Awards ceremony recognizes ‘uncommon virtue’

Group photo of presenters and honours and award recipients.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Seventeen military members from CFB Esquimalt have received special recognition from Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) for their extraordinary efforts.

The acknowledged gathered with friends, family, and co-workers at the Chief and Petty Officer’s Mess on May 17 for the Spring Honours and Awards Ceremony.

Rear-Admiral (Radm) Christopher Robinson, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific (MARPAC) and Joint Task Force Pacific (JTF(P)), presided over the ceremony. During his address, RAdm Robinson said the honours and awards ceremony is a way of providing recognition to Royal Canadian Navy members who have done extraordinary things.

“We have an old saying in the Navy that uncommon virtue is common, but what we are really saying is that we have many people who do amazing things every day and we are here to celebrate that and thank them for what they did,” RAdm Robinson said.

Commendations

Chief  of  Defence  Staff  Commendation: Lieutenant-Commander (LCdr) (ret’d) Mark Stephen Papineau

From January to July 2021, LCdr Papineau deployed to Bahrain as the Combined Task Force 150 Operations Officer. From the outset, he built crucial relationships with other nations, ultimately leading to the seizure of record amounts of narcotics and over $160 million worth of contraband. LCdr Papineau’s remarkable leadership and dedication significantly enabled Canada’s success in leading Combined Task Force 150. They resulted in a substantial and positive impact on regional security in the Middle East and East Africa region.

Commander Royal Canadian Navy Commendation: Sailor First Class (S1) Ralph Charles Chamberlain, Fleet Diving Unit (Pacific)

On Dec. 26, 2021, S1 Ralph Charles Chamberlain displayed exceptional leadership and was resolute in his actions while responding to a single motor vehicle incident that involved a casualty near Sooke, he provided First Aid and stabilized the casualty while taking immediate action to ensure Emergency Services were able to locate and respond to the accident. 

Canadian Joint Operations Command Commendation: LCdr John Olivier, Base Logistics

LCdr Olivier deployed to Ali Al Salem Airbase, Kuwait, on Operation Impact from July 2021 to July 2022 as Deputy Commanding Officer of the Operational Support Hub, South-West Asia. Throughout the deployment, he displayed outstanding leadership in planning and executing the provision of real-life support and sustainment effects to a complex Joint Operations Area. Moreover, he volunteered to become the first Cultural Advisor to the Commander Joint Task Force ˆ IMPACT and Task Force – CENTRAL and Chair of the Culture Advancement Committee. LCdr Olivier’s remarkable efforts fostered an inclusive environment for all members of the Task Force and reinforced the Canadian Armed Forces’ image in a multinational environment.

The awards, presented by Rear-admiral Christopher Robinson, included:

• Chief of Defence Staff Commendation;
• Commander Royal Canadian Navy Commendation;
• Canadian Joint Operations Command Commendation;
• 10 Bravo Zulu Certificates of Achievement awards;
• Maritime Component Commander Certificate (MCC);
• Three members received their CPO1/CWO Scrolls.