CAREERS
Sailor Profiles
Ordinary Seaman Jason Thompson
Combat Department: Boatswain
I'm a boatswain on board HMCS WINNIPEG. I do upper deck maintenance and upper deck evolutions-towing and refuelling at sea. I'm a Zodiac and rigid hull inflatable boat operator, and I maintain the small arms on board. My positions for watch on deck are lifeboat sentry, port lookout and boatswain mate. I enjoy boatswain mate because there's nothing better than bringing a ship to action stations. My family are all in New Brunswick, and it has been over a year since I've been there. I'm new to Victoria, but will be looking into volunteer ground search and rescue when we return. The highlights of the last two or three weeks that stand out in my mind were arriving in the Arabian Gulf, and our first day being given tasks in the Gulf. Basically, I've been standing watches and trying to find spare time for myself. For me, there is no comparison between life ashore and life on board ship-two completely separate lives. It seems like you're living and breathing work while at sea. At home it's different, but I've developed a rather good routine. My way of dealing with the stresses and strains on board ship is talking with my shipmates. I also have excellent bosses. It's hard being away from my loved ones-my girlfriend has already left me. But the e-mail, phone calls home, and home leave travel allowance do help a lot.I enjoy the travel. What other job pays you and feeds you and gives you a place to sleep? Deployments will help me advance in my career by letting me finish my qualification level 4 sooner. I'm sure when I've completed the deployments I'll be very proud to have accomplished everything the ship was required to do. I'd like Canadians to be able to see what we do while we're at sea-that way, they'd be able to see their tax money at work. The variety… the work atmosphere is constantly changing, and you have to adapt to it. It is truly a rewarding job.
Retour à la liste
Sailor Profiles
Distant ports-of-call. Challenging rescues. World-class vessels. Visit with some of Canada's sailors for a slice of life in the Navy; the excitement, the traditions, the future.
The Reserves
Salesperson or diesel mechanic? Insurance rep or inspection diver? Or both. Learn how you can lead a challenging and rewarding double life with the Naval Reserves.
REGINA Travel Log
An extraordinary personal insight into the day-to-day operations of one of Canada's large frigates, while deployed on Operation APOLLO.
