Your Navy Today - Volume 5 Issue 8

Following the significant impact of Hurricane Fiona in Newfoundland and Labrador, Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) sailors in the Atlantic region were glad to join the hurricane relief effort as part of the Canadian Armed Forces' Operation (Op) Lentus.

Just days before coming back home from Op Nanook in the Canadian Arctic, the crew of His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Margaret Brooke was reassigned to Op Lentus.

Margaret Brooke’s sailors assessed damage and checked on citizens in semi-isolated communities only accessible by boat along the southwestern coast of Newfoundland.

The sailors were able to provide clean-up efforts in other communities. The crew was amazed to be greeted by grateful Canadians.

Naval Reserve sailors also assisted with relief efforts and clearing debris in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In P.E.I., Charlottetown’s Naval Reserve Division, HMCS Queen Charlotte, opened its doors as a central operations and housing base, providing operational and logistical support to members as they worked tirelessly in recovery efforts.

After illustrating Canada’s commitment to Op Reassurance – NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures in European waters – HMC Ships Kingston and Summerside return to their home port of Halifax today.

During their time on Reassurance, the ships sailed with Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 in the Baltic Sea and had an opportunity to hone their mine hunting skills.

“I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to hunt mines. It was really great to track down some real mines and destroy them,” said Sailor 1st Class (S1) Shaun McManus, a sonar operator.

Kingston-class vessels brought unique mine countermeasures capabilities to the table during Op Reassurance, including a clearance diving team and autonomous underwater vehicles.

HMCS Calgary was recently recognized for its drug-seizing efforts during Op Artemis 2021. The ship was awarded the highest unit honour given in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation, for halting the flow of 33,573 kilograms of illicit narcotics in Middle Eastern waters. Learn more about how these unprecedented seizures greatly enhanced Canada’s standing as a valued partner in defence.

On October 28, the RCN officially welcomed HMCS Margaret Brooke into naval service with a commissioning ceremony.

This ceremony is a long-standing naval tradition and a special event for the ship’s company – proud sailors who have recently returned from the ship’s first deployment. The Commanding Officer, Commander Nicole Robichaud, was presented with the commissioning pennant.

The RCN’s ability to enforce sovereignty in Canadian waters is further enhanced, now that the second Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is officially part of the fleet.

The RCN will continue to maintain COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all sailors deployed or assigned to our ships, to ensure that the RCN is prepared at all times to meet the needs and requirements of the Government of Canada.

Our sailors operate in a unique environment when deployed on ships, as they work and live in close quarters where comprehensive medical support is not readily available. Cases of severe illness or death have the potential to significantly impact the RCN’s operational readiness and effectiveness.

In addition to Government of Canada commitments, the RCN has a NATO requirement to have five ships and their crews ready to deploy at any time, and these crews must be ready in terms of both health and ability to act. In these circumstances, illness is a hazard to both sailors and the mission itself.

Vaccination is the most simple and efficient way to protect our workforce and the mission. Accordingly, unvaccinated sailors will not be authorized to serve on board warships.

The ship’s company of Montreal’s Naval Reserve Division, HMCS Donnacona, has been awarded the Commodore Cup for its contributions to domestic operations, support for operations abroad, dedication to community outreach, incredible leadership and recruiting the most members.

Bravo Zulu to the sailors and officers of HMCS Donnacona on a job well done! Its sailors are now entitled to wear the Commodore Cup patch on their uniforms.

The Commander RCN is committed to ensuring personnel working with the Navy full time are recognized for the performance of their duties. Commanding officers shall now consider every sailor 2nd class/private (trained) for accelerated promotion to sailor 1st class/corporal as being the norm, instead of the exception.

For full details, read the recently released Naval General Message on the subject (available internally only).