A/SLt Mike Samuels – Never too late to serve

At 49, Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A/SLt) Mike Samuels found himself carrying a heavy pack, running alongside candidates often half his age and struggling to keep pace during Basic Military Officer Qualification (BMOQ).

As the oldest member of a platoon of roughly 60 candidates, the age gap became most apparent during physical training.

"It was hard, I won't lie," he admitted. "My knees and hips genuinely weren't there at the start."

Watching younger candidates surpass targets he was still chasing was frustrating.

"It wasn't a sense of embarrassment or shame. It was really frustration, because you know you have to keep up, and you want it so badly."

What carried him through was not determination alone, but the support of those around him.

"If I had a huge pack on my back and I was on my knees needing to spring up, my platoon mates would help me out," he said. "The sense of teamwork encouraged by the instructors was one of the most valuable lessons I learned during BMOQ."

By the end of training, he had achieved something he once questioned whether he could do.

The accomplishment was especially meaningful given where he had started. After 18 years in the telecommunications industry, Samuels was looking for a new challenge and a greater sense of purpose.

"I didn't hate my job," he said. "But it simply wasn't the kind of work that gave me the sense of purpose or satisfaction that I was looking for."

At 47, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he applied to join the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

"This country has been very good to me. I felt joining the Forces was an opportunity for me to give back and add some excitement as well."

During the two-year application process, he prepared for military life by taking physically demanding jobs at Purolator and a Costco distribution centre.

That effort paid off when his CAF offer arrived on his birthday.

"From what I remember, there were two people who were in their 30s and 40s, and I was by far the oldest," he recalled with a smile.

After arriving at CFB Esquimalt, A/SLt Samuels began training as a Naval Warfare Officer (NWO), one of the RCN’s most demanding occupations.

As like BMOQ, many of his fellow NWO trainees were decades younger than he was.

"We joke a lot because some of them could have been my kids," he said with a laugh.

The age difference eventually gave way to camaraderie and mutual respect. Throughout his time in the Navy, A/SLt Samuels has learned to rely on those around him regardless of age.

Partway through the course, however, he decided to pursue a different occupation within the RCN after reflecting on the time it would require away from his family.

“At this stage in my life, being away from my family and still training and learning is tough. On the other hand, switching my trade allows me to support and serve right away, to the best of my ability.”

Today, A/SLt Samuels serves with the CFB Esquimalt Base Public Affairs Office, helping advance awareness of the CAF and RCN through communications outreach.

When asked what makes a good sailor, he did not point to missiles, helicopters or high-profile operations.

“Social media and the news tend to show the exciting side of naval service: missiles, helicopters, joint operations with allied navies,” he noted. While this grabs attention, it’s not necessarily what makes a great sailor.

For A/SLt Samuels, a sailor is defined by the moments no one sees.

"Standing watch through the night and staying just as alert and focused; catching the small things when everyone else is asleep and doing something about it; looking out for younger members and making sure they're supported," he reflected.

"To me, a good sailor holds themselves to high standards at all hours of every day."

This article originally appeared in The Lookout Newspaper. Read the full version.