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Local man deployed on HMCS Vancouver, participating in RIMPAC 2022

July 28, 2022   ·   2 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

An Orangeville native is currently aboard Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Vancouver, participating in Rim of the Pacific 2022 exercises, known as RIMPAC.

Petty Officer 1st Class (PO1) Jeff Breadner, 36, is among 250 crew members who departed in early June with HMCS Vancouver, a Halifax-class frigate of the Royal Canadian Navy.

The deployment of the ship will last for six months, and is participating in drills for Operation NEON and PROJECTION.

Operation NEON is Canada’s contributions to supporting the implementation of United Nations sanctions against North Korea and Operation PROJECTION entails Canada’s commitment to support peace and stability while keeping up foreign relations.

Since deploying from Esquimalt, one of the highlights on the HMCS Vancouver has been launching Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles last Tuesday for an anti-ship missile defense exercise.

“We don’t get to do those very often… so it’s pretty exciting to see them launch off the boat,” said Breadner.

Two of the missiles were launched as part of RIMPAC in the Pacific Missile Firing Range off the coast of Hawaii.

Firing with the HMCS Vancourver was an American ship and HMCS Winnipeg – another Canadian frigate.

Breadner has several duties on HMCS Vancouver.

“We work firsthand with the physician assistant on board to keep them safe and make sure everyone’s happy and healthy,” he said.

Breadner also manages a team of people who deliver first aid on board, having advanced first aid experience himself. He is a senior steward as well, managing a team of stewards that work in the wardroom. They’re mostly short order cooks, hospitality and bar management officers.

Another duty Breadner has is handling the finances associated with a mini-convenience store on the ship.

Overall, he works to make sure that there’s good moral and welfare of the crew on board and supporting them with snacks and hygiene products.

“Anything they need on board that you can’t get from a store because you’re on ship, they come to me and I take care of them that way,” Breadner explained.

He said what he enjoys most about serving in the Royal Canadian Navy is visiting different countries, meeting new people and dignitaries, and attending events.

“It’s mostly the people and the places. It’s always nice to visit new areas around the world., and just having new experiences,” Breadner noted.

Some of the more challenging aspects of serving, particularly with the current six-month deployment on the HMCS Vancouver, is being away from his wife and three kids. But that also fuels his motivation to serve.

“They are very understanding of my job, and know that I have to serve my country and do these hard deployments,” Breadner said. “Having that support back home makes me do my job better.”

Breadner, having been a sea cadet in his high school years, and interested in travelling as well as learning new skills, joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 2008 at the age of 22.

“Ever since then I liked the structure of the military and the ethics and values that they instill into all of us, so I decided to take it to the next level and join the Canadian Armed Forces.”

He said what he enjoys most about serving in the Royal Canadian Navy is visiting different countries, meeting new people and dignitaries, and attending events.

“It’s mostly the people and the places. It’s always nice to visit new areas around the world., and just having new experiences,” Breadner explained.

He told the Citizen he’d recommend young Canadians to join air cadets, sea cadets, or the Canadian Armed Forces and do something meaningful. 

“It’s never too late to make a change in your community, in yourself and your country. You can always join an active group like Canadian Armed Forces and really do something that matters,” he remarked.

Photo: Sgt Ghislain Cotton


Readers Comments (2)

  1. Sebastien says:

    Looking good my man. Keep it up!

     Reply
  2. Coral says:

    Yay babe so proud of you ! Me and the three kids miss you ! We are so proud of you and look forward to the day you get to come home , just in time for Christmas!!!! Keep safe and may the winds ever be in your favor.

     Reply




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