representation of the hope for peace.

‘A multifarious evil’: The design process begins

“When I arrived at DH&R in 2002, we had just started the Afghan campaign. Very little had yet been discussed as to what recognition should be available. And so very quickly I had to come up with some ideas as to what we would want,” noted Lieutenant-Colonel Carl Gauthier, Director, Honours and Recognition.

“I provided a design and that went forward. The way I represented it was re-drawn quite significantly, entirely really, by Cathy Bursey-Sabourin, Principal Artist of the Canadian Heraldic Authority. She makes them look a lot prettier than I imagined. In fact, she didn’t even see my drawings; she saw my written description. And from there she drew what we know as the South-West Asia Service Medal (SWASM).”

“The Canadian system inherited a lot of traditions from the British. The tradition has been to put the sovereign on the front. On the reverse is something representing the service the honour is meant to recognize. So when it came to the SWASM, it was very difficult because how do you represent international terrorism? It’s a very diffuse sort of threat that can be anywhere in the world and takes many forms. The Hydra is a Greek mythological figure that is considered a multifarious evil. It has many heads, many faces that cannot be defeated in one single effort. So you have this, I thought, perfect representation of what international terrorism is; that it takes many faces, it comes in many different places. You’re not going to be able to kill it with a single blow. It requires a sustained effort.”

“When Cathy drew it she depicted a more dragon-like creature. And she made each head different. And there is a sword at an angle. In heraldry when the sword is at an angle it means the creature into which the sword is thrust is dying; it’s being defeated. We added the Latin inscription, ‘Adversus malum pugnamus,’ meaning ‘We are fighting evil.’”

‘Peace was the central element’: The ribbon

“The colours of the ribbon were interesting because peace, represented by the colour white, was the central element; sort of the light at the end of the tunnel because you have the black, the shock of September 11, the red for the blood that has been spilled, and the edges are sand-coloured, representing the challenge of the theatre of operations. In my original design they were green. Green has been used in many of our ribbons to represent service but somebody said, ‘Isn’t green the colour of Islam?’ We certainly did not want to frame the campaign as one religion against another.”

Traditions and technicalities

“You draw several inches in diameter on a big sheet of paper. You have to think, ‘Okay, this has to be made 36 millimetres in diameter in metal in one colour, so what is that going to look like at that size?’ It still has to look like something. So these are things you have to keep in mind. And how is it technically going to be made? If you design a very intricate suspension, how are they going to make the thing? Is it going to be solid enough? When you pass the ribbon through it first, and then the thread and you put a bit of pressure on it, is it going to snap? There’s tradition in it, there’s symbolism of course, but there’s also these basic, technical things.”

“The process can be 18 months or more. The SWASM was very quick. It was pushed through, I think, in eight months. But of course it was Afghanistan; there was a lot of pressure from all levels of government to get this moving. As of June 1 2015, 12,736 SWASMs had been issued”

‘They’re really warriors’: The recipients

“Like our veterans from Korea and the First and Second World Wars, they have gone through horrible things. You know, they’re really warriors. You see them in those fancy chairs at Rideau Hall when the Governor General presents the higher decorations for valour and merit. Their names are called and they are stressed out. They’ve been through hell and yet they are absolutely horrified because this is not their element.”

“There’s one story that sums it all up: The Queen Mother did an investiture on behalf of the Queen at Buckingham Palace; presenting some very high bravery honour. She said to the recipient, ‘It must have been really scary,’ and his answer was, ‘Not half as scary as this, ma’am.’”

Canadian Army Conducts Simulated Exercise with U.S. Army in Washington

More than 150 members of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, from Edmonton, Alberta, will deploy to Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington, to participate in Exercise SPECTRAL RAM. This is the Canadian Army’s contribution to the U.S. Army’s Exercise WARFIGHTER, a computer-assisted training event conducted at the Corps and Division level taking place from March 27 until April 13, 2017.

The aim of this exercise is to test readiness, responsiveness, and leadership skills in a variety of scenarios that simulate full-spectrum operations.

Quotes

“Exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2017 is a valuable training opportunity for 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. The U.S. Army is our closest ally and their hard-won combat experience at the division level and beyond afford us the opportunity not only to practice command and control, but to do so within a fully enabled higher-level context. We are using this opportunity to build cohesion in training prior to working together on the battlefield.” 

— Colonel Bill Fletcher, Commander, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group

Quick Facts

• Exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2017 provides a continuation training opportunity for the Canadian Army’s High Readiness Brigade headquarters. It strengthens its ability to deploy anywhere and at any time, while simultaneously gaining experience in working with the U.S. Army and enhancing their interoperability with a key ally.
• Exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2017 allows participating soldiers an opportunity to hone their command and control techniques, as well as to enable information flow between subordinate and higher commands. 
• During its time as the High Readiness Brigade this past year, members of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group have deployed in support of several international operations, including:
• Operation UNIFIER – Canada’s contribution to support Ukrainian forces through capacity building;
• Operation REASSURANCE – Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe; and

Operation IMPACT – the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to dismantle and ultimately defeat Daesh.

You can’t fill a bucket from the top’ says Jamaican-Canadian soldier

Master Corporal Ezrick Bernard. Photo by: Ordinary Seaman Elizabeth Ross. ©2016 DND/MDN Canada.

By Lynn Capuano, Army Public Affairs

Borden, Ontario — Master Corporal Ezrick Bernard knew from the tender age of 11 that he wanted to become a soldier. When he immigrated eight years later with his parents and one of his 14 siblings to Canada from Trelawny, Jamaica in 1994, his dream began to take shape.

During his college years at Humber College and George Brown College where he studied computer technology, MCplBernard joined the Queen’s Own Rifles in Toronto as a Reserve infanteer, fully prepared to give back to his adopted country through military service.

He transferred to the Regular Force in 2003 and became an Information Systems Technologist (IST), a position that has since evolved into the Army Communication and Information Systems Specialist.

The decorated Afghanistan veteran, who has served 13 years in the Regular Force and three years in the Army Reserve, is currently Change Management Coordinator of Telecommunications and Information Services at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden.

He deployed to Afghanistan as part of ROTO 3 from November 2006 to July 2007 as an IST and has received the General Campaign Star - South West Asia (GCS-SWA) service medal and the Canadian Decoration.

Although he has had his share of racist and discriminatory incidents during his career, MCpl Bernard noted that during his deployment, in general he experienced very few incidents of racism or discrimination because in a war zone, the focus is on keeping everyone safe.

MCpl Bernard said that in his experience, racism issues are still occurring, so he applauds the many support and action groups that have evolved to support diversity and combat racism and that attitudes are slowly changing. He believes that change is mainly due to more discussion and openness about racial issues and their resolution, but there is work to be done.

“This will take years and years,” he said. He is optimistic that progress can be made through what he calls “generational change,” similar to raising a child with good values.

He believes it has to start with new recruits instead of the officers because, as he puts it, “You can’t fill a bucket from the top down; you have to start from the bottom. We owe it to the young people who are joining to give back and work within the system to make improvements.”

“I would never discourage anyone from joining the Army,” said MCpl Bernard. “I would advise others experiencing this to keep your chin up, think about your own standards and have a vision of where you want to go. Whenever engaged in conflict of this kind, always use the measures put in place, such as Operation Honour.”

Looking not only for support for himself but also to offer support to others, MCpl Bernard became involved with the Defence Visible Minorities Advisory Group (DVMAG). DVMAG seeks to identify and eliminate visible minority issues through educational events and by guiding members to available supports and services.

“I volunteer with DVMAG, helping to set up events. The group is for awareness and points people in the right direction,” he said.

He credits his strong family and military support system for keeping him in a positive frame of mind, as well as his vibrant interest in psychology that helps him to understand why people do what they do.

MCpl Bernard enjoys volunteering and has managed the men’s soccer team at CFB Borden since 2015, and was Manager and Captain of the men’s soccer team at CFB Kingston from 2011 to 2013. “Soccer really helps to keep my mind clear and focused,” he said. He also volunteers with the CFB Borden Board of Directors in support to youth and other annual events at the base community centre.

“My 11-year-old son Maxwell is my biggest motivation,” he said. He spoke at his son’s school as part of Remembrance Day events in 2007 when he had recently returned from his deployment, and it was the ultimate case of “show and tell” for his proud son.

When asked what his best day in the Army has been so far, he replied, “My best day in the Army is Remembrance Day 2007 when I proudly wore my GCStour medal.”

His worst day? “My worst day in the Army is the day I attended the funeral of one my closest friends who was killed in Afghanistan.”

What is the way ahead for MCpl Bernard? He would like to commission as an officer and become a Personnel Selection Officer to allow him to apply his education in behavioural sciences to improve recruitment, placement and career satisfaction of Army members and help unit leadership strengthen the morale and cohesion of their teams.

“Looking towards the future in my career, I use the word VISION which has become an icon to me. I am a very strong believer that how a person thinks and sees the world around him will define their path. Being transparent and direct in all situations will produce the most effective outcome for any leader and having a clearly defined vision and communication in any matter will foster keenness and guarantee success,” he said.

Currently accepted into the Psychology program at Carleton University, MCpl Bernard has submitted an application for the Canadian Armed Forces University Training Plan - Non Commissioned Members competition. “With this degree and if I successfully commission to the rank of an Officer, I hope to make effective change in areas that will give all accepting Canadian Forces members encouragement to make the best of their careers and in serving their country.”

Jamaican historical notes

The Caribbean island of Jamaica, which is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles, became a parliamentary democracy in 1962 under Queen Elizabeth II. Conquered by the Spanish in 1494, Britain took over in1655. The indigenous Arawak and Taíno peoples were decimated through war, disease and slavery and by 1600, they had almost disappeared. Predominately of African ancestry, present-day Jamaicans have European, Chinese Hakka and East Indian ancestry. Enslavement began with Spanish rule and continued until1838. Today Jamaica is a thriving nation with tourism and mining as its main industries.

Retired sergeant continues to make a difference

Sergeant Joan Buchanan in 2004. She retired from the Canadian Armed Forces in 2014 and now works as a civilian in personnel development at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa. Photo: ©2004 DND/MDN Canada.

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

Ottawa, Ontario — Jamaican-born, Sergeant (Retired) Joan Buchanan joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 1987 and was assigned as a Resource Management Systems (RMS) clerk. She has many memorable moments to share from her 27-year career in the CA. The first of several that come to mind when she is asked to name her best day occurred during her deployment to Bosnia-Herzegovina from 2000 to 2001 with the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI).

She was part of Operation PALLADIUM, CAF’s contribution to NATO peacekeeping efforts in the region. However, it was work outside of her official duties as a RMS clerk that left the strongest impression.

“I collaborated with the Padre and our Personnel Support Programs staff to collect care packages of goods our members wouldn’t crucially need and would distribute them to locals,” Sgt (Retd) Buchanan recalled. “We would also raise money to buy necessities such as diapers and groceries.” She also collected food and clothing for orphans and spent time helping out at the local orphanage and hospital.

Sgt (Retd) Buchanan may have left the uniform behind in 2014 when she retired from active duty, but that commitment to others continues in her current role as a civilian administrator with Canadian Forces Support Unit (Ottawa) (CFSU(O)) in personnel development where she helps military members who are upgrading their education or preparing for transition to civilian life.

That Sgt (Retd) Buchanan was an outstanding soldier is clear from her record: a NATO Service Medal for her time in Bosnia-Herzegovina, a South-West Asia Service Medal from her service with NATO and the General Tommy Franks Commendation for volunteer services performed while serving at NATO Headquarters Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida from 2002 to 2003.

She was additionally recognized for leading change within the CAF itself with a Corporate Award in Human Resource Management in 2009. The honour recognized her volunteer work in furthering Employment Equity. She was commended at the time for being “a prime example of walking the talk” by promoting the importance of inclusiveness, as well as for participating in many Defence Visible Minority Advisory Group (DVMAG) activities.

These included conducting awareness seminars, volunteering in military parades, representing the Department of National Defence and the CAF at civic and community events, and helping to develop programs such as Black History Month and Asian Heritage Month.

Sgt (Retd) Buchanan is a past Military Co-chair of DVMAG in Winnipeg from 2001 to 2003 and in the National Capital Region from 2007 to 2009. She was the first Black woman to hold the post of President of the Mess Committee, Rideau Canal Junior Ranks Mess, Ottawa from 2004 to 2005.

Currently, Sgt (Retd) Buchanan keeps busy volunteering with the Union of National Defence Employees as well as staying active with DVMAG’s various cultural and community events as well as providing input to workshop and event development.

Despite her numerous achievements, Sgt (Retd) Buchanan also faced various challenges as a person of colour and as a woman in a non-traditional environment.

“The greatest challenge I encountered as a military member was a lack of peer support,” she added. “Over my 27 years of service, I was the only Black person in all my courses and also the only Black woman in the units that I served with. I had no one to identify with, and my peers seemed to see me as ‘the Black woman,’ not as a soldier like themselves.”

Even so, Sgt (Retd) Buchanan added that she has had many positive experiences, including her time at NATO HQ, where she deployed with 2 PPCLI.

“2 PPCLI was a male-dominated unit,” she said, “but one where male members were respectful of women, looking out for them and each other.”

In fact, the moment she calls her worst in uniform had nothing to do with her work, which also included five years as an RMS clerk in the Primary Reserve with Ottawa’s 33 Service Battalion, while continuing her full-time day job with CFSU(O).

“In Bosnia, I was called into a meeting with the Padre. It is always scary having a meeting with the Padre that you don’t initiate,” Sgt (Retd) Buchanan recalled. “I was told my son had been in a car accident and was lying unconscious in the hospital back home in Winnipeg. I was repatriated to Canada and as soon as he was stable and out of the hospital I returned to my duty in Bosnia. My son recovered.”

Explaining that part of her motivation for joining the CAF stemmed from a desire “to do something different” and a natural resistance to the idea of what some would consider “non-traditional women’s jobs,” Sgt (Retd) Buchanan added that she has seen the CAF make real progress on matters of diversity.

“I can see there are changes taking place in the CAF. However, there is still a lot of work to be done. There has to be other methods to ensure visible minority members can feel that the CAF belongs to every Canadian and that they are part of it.”

Jamaican historical notes

The Caribbean island of Jamaica, which is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles, became a parliamentary democracy in 1962 under Queen Elizabeth II. Conquered by the Spanish in 1494, Britain took over in1655. The indigenous Arawak and Taíno peoples were decimated through war, disease and slavery and by 1600, they had almost disappeared. Predominately of African ancestry, present-day Jamaicans have European, Chinese Hakka and East Indian ancestry. Enslavement began with Spanish rule and continued until1838. Today Jamaica is a thriving nation with tourism and mining as its main industries.

Change of command for Operation REASSURANCE Land Task Force

OTTAWA — Today, a ceremony marked the transition from Rotation 6 to Rotation 7 as Major Jesse van Eijk assumed command of the Operation REASSURANCE Land Task Force (LTF) from Major Lonnie Campbell. The ceremony, which took place at the Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area in Poland, was presided over by Colonel Pascal Demers, Canadian Defence Attaché to Poland.

As part of Canada’s contributions to NATO Assurance and Deterrence Measures, the LTF demonstrates Canada’s commitment to security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe. LTF members participate in military exercises throughout the region to improve interoperability with Allies and demonstrate NATO’s resolve to protect Alliance territories and partners.

Quotes

“Rotation 7 brings together highly trained and motivated soldiers from across the Canadian Armed Forces who are ready to face the challenges and opportunities of this mission. We look forward to building on the achievements of previous rotations to both develop our own capabilities and to work with our Allies to enhance NATO readiness.”

— Major Jesse van Eijk, Incoming Commander, Operation REASSURANCE Land Task Force

“It has been a privilege to command this outstanding group of dedicated soldiers over the last six months. Their hard work has increased our interoperability with other NATO nations and enhanced the esprit de corps amongst the soldiers that make up this Alliance.”

— Major Lonnie Campbell, Outgoing Commander, Operation REASSURANCE Land Task Force

Quick Facts

• The incoming Land Task Force (LTF) contingent consists of approximately 200 members predominantly from 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based at CFB Edmonton, Alberta. Several other units from the Canadian Armed Forces’ Regular and Reserve Force are also contributing soldiers to the contingent.
• The outgoing LTF contingent consists of approximately 220 members predominantly from the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based at CFB Edmonton. During their six-month tour, soldiers participated in major exercises in Poland, Germany, Romania and Lithuania, as well as smaller-scale training activities in Poland.
• More than 1070 Canadian soldiers have deployed as part of Operation REASSURANCE since the first rotation in May 2014.
• LTF soldiers have participated in 32 military exercises in six different European countries since May 2014.
• Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures demonstrates Canada’s ability and willingness to react rapidly to international crises and to work side by side with our NATO Allies.

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2017/02/change_of_commandforoperationreassurancelandtaskforce.html

Soldier applies cautionary tale of the dodo bird: adapt, work hard and succeed

Corporal Jean-Marc Hannelas, Finance Service Administrator at 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay on January 30, 2017. Photo: Corporal Rob Ouellette ©2017 DND/MDN Canada.

By Lynn Capuano, Army Public Affairs

Although not usually given credit for being clever, the dodo bird did have a powerful lesson to share with a young soldier-to-be as he immigrated at the age of 15 with his family from Mauritius to Canada in 2003.

Corporal Jean-Marc Hannelas, who is a Finance Service Administrator at 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base (CFB) North Bay, enjoys sharing information about Mauritius, an island nation located off the eastern coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean. Cpl Hannelas said a little-known fact about Mauritius is that it was the home of the dodo bird, that well-known ‘icon of extinction’.

“The dodo bird is one of the biggest symbols of Mauritius; it’s on currency, on the coat of arms. Mauritians are still very proud of the dodo bird because it is unique to us,” he said.

Cpl Hannelas said that in school, they were taught the cautionary tale of the dodo. “They said, don’t be like a dodo bird, don’t be lazy or unable to change. You must develop stronger wings and learn to adapt.”

And adapt he certainly did, as did his two brothers who now live and work in Toronto. Like Canada, Mauritius is a multilingual country, with most people speaking English and French, but there was still a learning curve getting used to Canada’s dialects. Creole and French are the main languages in his native land and several oriental languages are also spoken.

After completing his Bachelor of Commerce with a specialty in Accounting, Cpl Hannelas joined the Canadian Army in 2013. “I joined the Army because I wanted to challenge myself as much as possible, and you cannot find a better challenge than being in the Army. I have great pride in wearing the green uniform,” said Cpl Hannelas.

When asked why he was initially motivated to join, he replied, “It was because I really loved news and reading what a military does. It struck me and I went to the website and I joined. The media was my biggest influence,” he said. Also, “My grandfather fought in the Second World War. Back then, Mauritius was under British command, and Mauritians were called out to help fight the war.”

Cpl Hannelas said his best day in the Army so far was when he was advance promoted to the rank of Corporal in three years instead of four. “It is an achievement very few privates get,” he said proudly. He is setting plans in motion to become a Logistics Officer, and looks forward to deployment opportunities.

His worst day? “Digging a rocky trench all night during my Army soldier qualification. It was quite the experience,” he recalled.

Although he currently works with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Cpl Hannelas could also be posted with either of the other two elements, the Canadian Army or the Royal Canadian Navy. “I am part of the Army element, but the difference is that I am what they call a ‘purple trade’, meaning at any time, I can be posted to any of the elements. But even though I am an Army person on an Air Force base, I still have to do all of my Army training,” he explained.

Cpl Hannelas sometimes misses the ocean breeze from his island home, especially now that he is posted in land-locked North Bay. “I miss that fresh ocean air,” he said.

One thing he had to overcome was a natural shyness. The military life soon took care of that, he noted.

“Being military, you are put in certain situations where you have to make decisions and so you have to put that shyness away and go for it,” said CplHannelas. He believes his Army leadership training helped him develop a strong mind and positive attitude. “For me, it is always ‘move forward’ never ‘move backwards.’”

Cpl Hannelas said his family descended from African slaves brought to the island starting in 1638. “My family and I fall under what is categorized as Mauritian Creole. We have a very mixed background including African, Indian, Asian and European heritage,” he said.

As the Military Co-chair for the Defence Visible Minorities Advisory Group (DVMAG) for the past two years, Cpl Hannelas helps to raise awareness about diversity and stands ready to help anyone facing discrimination. “In North Bay, we have not had a situation like that.”

“I have not had any issue of discrimination in the Army myself, but you can feel outnumbered,” he said, noting that the Canadian Armed Forces is 80 to 90 per cent Caucasian. “But even as a minority, if you have a strong personality, you can move forward in the face of discrimination. I just go on with my day and it doesn’t bother me. I talk about my background and share that with people. Mentally you have to be strong and not take it personally,” he concluded, again noting his Army leadership training contributes to his being strong of mind.

Another area where Cpl Hannelas volunteers is as a coach and/or manager of the 22 Wing/CFB North Bay men’s soccer team. “I have played soccer since I was 10 years old, so coaching soccer comes very natural to me. The role of manager uses more of my administrative skills,” he said.

“I played soccer as a child in Mauritius. When you think about soccer, you think of a ball, a soccer ball. But there, you would use whatever object you could find that you could kick, like socks, a water bottle, whatever you could find.”

The Republic of Mauritius, population about 1.2 million, is an island located in the Indian Ocean off the eastern coast of Africa. It was discovered in 1505 by the Portuguese. By 1700 the dodo bird was extinct through loss of habitat and introduced predators. The island was occupied by the Dutch (1598-1712), the French (1715-1810) and was ceded to Great Britain in 1814. Slavery began in 1638 and was abolished in 1835. Mauritius became a Republic in 1992 within the Commonwealth of Nations under Queen Elizabeth II. Some of its main industries are food processing, textiles, metal products and tourism.

Canadian Armed Forces adjusting ice-storm assistance to New Brunswick as conditions improve

The Canadian Armed Forces are continuing to provide assistance to New Brunswick’s relief efforts in some of the hardest hit parts of the Acadian Peninsula, including the islands of Lamèque and Miscou, and will begin to draw-down the military presence in those areas where the Province has announced that remaining relief efforts are within provincial and municipal capabilities. The remaining military members will be gradually returned to home units as conditions improve in these remaining communities.

Quotes

“When large natural disasters strike, the Government of Canada works closely with the provinces and territories to assist Canadians during these difficult times. The Province of New Brunswick has acknowledged that while recovery operations continue, they have reached the point that emergency efforts can be managed with a reduced military presence, and a phased reduction in the overall number of troops. On behalf of Canadians across the country, I thank all the Canadian Armed Forces members for supporting their fellow citizens through a perilous time.”

— Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister

“I am very proud of the speed of response, professionalism and effort provided by Canadian Army and Joint Task Force Atlantic members who worked seamlessly alongside federal, provincial and community partners to bring relief to the hard-hit Acadian Peninsula. The effect achieved highlights that we are always ready to support the safety of Canadians in times of need.”

— Rear-Admiral John Newton, Commander Joint Task Force Atlantic

Quick Facts

On January 27, the Province of New Brunswick first requested CAF assistance to conduct a reconnaissance to determine how the CAF could support relief efforts. The first troops arrived within 24 hours.

In a second request for assistance on January 29, the Province of New Brunswick requested Government of Canada assistance in the form of CAF personnel and assets to conduct a variety of tasks, including delivering emergency supplies, assisting in re-establishing existing road networks, and supporting door-to-door residential wellbeing checks in the northeast of the province.

More than 200 CAF members from 5 Canadian Division Support Base (Gagetown) including 4 Artillery Regiment General Support and 4 Engineering Support Regiment, and 37 Canadian Brigade Group (Moncton) deployed to support the Province of New Brunswick response efforts.

A CP-140 Aurora Maritime Patrol Aircraft based at 14 Wing Greenwood conducted an overflight to map and determine the extent of damage to infrastructure in the area. A CH-146 Griffon based at 403 Tactical Helicopter Squadron in Gagetown was used primarily for air transport.

In total, the CAF conducted over 5,400 door-to-door checks, assisted the Province in distributing generators, fuel, firewood and water, and surveyed more than 1,100 km of roads.

Heavy Equipment replacement project building a stronger Armed Forces

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

Gatineau, Quebec — In civilian life, construction is often seen as a nuisance. In the military, however, construction and the machinery that comes with it, known in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) as “Heavy Equipment,” can literally be life-saving.

Major Ryan Adams is heading up the Common Heavy Equipment Replacement (CHER) project, created to refresh the CAF’s current fleet, which dates from the 1980s and 1990s. Heavy Equipment is an umbrella term for construction vehicles and others used for material handling. They may not generate as much excitement as a Leopard II tank or a Light Armoured Vehicle but as Maj Adams explained, these vehicles are key enablers for many important military tasks.

Heavy Equipment built the Forward Operating Bases that sheltered frontline troops during the Afghanistan campaign. It also a major difference during Operation LENTUS 13-01, the CAF’s response to flooding in southern Alberta in 2013.

“They used heavy equipment to construct a 1.5-kilometre flood berm through a residential area in Medicine Hat,” he recalled. “It takes heavy equipment to build on that scale quickly; you can’t achieve that with people and shovels. And it ended up protecting an entire neighbourhood.”

“I was in Canmore, Alberta and the Trans Canada had been washed out at several points, or debris had come down from the mountains onto the road,” Maj Adams added. “So we used our heavy equipment – front-end loaders, dump trucks, and backhoes mostly – and went down the highway scooping that debris off the road, which served to let civilian construction crews come through.”

The Heavy Equipment fleet is also a force multiplier, producing results much greater than its size. “We don’t need a ton of these machines to bring their capability to bear,” he said. “What they do supports and enables a great number of our troops to do whatever it is they happen to be doing at that particular place and time.”

And the CHER project itself is very much in keeping with the idea of getting the most possible done with the fewest possible resources, Maj Adams explained.

The Canadian Army was named the lead agency on CHER, he said, and several similar projects looking at heavy equipment for other CAF branches were folded into it. One of the goals for the project is to ensure that, whatever the actual vehicles chosen, there will be commonality between the branches.

“Currently, the CAF has six different versions of the bulldozer. And within those six different versions there is more than one manufacturer. So the fleet managers are busy stocking parts for six different vehicles from multiple manufacturers,” noted Maj Adams.  “Procuring common equipment will not only streamline fleet management, lower operation and maintenance costs, but also improve overall readiness for operations.  With the same equipment, training is also consistent for everyone. So, the intent of this project is to make the capability more efficient.”

CHER is about to move into the third of five phases that make up the procurement process, with initial delivery of equipment expected in 2022.

Procuring weapons and vehicles for the Canadian Armed Forces is a long and detailed process. This is to ensure that military members are well-equipped and well-protected so they can effectively serve Canadians at home and abroad. Every measure is taken to make sure taxpayers get the best value for their money. The project described in this article is in the Options Analysis phase. See the article “Summary of the Defence Equipment Acquisition Process” in Related Links above.

Army team approach key to ending inappropriate sexual behaviour

Members of 39 Canadian Brigade Group display the teamwork for which the Canadian Army is known during Exercise COUGAR CONQUEROR 16 in Wainwright, Alberta, on August 14, 2016. Central to the Canadian Army ethos is a fierce team spirit, a sense of community and esprit de corps among its members. When all members of the Canadian Army team look out for one another, positive change within the workplace culture can happen and the Canadian Army can fulfill its mission under Operation HONOUR, the Canadian Armed Forces’ effort to eliminate harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour. Photo by: Master Corporal Mélanie Ferguson, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs. ©2016 DND/MDN Canada.

By Natalie Flynn, Army Public Affairs

Ottawa, Ontario — Central to the Canadian Army (CA) philosophy is a fierce team spirit, a sense of community and esprit de corps among its members. This includes feeling connected to and responsible for one’s own, as well as other team members’ well-being.

Working in military environments involves the added challenges of frequent interaction with others in situations that go beyond the training area, the armoury or the office. Moments of interaction with other members while travelling, during leisure time, and during athletic and social activities often factor into the daily life of a member of the CA. The context of such interactions is generally casual and relaxed, and helps to further support the mutual bond that members of the Army share.

Lieutenant-General Paul Wynnyk, Commander of the Canadian Army, wants to ensure that positive, strong and collaborative professional working relationships, both formal and informal, are always the norm in the CA.  That’s why he adamantly supports Operation HONOUR, the Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF’s) campaign against harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour (HISB).

LGen Wynnyk has stated, “The Canadian Army fully acknowledges the severity of the issue of HISB in our organization and there is simply no place for it. Through this operation, we have two clear objectives: to provide care to victims and to stop this inappropriate behaviour.”

The spectrum of HISB is very wide and can range from disparaging language and inappropriate jokes about any particular gender or sexual orientation through to criminal acts such as assault. Research has shown that when members as a group realize that they have a role to play in ending harmful and inappropriate sexual behaviour, then the community norms that typically discourage victims and bystanders from coming forward will change.

It is here where the strength of the Canadian Army as a team and the vital soldier skills that every member possesses come into play in helping to prevent or stop sexual misconduct. “The leap from applying a similar mindset to our day-to-day activities and interactions doesn’t have to be large,” said Megan Leslie, a senior counsellor with the Canadian Forces Sexual Misconduct Response Team. “You could see it as simply applying a different context for existing skills.”

In an operational environment, maintaining focus and acute awareness of one’s surroundings is vital to mission success. It is part of the way the Army works. General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff, stressed the importance of team cohesion to the CAF’s effectiveness as a fighting force in a February 2016 issue of Maclean’s Magazine. So, to build on this motif, soldiers must consider themselves and their colleagues as members of a “fire team”. They keep an eye on each other, and “have each other’s backs” in the office, while travelling, at the gym or throughout the duration of an event or outing. They look around, are mindful of what is happening around them and check in with their team often. They are encouraged to trust their instincts and if something doesn’t look or sound “right”, to speak up or step in.

“If even one member feels unsupported, marginalized or uncomfortable among the people he or she works with, the strength and cohesion of the entire team is compromised,” said Ms. Leslie.

It can be simple to start. As Major Craig Gardner, Canadian Army Ethics Officer, noted in a recent article on sexual misconduct in the Canadian Army, if, for example, a member is in a group setting with the team and a disparaging remark or an inappropriate joke is made, it is important to speak up so that all members of the team acknowledge that such behaviour and activity is unacceptable.

“If we understand and capitalize upon the strength of ourselves as a team, and the mutual respect and support that comes with it, we can truly propel the necessary shifts and foster lasting positive change within the workplace culture,” said Ms. Leslie.

The Canadian Armed Forces’ (CAF) efforts under Operation HONOUR have helped define and provide context for when and how to take action against HISB and the information, support and training resources are readily available for every member of the Canadian Army team.

A website has been set up for CAF members to get help when needed: DND/CAF HISB resources/ Operation HONOUR: http://www.forces.gc.ca/en/caf-community-support-services/sexual-misconduct.page

Members can feel confident that they can respond in a manner in which they are most comfortable, whether it be taking action during or after an occurrence. In the case of the previous example, the issue could be raised within the group immediately, the person who made the remark could be spoken to individually outside of the group setting, or the chain of command could be made aware of a situation.

Dialogue, transparency and open lines of communication are essential in building a team working environment that empowers its members. This builds and maintains respect and trust among the entire team and reinforces that all team members are valuable contributors, to be treated with respect and courtesy. When the expectations for the work environment are clear and members feel supported, the team can confidently work together toward any goal.

Regular Force to Reserve – A well-planned life of service

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Alolega, Commanding Officer of 39 Service Battalion. This reserve unit of 39 Canadian Brigade Group in Richmond and Victoria, B.C. provides logistical support such as transportation, supplies, repairs and personnel to the rest of B.C.’s 3rd Canadian Division units. Photo by: MARPAC Imaging Service. ©2015 DND/MDN Canada.

By Anne Duggan, Army Public AffairsVictoria,

British Columbia — For Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Alolega, the Canadian Army (CA) Reserve has always been his end goal in a career marked by his preference for practical decisions. He has lived a life of careful planning and forethought from immigration to education and in military and civilian service.

LCol Alolega, Commanding Officer of 39 Service Battalion in British Columbia, is also a regional financial manager at Employment and Social Development Canada. In charge of hundreds of Canadian soldiers in Victoria and Richmond and 30 civil servants spread across western Canada and the three territories, the Reservist has travelled far from where he started as a bright student from Uganda.

As a young man in Uganda, nearly 12,000 kilometres from his current home in North Vancouver where he and his wife Marion are raising daughters Elizabeth and Nicole, thoughts of career took a back seat. “I did not think of what I would be doing professionally back then. Instead, I wanted an education and a fair chance to work for success.”

LCol Alolega’s habit of well-thought-out decision-making and planning began in his mid-twenties when he applied to the World University Service of Canada (WUSC), a non-profit organization that provides education opportunities to disadvantage youth around the world.

WUSC granted him a year of tuition at a Canadian university, and he used it for the first year of his undergraduate economics degree at British Columbia’s Langara College. He continued his undergraduate studies at Simon Fraser University for three more years and accepted the offer extended to all WUSC scholarship recipients of remaining in Canada.

Since making the pivotal decision to apply to WUSC, he has carefully navigated a life full of thoughtful changes: from moving to a new country to joining and serving with the Canadian Army’s Regular Force and then transferring to the Army Reserve. “The Army offers the ability and flexibility to transition between the Regular Force and the Reserve. This has been so beneficial to me.”

LCol Alolega, who transferred from Regular Force to the Army Reserve in 2008, originally chose the trade of Logistics because of its versatility when he joined the Army immediately after graduation. His second degree, a Master’s of Business Administration in International Business from the University of Alberta, was made possible through the CAFEducation Reimbursement program which fully covered his tuition fees at the time.

“I thought the Canadian military was a good employer because of all the career options. I chose Logistics because those skills are easily transferrable to civilian work.” CA Logistics Officers are in charge of the detailed coordination of moving soldiers, equipment, and supplies.

As Commanding Officer of 39 Service Battalion, one of Canada’s largest reserve units with approximately 200 Reserve soldiers and about 40 Regular Force members, LCol Alolega knows what his battalion’s mission is. “The reserves were conceived to augment the Regular Force and lately that has been oriented to domestic operations. As soldiers, we protect Canada’s interests internationally but our most important job is that we are the first people to help out in times of need, like with natural disasters.”

Recent Canadian natural disasters like the summer of 2016’s wildfire in Fort McMurray and 2013’s flood in southern Alberta, had Alberta’s Reserve regiments either on standby or actively supporting emergency measures. In British Columbia, much preparation by 39 Service Battalion is made for emergencies like earthquakes. Regular practice, in the form of 3rd Canadian Division exercises like Exercise WESTERN DEFENDER, hones the battalion’s ability to operate in an environment where there are no traditional forms of communication, a vital ability in times of emergency.

“We have a close working relationship with our community partners – the local police, firefighters and municipal government. We often invite them to come in and observe our domestic exercises. We demonstrate that we can actually talk to each other over the Georgia Strait (Vancouver to Victoria) using our military equipment – Combat Net Radio,” he explained. “Military Logistics come into play during war but these same skills are needed during the recovery from a natural disaster. In both cases, they require transportation services, electrical and mechanical engineering, food services, personnel management and supply chain services. Times of natural disaster tend to be logistics-heavy.”

The chance to do some heavy lifting was the motivation behind LCol Alolega’s decision to join the CA. “My biggest achievements were all the result of the opportunity to do big things that comes with being part of the Canadian Army. When I began as a Logistics Officer, I was very willing to do all of it – transportation, finance and supply assignments. This experience led to my deployment to Bosnia (2003) and to Afghanistan (2006). I also was part of the relocation of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry from Winnipeg to Shilo, Manitoba (2004). That was a lot for me to achieve in a very short period of time.”   

It turns out that doing big things was hard to give up for LCol Alolega, though he had always planned to leave the Regular Force. The Army Reserve was his way to continue to be part of the exercises and operations that make such a difference at home and internationally. “I wanted to continue in the Army but I also wanted a way to use my education in the civilian world. The Army Reserve is the solution.”

 Regular Force members who are considering opportunities to start new careers outside the Canadian Army may consider transferring to the Army Reserve rather than leave the Army entirely. The Reserve provides financial strength, long-term career stability, and continued worthwhile service in the CAF. Most benefits, including pension options and health and educational support, would remain and should the member wish to transfer back to the Regular Force in the future, the process is simpler and faster than re-enrolment.

Keeping the Army trucking: Mobile Support Equipment Operators think in 3-D

Master Warrant Officer Jaret Sole’s experience with farm equipment in his youth led to a rewarding career as a Mobile Support Equipment Operator, whose job it is to move troops, supplies and equipment to the front lines. Photo provided by: Master Warrant Officer Jaret Sole

By Steven Fouchard, Army Public Affairs

Borden, Ontario  — Military life is often touted as a great way to see the world and, in Master Warrant Officer Jaret Sole’s experience, few military members cover more territory than Mobile Support Equipment Operators (MSE Ops).

MSE Ops, popularly referred to as ‘truckers,’ are the backbone of logistics in the Canadian Army (CA).  They operate and maintain a variety of the vehicles needed to move troops, equipment, and supplies into the heart of the fight.

MWO Sole, a Calgary native, decided the MSE Op trade was for him after joining the Primary Reserve at age 17.

“I loved it so much because I got out on the road, I got to see the country,” he said.

An aptitude test taken at the start of his recruitment process indicated transport would be a good fit.

“I always loved driving big things,” he recalled. “My uncle owned a farm so I always drove tractors and stuff.”

During his deployment to Croatia in 1994 as part of Operation HARMONY, Canada’s peacekeeping mission in the region, MWO Sole decided this was the professional life for him.

“As an MSE Op you’re not stuck on a base, you’re actually out driving around,” he said. “So you get to experience the countryside, you get to meet the local people, talk to them, learn a little bit more about whatever culture or society you’re working in. It just makes it an overall memorable experience that way. I decided this is what I wanted to do full time and made the jump into the regular force.”

Now 26 years into his military career, MWO Sole passes his knowledge and experience on as Sergeant Major and Senior Instructor with the Canadian Forces Logistic Training Centre’s Transport Training School at Canadian Forces Base Borden in Ontario.

“I can add some context to what the book says, because reading the book is one thing and actually transferring that knowledge to a real life scenario is much more beneficial to the students. I give everything context: lessons learned on my end, how I dealt with those things. I also teach leadership, the basic attributes that are expected of a leader in a transport section platoon company.”

That additional context includes experiences every bit as harrowing as those experienced in direct combat.

“Going to Afghanistan, for example, preparing for IEDs, roadblocks, possible contact with the enemy,” said MWOSole, who served tours there in 2002 (Operation APOLLO), 2004 and 2007 (Operation ATHENA). “You never know if it’s actually going to happen but you have to prepare for it. Serving in Croatia, you never knew what was going to happen when you were trying to cross from the Serbian side to the Bosnian side. You could be sitting there at a roadblock for two days living out of the cab of your truck at a checkpoint, or they could be cooperative and let you cross right away.”

The work of MSE Ops on base at home is quite different but no less vital.

At Canadian bases, drivers come from the corporal level. “They are the workhorse of our trade. Whether it’s a heavy lift to move Leopard II tanks, or a bus run to pick up new recruits and take them to the training area. At the master corporal level, that’s where they start their basic administrative skills: dispatching and planning these tasks that they receive. Then at the sergeant/warrant level it’s more supervision, more planning, up to my job where I look after the discipline and the training of the troops,” explained MWO Sole.

An effective MSE Op, MWO Sole added, will need more than just a way with machines.

“You definitely have to be able to work long hours in a day, and not mind working alone. When you’re doing tractor-trailer runs, long-haul runs across North America, you’re often given the responsibility as a corporal and you’re by yourself. It’s a lot of responsibility when you’re hauling million dollar loads. You need to be able to solve puzzles and think in 3-D. This piece of equipment needs to go there and you have to figure out how to get it on your truck, how it’s going to fit on your truck, how you’re going to chain it down. Because not everything we haul is four by four square.”

As challenging as the work can be, MWO Sole said he feels a great sense of reward.

“It’s just the appreciation that you feel. You’re bringing a lot of different things to the guys that are on the front line. Whatever it might be, there’s a lot of appreciation on their end that we’re heading out on the road risking our lives to make sure that they get what they need to do what they do.”

The primary responsibilities of the Mobile Support Equipment Operator are:

• Operate buses, automobiles, trucks and tractor-trailers;
• Operate specialized mobile equipment such as fuelling tankers, snowplows, tractors and all-terrain vehicles;
• Receive, load, secure and unload materiel and equipment transported by road;
• Provide transportation support for combat and field operations;
• Maintain equipment in serviceable condition by cleaning, inspecting and correcting minor faults;
• Prepare dispatch schedules and coordinate user requirements for vehicles and equipment;
• Prepare and maintain job-related forms, records and reports.