Master Seaman (MS.) Emely Alcina

Master Seaman Emely Alcina joined the Naval Reserve as a university student looking for a summer job, after seeing a notice in the newspaper. “Joining the Navy as a boatswain was a completely random experience,” she says. “I do not have any family members in the military, nor did I speak sufficient English at the time!”

Emely was raised in Venezuela and came to Canada at the age of sixteen to study psychology at the University of Ottawa. Since joining the Forces, Emely has earned a Bachelor’s degree, as well as Master’s degree in counselling. As a Reservist, she received support from the Forces to help pay for her education, as well as medical and dental benefits.

The biggest advantage of being part of the Reserves has been the opportunity to have my two lives

Today, Emely works full-time as a counsellor with the University of Ottawa Mental Health Services, while continuing her part-time role in the Reserves. Her current role in the Navy involves training coordination for the boatswain recruits in her unit in Ottawa. “The biggest advantage of being part of the Reserves has been the opportunity to have my two lives,” Emely says. “Having that Reserves’ life and the opportunity to go away and travel and learn and train on a completely different level than I do in my civilian side… It’s the dual life that I enjoy.”

Emely owns a house in Ottawa where she lives with her partner, who is also a member of the Forces. In her spare time, she plays in local soccer and softball leagues, as well as taking part in other hobbies such as photography and volunteering in the community. She also enjoys traveling. “I have traveled quite a bit with the Navy. I have gone to different ports all over the place, in the US and Alaska, and in Canada as well.”

“For those out there who are interested in joining the Forces, I think it’s a great opportunity to get out there and to have an awesome experience, to learn lots, to meet a lot of people and to travel the world,” advises Emely. “If I had to do it all over again, I would join again in a minute. I do not picture my life without the Forces as part of it.”