The title is slightly misleading. I spent last Friday with a group of high school students who were on a week-long Navy-experience with HMCS Malahat, Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division. Being around them for a few hours reminded me of the carefree attitude that comes with being that age – only five years removed from then it’s not like I was going way back.
But all these kids had endless possibilities before them, the Navy one of many viable options. The 14 students from high schools across the city all volunteered some of their spring break to see if a career in the Forces might be something they’d be interested in upon graduation.
They spent Monday through Friday experiencing some pretty cool things. Learning water survival, rappelling down towers, touring submarines and frigates, and just being around sea-faring people.
I spent the last of their afternoons with them onboard an Orca-class vessel, a smaller offshore craft used for training crews and day patrols. The students had a blast. They got to take turns steering the ship, taking lookout posts on the bridge, and just relax on the open water.
I think the week showed the diversity of what the Forces and the Navy in particular can offer someone career-wise. The one exception – the group seemed fairly uncomfortable when asked if any of them wanted to be submariners. I think being in a floating tube underwater may have pushed them outside their bubbles.
Whether or not any of the students enlist in the Regular Force or Reserves, the unique experience HMCS Malahat’s personnel provided them will surely make it an educated decision.
lookoutlife 
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