Sojers at the mast

Looking from the CFN Trenton Yacht Club toward the Bakers Island training area. Sojers from CFLAWC start bailing out about halfway through the video.

Fun on the hill

A look at part of my day spent at the Bakers Island training area with a Rappel Master course from the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre (CFLAWC).

 

 

The idea is simple – place a Rappel Master and four soldiers in a helicopter. Make the helicopter go up and hover.

 

Tell the soldiers to get out.

 

More images here

Up and down

A few videos that I shot while observing the sojers from CFLAWC conduct an evaluation for a Rappel Master course.

 

The sojers marching to the helicopter – they do that a lot

 

A safety briefing

 

Start up and check out the helicopter

 

Up into the air

 

Out they go

 

Back to the ground…

Storm the beach

The men and women of the Canadian Forces Land Advanced Warfare Centre (CFLAWC) (we don’t call them airborne anymore) storm the beach while I’m getting read to go sailing.

 

 

And we’re ready to shoot back…

More images here.

What goes up…

must come down, albeit with a friendly little fist nudge from a sojer.

The landing is not that wonderful either…

111 Lost

There was yet another repatriation ceremony today as Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown, Corporal Dany Olivier Fortin and Corporal Kenneth Chad O’Quinn return to Canada.

The three were killed in Afghanistan’s Arghandab district when an improvised explosive device detonated near their armoured vehicle during a patrol.

Each of these ceremonies is gut wrenching to watch and I honestly do not know how many more I can bear to watch. I cry at each of them as I try to answer the same question that haunts me – why?

There is no clear answer.

I attend as it is my duty and privilege to do so. The temporary discomfort that I bear as a result of rain, the wind, blazing heat or bitter cold are insignificant compared to the suffering that the family and loved ones undergo as they wait, and then the wave of anguish and anger that are invoked by the sight of the flag wrapped coffin.

What do you tell a mother, a lover, a wife, sister, daughter, brother or son?

There is no clear answer, only stock press releases and politicians that stand briefly until they return to the comforts of the military Challenger jet. How I wish that they had the simple honesty of the thousands of people who stand along the highway and an overpasses as they as individuals and communities pay their respects to the fallen.

I can’t take this much more and I want it to stop – not for me but so there are no more tears as people ask why?

She of the wet foot

My adventures yesterday had a few ups and downs.

One up is that the military decided to air drop down some containers of diesel fuel smack where I was poking about. Pretty cool stuff in my opinion.

 

Walking around some beautiful ice falls formed by trickling water flowing and percolating down through limestone would classify as an up.

 

Putting one’s foot down can be an effective tool of discipline – it can also be an effective if somewhat surprising way of cooling of your feet or entire body by means of immersion in cold water.

 

Oops…

I know better than to ever trust ice, but in this case the water beneath was very shallow and the ice around had survived me pitching big rocks on it so I figured that it would be okay.

This in fact was the second time that my right foot was dunked in cold water so my sock was already nice and clammy. The first time was at a mill pond where I was testing the ice by jumping up and down on it.

Geebers, I am such a dumb ass at times…

I have hats

Just a couple of my hats, not all of which are pink. Some are black, some are sort of brown. Not all of my hats are ball hats – I also have Tilley hats and dress up hats.

What the hell – I’m a bit bored.

Sojer suit

An attempt to make the “Water Captain” dress like a sojer

.

You want me to wear a “proper” sojer suit? We’ll just see about that!

An attempt at a look of wide eyed innocence confused the sojers as they were not sure wether they should salute me, paint me or shoot me.

Using my hypno-eyes I convince the Chiefy’s and Commanders that the ear rings are actually Blue Tooth devices that all the cool kids have.

Security level 2

The security level here has been increased to Level 2 – now the base is protected by the Navy, the Army and a green porta-potty…