Sailor profile: Lt(N) Kay van Akker

Lt(N) Kay van Akker

MARPAC PA Office ~

Lieutenant (Navy) Kay van Akker joined the Naval Reserve while going to university in 2001. Her full-time summer training to become a Naval Warfare Officer, part-time work throughout the year, and military grants provided her with sufficient income to fund her education.

After exploring a civilian career, having a family and working part-time at her Naval Reserve Division, she decided to work full-time with the Royal Canadian Navy.

She was selected to join the newly formed Naval Security Team (NST) as the Operations Officer for the unit’s first deployment, and subsequent appointment as NST Executive Officer.

“I am fortunate to have such an interesting job that challenges and engages me. The great thing about being a Reservist is the opportunity to switch back and forth between part-time and full-time service in order to suit the needs of the navy, my family and myself.”

The NST is a deployable naval team that provides land and sea-based protection for Royal Canadian Navy ships and personnel, at home and overseas. The Team deploys in support of Government of Canada missions, and is responsible for liaising with host nations, as well as providing support and intelligence in foreign ports.

Due to the nature of NST’s work, Lt(N) van Akker travels around the world in her current role. Over the last year, she travelled to South Korea, Denmark, Fiji and across Canada. In her recent deployment to Fiji on Operation Projection to build partner capacity with the Republic of Fiji Navy (RFN), she guided several workshops to support the RFN in their initiative to integrate women into their navy – an initiative that has now seen 26 female recruits successfully pass their first phase of naval training.

“I’ve embraced this remarkable opportunity and seen a very different part of the world,” she said. “Being a Reservist has provided me with opportunities that I did not imagine were possible as a new recruit 17 years ago.”