Adapting to new surroundings and a unique role on Operation Artemis

News Article / May 28, 2019

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By Major Anthony Stuckless

In July 2018, 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron, part of 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, but based in Esquimalt, British Columbia, received a tasking request for an air officer on Operation Artemis.

Operation Artemis is Canada’s participation in Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, the multinational task force operated by Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) that promotes maritime security aimed at countering terrorism and related activities in the Gulfs of Oman and Aden, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean.

Since retiring from the Regular Force in August 2016 and joining the Royal Canadian Air Force Reserve, I had been looking to deploy at least once more before retiring from the Reserve Force. When the Operation Artemis request came in, I asked to be considered and was accepted for the position. Many pre-deployment evolutions and one full-time contract later, I was in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for three weeks of mission workup.

During our time in Halifax, we began our journey, first to operational readiness, then to the actual deployment. Our group consists of 30 Canadians (25 Royal Canadian Navy, three Canadian Army, one RCAF, one civilian) and seven Royal Australian Navy personnel. It was interesting to see how easily we all came together as a group despite vastly different backgrounds and experience levels. It was also interesting to see Halifax through the eyes of our Australian friends who had never been there before. At the end of the three weeks, we had worked hard and played hard, and were declared operationally ready.

I then had a week back at home in Victoria, British Columbia, before the long journey around the planet to Manama, Bahrain. I enjoyed my week at home but, as with all deployments, it is a bit of a surreal time period since in some ways, you are there, and in others, you already on the deployment.

After saying a difficult goodbye to my lovely wife, Brigitte, at the end of the week, I boarded the plane and began the deployment proper.

There was certainly a lot to learn once we arrived in-theatre and, for my part, everything was new. I hadn’t much experience as a staff officer and it also took a while to get used to how things worked in the CMF construct.

My position as N35 Air Officer is part of the Current Operations team (known as “N3”), which manages the day-to-day business of CTF 150. I coordinate air support for operations that act as our “eye in the sky”. I work with the other members of the N3 team to make sure that our air reconnaissance assets provide the right information at the right time to assist our surface ships in the interdiction of illicit activity.

This can be challenging—there is always more demand for air assets than availability. Because of this, I work with military members from other CMF nations to maximize the efficiency of the missions flown. I also act as a subject matter expert for questions related to shipborne helicopter activity because of my background as a maritime helicopter pilot.

The deployment has been a great opportunity to contribute in my primary role and also to learn. CMF is made up of many nations, including NATO countries, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and several others in the local region. Working in a large multinational construct has allowed me to gain a new perspective on the Operation Artemis mission. I deployed as part of CTF 150 onboard Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship Calgary in 2008 when I saw the “pointy end” of the mission. This deployment has allowed me to see the other side of the equation as a member of the CTF 150 staff.

In addition, I had the opportunity to be part of a trip to Muscat, Oman, in December 2018, which served as a key leadership and regional engagement activity to strengthen relationships within the region. I also visited the Seychelles and met the CP-140 Aurora detachment and HMCS Regina upon their arrival there in late March 2019.

Finally and most importantly, I have had the privilege to be part of a very special group. Our Roto 12 group has been wonderful to work with. The team members are very experienced, and we have worked very well together. Overall, I believe we have managed to make a difference, and I am proud to have been a small part of it.