Optimism and burpees: How the crew of HMCS Calgary got ready for deployment

By Lookout on Feb 15, 2021 with Comments 0

Lt Jeff Klassen
HMCS Calgary PAO
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In late January and early February, the crew of HMCS Calgary were quarantining at a local hotel in preparation of their upcoming seven-month Operation Artemis and Operation Projection deployment to the Asia-Pacific region and Middle Eastern waters.

For much of the crew, this will be their first deployment during the COVID-19 pandemic, which means significantly curtailed foreign port visits.

The quarantine process, although a necessary measure to keep people healthy, came with its own frustrations. For a crew that will be away for over half the year, having to spend more time away from home confined to a single room was difficult.

Everyone found their own ways of staying busy and remaining virtually connected to family and friends.

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Sailor Second Class (S2) Matthew Jones,
Marine Technician
From Port Moody, BC

“With the internet and all the technology we have today, quarantining isn’t really isolating,” says S2 Jones, who spent his quarantine reading and video-chatting with his girlfriend.

“Our team does daily check-ins and there are Facebook group chats. I wouldn’t say it’s a blast, but it’s fine,” he said.

Over the last year, Calgary has spent a lot of time training with various workups and exercises dating back to spring 2020. All that training has made him eager to deploy.

“Even with all the challenges of COVID, even if we don’t do many port visits, this deployment has been long in the coming, so I’m very upbeat about the whole thing.”

S2 Matthew Jones read Lord of the Rings while in quarantine.

Captain (Capt) Eric Jurski,
CH-148 Cyclone Pilot
From Mississauga, ON

In 2020, Capt Jurski completed his Cyclone pilot training during the COVID-19 pandemic, so now he’s pretty well-adapted to the quarantine process.

“I spent a good chunk of this pandemic in the Shearwater shacks isolating and just working out, so this is kind of a walk in the park for me. After working out, reading, looking over notes, and calling friends and family, it’s pretty easy to kill a whole day,” he said. “Between my last isolation in Shearwater and now, I’ve gotten really good at burpees.”

The upcoming deployment will be Capt Jurski’s first as a pilot.

“I’m excited to fly and do the job. It has taken seven years since I joined the military to become a qualified and deployable Cyclone co-pilot. I’m excited to fly, learn the tactics, meet new people, and see the world – no matter what challenges COVID may bring. I’m optimistic.”

Captain Eric Jurski got really good at burpees while in quarantine.

Sailor First Class (S1) Alyssa Henry,
Naval Combat Information Operator
From Hamilton, ON

S1 Henry has been on four deployments and one five-month exercise in her career, so even though Calgary’s deployment will bring with it a lot of challenges, she feels at ease.

“It’s kind of old hat at this point. It is exciting to do Op Artemis as I’ve never been to that part of the world before. It’s nice to mix it up – you have to keep it fresh,” she said. “Even if we won’t be getting to shore so much, we will still get to see other parts of the world, which can often look amazing even from just off the ship.”

S1 Henry remembers how on her 2019 Op Projection deployment to Asia, she spent a port visit in Okinawa, Japan, skateboarding around the city and hanging out at the beach. On this deployment things will likely be much different.

“Maybe now it will just be skateboarding on the jetty, but that’s okay too,” she said enthusiastically.

S1 Alyssa Henry posed with her skateboard in her hotel room while in quarantine with the rest of HMCS Calgary’s crew ahead of their 2021 deployment.

Sailor Second Class (S2) Audrina N’Guessan,
Boatswain
From Montreal, QC

S2 N’Guessan is a newlywed – she and her husband met when she was attach-posted to Esquimalt two-and-half years ago on a full-time Class C Reserve contract. The couple were just married over the Christmas holidays and Calgary’s upcoming deployment will be the longest time they’ve been away from each other since they first met.

She remains positive all the same.

“I’m one of those people that doesn’t drink coffee but is still smiling in the morning. Some people think it’s odd because I’m always happy,” she said. “My objective is to smile every day. I know it’s simple, but I think, if I wake up every day with that little thing, it will really contribute to my well-being and I’ll be able to overcome anything.”

One thing that S2 N’Guessan is grateful for is the morale phone on board Calgary. This satellite-routed phone allows members to talk to their families. She is going to try to talk to her husband every day throughout the deployment.

“He loves talking even more than I do,” said S2 N’Guessan, who, by her own account, is pretty chatty herself.

Above: S2 Audrina N’Guessan holds a photo of her husband, S1 Duncan Woods, while in quarantine. S2 N’Guessan and her husband, a Marine Technician on board HMCS Chicoutimi, were just married over the Christmas holidays. This deployment will be the longest they have been apart.

Warrant Officer (WO) Nicole Lewis,
Human Resources Manager
From Winnipeg, MB

“I have a work computer with me in the hotel room and I’m super busy,” she said. “When I need a break I do something active.”

WO Lewis and co-workers who train together on ship are doing virtual workouts over video chat together every day during the quarantine.

“We normally do a circuit like HIIT – lots of burpees, sit ups, and squats. You just have to do it, to take a break, or your mind can always get stuck on work, which isn’t necessarily healthy,” she said.

What she loves most about sailing?

“Nothing beats the sunrises and the sunsets, it’s pretty cool. Some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.”