137681 Monday, September 18, 2017 Volume 51, Issue 19 www.tridentnewspaper.com Invictus Flag in Halifax Vimy the Invictus mascot (left) greets RAdm Craig Baines, Commander JTFA and MARLANT; Michael Burns, CEO Invictus Games 2017, and Col Craig Landry (right) 5th Canadian Division Chief of Staff. In the background is HMCS Toronto. MCPL CHRIS RINGIUS, FIS HALIFAX New Commander Update on interim HMCS Charlottetown Running the Navy 10K JTFA/MARLANT Pg. 3 AOR project Pg. 6 in the Baltic Pg. 14 in Helsinki Pg. 19 Don’t miss out on our... Get your CFOne card! Benefits available exclusively to members of the CAF Community - offering program discounts, savings CANEX Rewards and more! One Community, FEATURE OF THE WEEK One Million Strong Une communauté, forte d’un million de membres One Community, In-store and online at CANEX.CA One Million Strong Une communauté, JOHN SMITH forte d’un million de membres 1 000 000 001 001 Family of Canadian Forces Member CF-F Famille de membre des Forces armées canadiennes Exp. 08/18 JOHN SMITH 1 000 000 001 001 Extended Security & Defence Team D Équipe de la Défense et sécurité élargie Exp. 08/18 CANEX WINDSOR PARK | 902-465-5414 CF1FC.ca 137674 2 TRIDENT NEWS SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 Invictus Games national tour makes stop in Halifax By Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff With less than three weeks to go before hundreds of injured and ill armed forces personnel arrive in Toronto for the 2017 Invictus Games, organizers brought the spirit and en- ergy of the event to Halifax for a stop on their national tour. The Invictus Team spent 37 days travelling the country, stopping at 22 CAF bases along the way to drum up excitement for Invictus and spread the message of perseverance and ca- maraderie associated with the annual adaptive sporting event. They brought with them organizers, officials, mas- cots and Invictus competitors, and on September 5, they visited HMCS Scotian for the latest stop. “It’s been an incredible experience for us to bring the team to thousands of Canadians across the country, and give more people a chance to be part of the spirit of these games and to learn about the impact,” said Invictus Games CEO Michael Burns, who is also a co-founder of the True Patriot A massive Invictus Games banner hangs from the side of HMCS Toronto to mark the Halifax stop of the Invictus National Flag Love Foundation and a recipient of tour on September 5. the Canadian Forces Medallion for RYAN MELANSON, TRIDENT STAFF Distinguished Service. The multi-sport, international com- the bonds that form between athletes, our people and emphasize the im- games, but who are serving or veteran petition was first held in 2014, and has even those from different nations, as portance and power of rehabilitative CAF members who have contributed since become an annual event, with they meet other uniformed person- sports,” he said. to military sport in the Halifax region this year’s games set to welcome 550 nel who have dealt with the difficult He described the service men and and wanted to show support for the athletes from 17 different countries. process of rebounding from injuries, women who compete at Invictus, wounded warriors headed to the All of the competitors are either cur- post-traumatic stress or other types of including a number of members from Invictus Games – these included CWO rently serving or retired service mem- mental illness. the Halifax area taking part this year, (retd) John McGrath, WO Charlene bers who became injured or ill while Among the military leaders who as embodying the fighting spirit of Arsenault, SLt Samuel Taylor, and serving or as a direct consequence of turned out for the rally was RAdm service personnel, working tirelessly Avr Adrian Osmond. their service. In Canada, many of our Craig Baines, the new Commander of to set and meet new goals despite Tickets are still available for events Invictus competitors get linked up MARLANT and JTFA, remarking that a limitations placed on them by physi- as part of the 2017 Invictus Games at with the games through the Soldier rally in support of the Invictus Games cal injuries or mental illness. Invictusgames2017.com, and portions On program, and this year they will be was the perfect place to appear for his “Our men and women in uniform will be broadcast nationally on TSN. competing in sports like powerlifting, first public event in the new role. can overcome obstacles and rise to the “Canadians from coast to coast are archery, cycling, wheelchair rugby and “We couldn’t be more proud of the occasion, every time, and these games going to be moved and inspired by this, basketball, golf and track & field. currently serving members and veter- are another example of that,” he said. and we encourage everyone who can’t While the fitness, training and com- ans who are volunteering to compete The rally also included the par- make it to Toronto to watch at home petition aspect brings benefits, the in Toronto and represent Canada. ticipation of four local Invictus flag and take in the incredible stories of games have also become known for These games show the resilience of bearers, who aren’t competitors in the these men and women,” Burns said. Sailor ready to cycle his way to Invictus gold By Ryan Melanson, LS Peter Dennis (centre, two children, with two more twin boys Trident Staff red shirt) is surrounded on the way, while working with SISIP by the crowd at HMCS Financial as part of the JPSU. He After falling from a ship’s ladder Scotian for a group said the buildup around the Invictus and suffering a traumatic head injury photo following the Games has kept him positive and moti- while deployed to Op MOBILE in 2011, Invictus Games rally in vated, and with daily 30km bike rides LS Peter Dennis said his family and Halifax on August 5. as part of his training, the benefits colleagues started noticing changes in MCPL CHRIS RINGIUS, FIS have become physical in addition to his behaviour and personality. HALIFAX mental. He’s losing weight, feeling bet- “I wasn’t feeling normal, I was ter, and joked that he’s now able to fit angry, lashing out, and my wife knew he was first introduced to the idea of and share advice and encouragement. into his Team Canada uniform, which something wasn’t right,” he said. the Invictus Games. He’ll be compet- “The impact has been huge for me. wasn’t the case this time last year. “I wasn’t the same Peter I used to be.” ing at the games in Toronto from Sep- I can socialize again now; I have team With the games only weeks away, he It was about two years later when the tember 23-30 as part of Team Canada’s support and I have new friends I can said he was excited and ready to give it changes became drastic enough that cycling squad. He got a bike and talk to if I need to,” he said. his all for a gold medal, though he won’t his unit pushed him to get help. Since started training more than two years “We keep in touch on social media leave disappointed if that’s not the case. then, he’s been diagnosed with PTSD ago, and recently has been to training when we’re not seeing each other at “Honestly I’m just happy to be there along with other chronic injuries, and camps in Esquimalt and in Kingston, the training camps. I have friends and to complete the tasks. I’ll be retir- he’s started on the path to recovery. where he’s been able to work with across Canada now.” ing from the military soon, so cross- One of the most useful tools on that coaches to improve his fitness while LS Dennis is from the Eskasoni ing the finish line will be sort of the road has been his involvement with meeting other injured or ill CAF veter- First Nation in Cape Breton, but now start of the next chapter of my life.” the Soldier On program, from which ans who can relate to his experiences lives in Sackville with his wife and LS Dennis said. SEPTEMBER 18, 2017 TRIDENT NEWS 3 New era for MARLANT/JTFA as RAdm Baines takes command By Ryan Melanson, Trident Staff Through his four years in command of MARLANT and JTFA, RAdm John Newton became known for his unorth- odox and colourful leadership style, something that was clearly reflected in the ceremony as the formation said goodbye to the outgoing commander on September 1. Sing-a-longs, props, a few tears and lots of laughter were all part of the Change of Command Ceremony, which saw RAdm Craig Baines, for- mer Commander of CANFLTLANT, take over from the man who served as his boss for the previous years. With plenty of serving and retired colleagues present, including VAdm Ron Lloyd, Commander RCN, along with family, friends and members of the wider Halifax community, RAdm Newton pointed out some of the high- lights of his time in command. From seeing the completion of the HCM/ FELEX process, to pushing HMCS Windsor through hundreds of days at sea, to deploying personnel to a range of operations and exercises that broke RAdm Craig Baines, LGen Steve Bowes, VAdm Ron Lloyd, and RAdm John Newton sign the Change of Command certificates dur- from RCN routine and created new ing the ceremony on September 1, 2017. avenues for the Navy.