Your Navy Today - Volume 5 Issue 6

On June 14, 2022, Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Vancouver and Winnipeg, and their CH-148 Cyclone helicopter air detachments, departed Esquimalt, B.C., to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) – the largest international maritime exercise in the world.

Over 25,000 personnel from 26 nations are participating in this year’s exercise, which includes maritime, air and land forces. From June 29 to August 4, these forces will operate around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) personnel are also serving in senior leadership roles during RIMPAC. Rear-Admiral Christopher Robinson is the Deputy Commander Combined Task Force RIMPAC, and Captain (Navy) Doug Layton is the Deputy Commander Combined Force Maritime Component Command.

After RIMPAC has concluded, HMCS Vancouver will support Operations Projection and Neon, while HMCS Winnipeg will support Op Projection.

The RCN has announced that the Steward occupation is being eliminated. The announcement was made at a virtual Town Hall held on June 13, with currently serving Stewards from across the country.

“This is a very tough decision that we have not taken lightly,” said Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander RCN in his statement to Stewards. “While the Steward occupation will phase out over the next three years, we value every one of our Stewards and will work with each of them individually to find the best way for them to continue their careers serving in the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCN.” 

The only immediate change is that recruiting new stewards will stop as of this month. Those who are already serving will continue to be employed in all the jobs that they’ve been doing and it will take at least three years to complete the transition. Each individual will be managed separately.

The RCN is taking a novel approach to ensure its future warship – the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) – will meet the needs of the next generation of sailors facing the next generation of threats.

A group of 55 personnel – sailors, Air Force personnel and industry representatives – recently took part in a workshop to mine their perspectives in order to fuel the design for the CSC project.

These kinds of workshops provide the RCN with outside views and expertise, and help ensure that our sailors are best-positioned to manage a security environment that continues to evolve.

Mark your calendars to attend the July session of the RCN’s Mentorship Program. Chief Warrant Officer Bob McCann from Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture will discuss culture.

Sailors – Regular and Reserve Force – at all ranks and civilian employees at all levels are invited.

• Date: July 27, 2022
• Time: Noon to 1:30 p.m. EST
• Details: Visit the Mentorship Program’s intranet page

Canadians in communities along the shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie have had a unique opportunity to learn about the RCN this month.

Throughout June, the tall ship HMCS Oriole visited these ports as part of the ongoing Great Lakes Deployment 2022. Canadians had the chance to talk to sailors and learn about the different career opportunities available in the RCN, while touring the Navy’s oldest serving commissioned ship.

Throughout July, the ship and its crew will sail as far west as Sault St. Marie, Ont., before turning back and visiting several communities along the coast of Lake Huron.

HMCS Glace Bay, a Maritime Coastal Defence Vessel, will also participate in the Great Lakes Deployment in July. Over the course of the next few weeks, Glace Bay will visit Toronto, Oshawa and Kingston in Ontario, and Montreal, Quebec City and Rimouski in Quebec.

It will sail to cities throughout Lake Ontario and along the St. Lawrence River.

Learn more about the Great Lakes Deployment 2022 and upcoming port visits for HMC Ships Oriole and Glace Bay.