CANCAP Sandpaper_Volume V Issue1 - SNC

Transcription

Volume IV, Issue 1—WINTER 2012
FINAL KANDAHAR AIRFIELD ISSUE OF THE SANDPAPER
Farewell & Thank-you from CANCAP Management & the Sandpaper Editorial Team
Special points of interest:
CHERYL SAMEK MADE
FRIENDS WITH A TIGER!
SEE PAGES 16 AND 17
FOR MORE DETAILS!
D ISMANTLING OUR
TENTLINES…..SEE PAGE
13....
Inside this issue:
It is with great sadness that we release this last Kandahar Airfield issue of the CANCAP Sandpaper. All
CANCAP personnel have safely returned from KAF and once again blessed their friends and family with
their presence and continuing to grace Facebook walls with their amazing stories of travel, challenge, fulfillment and kinship as CANCAPers in Afghanistan. As the Canadian Forces mission in Kandahar wrapped
up and all our fellow CANCAPers went their separate ways, we spent a lot of time reminiscing about the
amazing accomplishments, the wonderful experiences and the lifelong friendships that were formed during
our years in Afghanistan supporting the CF. While we hope and pray for a more peaceful world in which
we don’t need to deploy to danger zones, we also daydream and look forward to the chance to come together
and embark on such an amazing journey again. The editorial team of the Sandpaper wishes to thank each
and every one of you who committed your time, efforts, photographs and ideas to our newsletter—we look
forward to the chance to resurrect the Sandpaper once again. Take care everyone! Until we meet again... FINAL ISSUE FAREWELL
1
CANCAP PROGRAM
MANAGER’S CORNER
2
DISMANTLING THE KAF
CENOTAPH
3
BOOMER’S LEGACY SPINA-THON
4
CANCAP IN KAF—FULL
CIRCLE—NEIL ASBIL’S
6
MESSAGE
DEPARTING KAF FOR THE
LAST TIME
8
DISMANTLING THE TENTLINES (FAREWELL TO OUR
HOMES!)
12
CANCAP TRAVEL TALES—
VIETNAM WITH CHERYL &
ROB
14
The SANDPAPER
NEWSLETTER FOR CANCA P EMPLOYEES & FAMILIES
Volume IV, Issue 1
ISO 9001:2008 Certified
PROGRAM MANAGER’S CORNER
A Message From Ian Malcolm
The adventure in Kandahar has ended after six
years of superb work and excellent results. I am
pleased to say that everyone left safely and has
officially completed their contracts. I and two
others from Ottawa flew to Dubai to meet the
very last people coming
out of KAF and hosted
them for a day of golf
(some at the spa) and a
fine dinner. I must say
the golf set some new
standards as we managed to lose about four
BOXES of golf balls
and absolutely did not
threaten the course
record. Next time you
run into Ralph Mahar,
ask him how the first
evening “Meet and
Greet” went.
Our final assessment
from the CO NSE came in at over 98% and we
have already distributed the PIF recognition
awards at $70 per month in KAF over the last
assessment period. The results were outstanding
and you did this despite the constant changes in
the DND plan for close out as they adjusted to
changing requirements.
Thank heavens we encouraged you all to get out
as early as possible on vacation travel during
closeout as the changes in end dates would have
meant a lot of people would not have
received any travel. Instead, almost everyone got in some sort of trip – I do know
that many of you had to change plans or
had hoped for amounts changed but as
we said constantly in letters and briefings,
we did not have the firm plan until September and tried to do what we could to
get something.
Now most of you are back home and
thinking of that next job. We have been
trying to help – our Job Fair in Kingston
attracted about 80 former employees and some
16 Kingston area companies. We know some
Page 2
people have managed to land a job through that
effort. Our arrangement with Calian has led to
over a dozen jobs being offered and we are placing some people out west with an oil company
project. We hope to have more in the future and
are in
active
contact
with many
employees.
Keep an
eye on our
website
which we
will keep
running
all of this
year to
help to
keep you
up to date.
The head
office in Ottawa is also downsizing and we are
down by over 60% with the rest of the staff ending by 28 March. After that we have 3 people
who continue as planners, ready to start up a
new mission if DND so asks. Unfortunately at
this time that does not appear promising as we
have not received any tasks for Kabul or elsewhere. Again check our website now and again.
When I look back on KAF and indeed the CANCAP effort as a whole, I have a great feeling of
pride in your accomplishments, the good friends
I have met, and the wonderful opportunities to
visit the project in the field. I guess everything
must end but we did it in style and you earned a
superb reputation as CANCAPers who exceeded
the military’s requirements. Every officer I have
met states strong support for the CANCAP concept and those who served on KAF know fullwell that you made the difference. Good luck in
whatever the future brings – I will miss the fun
and the adventure. Take care. Ian Malcolm
CANCAP Program Manager
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
DISMANTLING THE KAF MEMORIAL (CENOTAPH)
189 People Honoured by the KAF Cenotaph, Which has Been Brought to Ottawa
T
he word cenotaph derives
from the Greek words kenos
meaning empty, and taphos
meaning tomb and it is a
monument erected in honour
of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere.
The cenotaph in Kandahar,
better known as "the memorial", honoured all the fallen
military and civilian personnel as a result of the war in
Afghanistan. It also served as
the location for numerous
medal parades and VIP visits.
It stood through five long
years in the extreme heat,
dust and rain....now it has
made its way back to Ottawa.
Canada’s Defence Minister, Peter MacKay and our Chief of the Defence
Staff, General Walter Natynczyk announced the decision to relocate the
memorial and the Canadian Government and the National Capital Commission are in the process of identifying the new site. As quoted by Mr.
MacKay in a statement to the media “We have a solemn duty to remember those who served, especially those who have fallen in service to their
country,”
The pictures here show the memorial and as it is dismantled and loaded
for the trip back to Canada. Over the years it grew to display 189
plaques. 149 of them honour fallen Canadian Forces members, a For-
eign Affairs official (Glyn Berry), a Canadian journalist (Michelle
Lang), and a civilian from our company (Marc Cyr, SNC-Lavalin
PAE). The other 40 plaques honour the 39 U.S. military and one
civilian member who died while serving under Canadian command.
Dismantling of the cenotaph
started November 12, 2011 and
took a group of engineers more
than two weeks to safely remove
and ready the memorial for shipping.
The Memorial is certain to be
visited by many CANCAPers in
years to come. Page 3
The SANDPAPER
Volume IV, Issue 1
BOOMER’S LEGACY SPIN-A-THON
CANCAP Makes a Big Contribution to a Great Cause
“B
oomer's Legacy" is a foundation founded
by Maureen Eykelenboom in memory of her
son, Corporal Andrew James Eykelenboom, a
Canadian military medic who was killed by a
suicide bomber in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan
in August 2006 at age 23. The foundation was
developed to aid the women and children in
Afghanistan. While serving in Afghanistan,
Andrew (known to his friends as "Boomer")
recognized numerous opportunities for assisting the Afghan people through the distribution of medical supplies, educational material,
books and warm clothing. In small, personal
ways, Boomer and his comrades felt they were
able to make a special contribution to bringing
peace and stability to Afghanistan. Boomer's
Legacy has been created to further these ambitions.
The funds raised by the foundation are used to
directly support the people of Afghanistan
affected by poverty and war with emphasis on
programs and services for women and children.
Boomer’s Legacy Spin-A-Thon, Kandahar, October 27-28, 2011
27 teams participated, with a total of 528 members riding. All teams combined cycled approximately
19,887.89 kilometres. Corporal Guy Martel-Laflamme cycled an amazing 24 hours straight, spinning a
total distance of 490.06 kilometres. A two-man team cycled 12 hours each, totaling 547 kilometres
(Corporal Donald McCullough 305 kms and Corporal Tanner Wilson 242 kms).
Page 4
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
At every barbeque CANCAP has held, we have always run a 50/50 draw in which 50% of all funds
collected went to a charity. In the past, we had periodically funneled the money to a school outside KAF
and funds were used to buy books, pencils, desks, etc.
Unfortunately, through time and the numerous rotations of personnel, we lost contact with the school
and we had been looking for a worthy charity that
was closely aligned to our objectives – making small
but important improvements for the Afghan people
at the grassroots level. The Boomer’s Legacy Foundation suited this mandate to a tee so it was decided
that the whole amount we had accumulated, and the
additional funds we could raise specifically for the
spin-a-thon, would go towards it. The total money
raised for the event was $17,328.
CANCAP’s contribution earned us the award of the largest donation—$7,100.00 to be exact—and combined with the CMC, our team raised a total of $8,000.00 in Boomer’s name. CANCAP’s contribution of $7,100 earned us the award for
the largest donation
Page 5
The SANDPAPER
Volume IV, Issue 1
CANCAP IN KAF—Full Circle
A Project Manager’s Perspective
Back in September 2006, the first four civilian personnel, John MacLeod, Simon Alsop, Jack Plouffe
and I deplaned to stand-up the CANCAP mission at KAF halfway through Roto 2. Within four weeks,
the numbers grew to 65 and services were being provided in MMD, CIS, LEMS and Accommodations.
Back then, KAF had a total population of about 6,000 but by the time we left in November, the base
population was over 30,000 – to say things changed is a huge understatement!
Over the next four years, and through 33 Task Order Amendments, the CANCAP strength increased to
371 members as our scope of services expanded and changed to keep pace with the real-time requirements of the battlespace, for example:
•
The LEMS focus changed from strictly civilian patterned vehicles and small engines to providing “B” vehicle support and having a presence in the Leopard Tank maintenance shop.
•
Transportation expanded capacity, and added heavy lift and sea container movement capability.
•
MMD took over clothing stores, assumed a greater role in R&D and Combat Supply.
•
Food Services placed and tracked food orders, received bulk shipments, stored, repacked and
pushed forward fresh supplements to Canadian FOBs and morale supplements on KAF.
•
The stand-up of CE and associated trades on KAF allowed the Military Engineers to move
their focus outside the wire.
In KAF, CANCAP became what it was intended to be – an integral part of the support mechanism, and a force multiplier, for
the Canadian Forces.
Over the year 2011 we all knew the project was coming to an end
and we saw 5 more Task Order amendments aimed at shrinking
the project and exiting KAF. On 29 November 2011, the last 4
CANCAP members; Melissa Elson, Ralph Mahar, Tony Rerrie
and I flew out of KAF, on schedule – our mission complete.
I was fortunate to be the Project Manager for the start-up and
also for the last part of the close down. That gives me a unique
perspective on the project overall, and I have to say I have a huge
sense of satisfaction at a job well done. Not that it was me that
did the work to keep the Client happy – that was done by you;
the over 1000 different CANCAPers who played a part in the
KAF mission. Some stayed briefly but some stayed from mission
start to finish (Sunny Fonjong, Pierre-Paul Parisien) still others
took breaks but kept coming back (we call them the ‘Lifers”!).
The mission has meant different things to different people. From my many conversations with people
in KAF, it became clear that there were almost as many reasons for being there as there were people in
CANCAP. Some of the more popular reasons included:
•
for the adventure,
•
for the opportunity to do something different,
•
for the chance to be part of something bigger than me/It’s a chance to do something that
counts
•
as a way to support our troops
•
support of deployed operations is what I do
•
as a chance to learn new ways of working
•
as an opportunity to test myself
•
to get to work on cool ‘stuff’
Page 6
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
CANCAP IN KAF—Full Circle
Continued from page 6….
Over the five years in KAF, we all had the opportunity to
make new friends and acquaintances. Some relationships
blossomed and more than one couple that got together on
KAF (in a purely platonic way of course (given the no-frat
rule)) then went on to become permanent partners, got married and started families. In KAF we also met some folks
who had to leave early due to medical conditions, stresses or
because they chose another path and we remember Marc Cyr
of the SPSS Team who tragically passed while in KAF – leaving his wife and two children and a void in more than a few
conversations long after the event and memorial were done.
In the five years CANCAP was at KAF we all had a chance
to test our mettle – through rocket attacks (including a some
close ones in Engineering, LEMS and MMD), ground attacks
on the base, bombings at the gate, working in 55ºC temperatures, or standing on parade in either the stifling heat, dust
or the cold and wet of winter. Through it all, we did what we were there to do – we supported the Canadian
Forces and we hopefully made the life of the average soldier a bit easier and better. During the time we were in
KAF, we consistently scored in the high 90s for our client evaluations and it is a testament to the hard work of
all of you, and the developing relationship we have with the military that this was the case – for those of you
who were not in Kabul or Bosnia, good scores were not always the case!
As with everything, there are always challenges and in KAF we had more than a few. Together we overcame
them and succeeded. The mission is now closed and the PMOO thin out is well under way – shortly PMOO
will be down to just a handful who will continue to learn from this and past missions and to prepare all the
pieces we need in place for when the Canadian Forces calls on us again.
In closing , I want to wish you all the very best in 2012, health happiness and I also look forward to seeing
many of your smiling faces when we stand up the next mission, wherever and whenever that is. Cheers. Neil Asbil
CANCAP Project Manager
Page 7
The SANDPAPER
DEPARTING KAF FOR THE LAST TIME
Page 8
Volume IV, Issue 1
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
DEPARTING KAF FOR THE LAST TIME...continued...
Page 9
The SANDPAPER
Volume IV, Issue 1
Page 10
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
This is
how we
REALLY
feel!!!
So long for
now
everyone!!
Page 11
The SANDPAPER
Volume IV, Issue 1
THE TENTLINES BEFORE BEING DISMANTLED
Page 12
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
DURING & AFTER PHOTOS OF THE TENTLINES BEING DISMANTLED
Farewell to our Homes…..
Page 13
The SANDPAPER
OBJECTIVE OF THE TRIP:
To see the war history of Vietnam & experience the culture.
30 SECOND
COUNTRY BACKGROUND:
Everyone is familiar with the Vietnam war which started on 1 November
1955 to the fall of Saigon 30 April 1975 but Vietnam is now a beautiful and
varied country offering beaches, soaring mountains and hundreds of years of
history. Cheryl and Rob visited the southern part of Vietnam which is very
tropical and the weather was hot and humid.
ENTRY TO THE COUNTRY:
Tourist Visa is required and an application must be submitted and approved
before entry. Application cost is approx. $23 per person and an additional
$25 is required at the airport upon entry.
BORDER/PASSPORT CONTROL/CUSTOMS
PROCEDURES:
Because Bryan flew from Dubai specifically,
customs agents required him to unpack and
repack his luggage in front of them. He was
told this was standard procedure for anyone
travelling from there. He said the agents
were not specific as to what “from there”
meant; it could have been either the UAE
itself or the Middle East in general.
CURRENCY:
The Vietnam Dong (VND) is the main currency although the US dollar is widely accepted. Food and drink were really cheap to
purchase...you can purchase beer there for
anywhere between 33 cents and 1 dollar per
can. 1 CDN = 21,000 VND
Page 14
Volume IV, Issue 1
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT...Travel Tales… Continued from Page 12
GETTING CASH:
You can get cash from ATM’s using most debit cards, and credit cards are
readily accepted. It is best to travel with local currency especially if you will
be shopping at one of the many local markets and/or shops.
GETTING THERE:
Cheryl's flight was from Dubai to Doha to Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh while
Rob flew from Detroit to Chicago to Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh. Cheryl
said she definitely got the better end of that deal!
THE LAST SUPPER (BEST/TRADITIONAL MEAL):
Ho Chi Minh City—
Post Office & Reunification Palace
I hope you like rice...and spicy foods! Everything was delicious and there
was no fear of getting sick. Cheryl said they stuck to the larger restaurants
and didn't eat at any of the small local shops. Western style food was available everywhere if you didn't want to be adventuresome.
“THIS REMINDS ME OF KANDAHAR” PART OF THE TRIP:
The big tanks and aircraft on display everywhere....luckily, none of them were operable!
DO YOU SPEAK ENGLISH? -
Bạn có nói tiếng Anh?:
In the larger hotels and restaurants, some English is
spoken (enough to get by) but
for the most part - sign language works well if you do
not speak Vietnamese.
Cheryl said that it was best to
have maps or brochures available if you plan on using
taxis. Having said that, the Vietnamese people were very friendly and hospitable and went out of their way to help you.
TOTAL DAMAGE FOR THE ENTIRE TRIP:
About $5000 CDN for the entire trip (including the stop in Thailand) for
13 days in Vietnam/Thailand. This included the tour charge for the Tiger
Temple (which was really expensive but well worth the money). Rob and
Cheryl stayed at 5 star properties and didn't spare any expenses.
ATTRACTION TIP:
Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi - Breakfast with the monks - a once in a
lifetime tour! If you ever plan a trip to Thailand - definitely visit the Tiger
Temple. Cheryl and Rob spent the day feeding and playing with the tigers.
Check out the cool Tiger pics on the following pages!
Page 15
The SANDPAPER
TIGER!!
Visiting the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi Thailand
Page 16
Volume IV, Issue 1
Volume IV, Issue 1
The SANDPAPER
TIGER!!....continued from previous page...
Cám ơn (Thanks)
Rob & Cheryl!!
Page 17
PROFESSIONALS PROVIDING SOLUTIONS
SNC-Lavalin PAE Inc. Newsletter for CANCAP Employees & Families
SNC-Lavalin PAE Inc.
170 Laurier Ave. West, Suite 1104
Ottawa, ON, Canada K1P 5V5
Phone: 613-565-7853
Fax: 613-565-8245
Email: [email protected]
The SANDPAPER
Volume IV, Issue 1
WINTER / SPRING 2011
Editors:
Carla Dawes
Cheryl Samek
AIM:
To provide the highest quality services to
our client while achieving our corporate goals.
CORE VALUES:
Integrity, Empathy, Respect,
Initiative, Teamwork, Stewardship, Commitment
GOAL:
To be recognized as a
world-class provider of support services
to the Canadian Forces in Deployed Operations.
Thank-you to the following people
who contributed stories, photos and
content to this issue:
Chris Kerr
Ian Malcolm
Chris McArdle
Neil Asbil
WANT YOUR FAMILY TO BE IN ON
ALL THE LATEST CANCAP NEWS?
If you would like to add your
friends or family members to our
distribution list, please send their
email addresses to:
Thanks everyone for all your contributions over the last couple of years!
Until we meet again!!
[email protected]
SNC-Lavalin PAE Inc. is a joint venture between SNC-Lavalin Defence Programs Inc.—a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, and PAE Government Services
Canada Inc.—a Lockheed Martin company. These two global leaders have partnered to deliver the Canadian Contractor Augmentation Program (CANCAP)
supporting Canadian Forces overseas deployments. CANCAP currently supports the Canadian Forces mission in Kandahar, Afghanistan.
Visit our parent company websites:
www.paegroup.com
www.snclavalinom.com

CANCAP Sandpaper_Volume V Issue1 - SNC

Transcription

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