A Message From Rear-Admiral Tyrone Pile

Holiday Greetings from Maritime Forces Pacific

Month to month, the soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen of this formation continue to impress me with their dedication and professionalism. They have been very busy these past few months, working hard to meet the challenges placed before them. We owe them and their families a debt of gratitude.

HMC ships REGINA and OTTAWA sailed for Westploy 2008 early this April, a significant step in enhancing our defence relations with countries that border the Pacific Ocean. Our ships participated directly in a tri-lateral exercise involving ships of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force and the U.S. Navy. This was a first for Canadian ships and bodes well for our mutual defence relationship. The deployment coincided with the 35th anniversary of Canada-Vietnam diplomatic relations. The well-trained professionals aboard our ships also represented us in China, the Philippines, Republic of Korea and Singapore. My conviction that our servicemen and women are this nation's best ambassadors was reaffirmed.

Westploy culminated with the ships' participation in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise off Hawaii. Canadian participation included CF-18 Hornet fighters, CP-140 Aurora aircraft and CH-124 Sea King Helicopters. For the first time the Canadian army contributed a company that came from 1st Battalion PPCLI and support elements from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. They embarked in the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard to participate in the non-combatant evacuation humanitarian exercise.

This year's RIMPAC was one of the largest ever and included 33 ships from other nations, six submarines, over 150 aircraft and 20,000 personnel.

Commodore Nigel Greenwood, Commander Canadian Fleet Pacific, served as the Sea Combat Commander from aboard the USS Kittyhawk. RIMPAC is continually growing in stature. This year's exercise saw participation from Netherlands, Peru, and Singapore as well as the usual contributions from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the U.S. Worldwide interest in this exercise is a testament to the growing importance of the Asia Pacific region with its rising economies and military significance.

Challenges and opportunities resulting from this region's remarkable rise were discussed in September when MARPAC hosted a third biennial Maritime Security Challenges Conference. More than 200 experts from 16 counties attended the world-class gathering. Delegates addressed the most pressing challenges to maritime security, including domain awareness, shipbuilding, personnel, maritime interdiction and sovereignty in the Arctic. Planning has already begun for the 2010 conference.

HMC ships CALGARY and PROTECTEUR also set sail in April. They joined HMCS IROQUOIS in the first deployment of a Contingency Task Group employing ships from both coasts. The ships initially conducted a counter-narcotics sweep through the Caribbean basin as part of a Joint Inter-Agency Task Force South. They then continued across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, where, in preparation for their deployment to the Middle East, they participated in several significant exercises with NATO and other European navies. On June 3, Commodore Bob Davidson, embarked in IROQUOIS, took command of Combine Task Force 150, an element of Operation Enduring Freedom. The task force included more than 30 ships from seven countries that were collectively entrusted with maritime security operations. Task force personnel engaged with military and government officials in a variety of events and port visits including Split, Croatia; Manama, Bahrain; Chennai, India; Phuket, Thailand; Kelan, Malaysia; Athens, Greece; Aquaba, Jordan; and Karachi, Pakistan.

The Canadian ships maintained a very high operational tempo, spending 85% of their time in-theatre at sea. CALGARY, IROQUOIS and PROTECTEUR carried out anti-piracy patrols off the shores of Somalia. You may also have heard that VILLE DE QUEBEC, and the embarked 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron Detachment from Victoria, escorted UN Food Aid, bringing some security and stability to local maritime traffic and critically needed food to Somalis ashore. The Task Force disrupted 11 acts of piracy including two where IROQUOIS and CALGARY assisted. HMCS PROTECTEUR transferred more than 150,000 barrels of fuel to allied ships, delivered 300 pallets of stores in more than 60 replenishments at sea operations and was the centre of medical care for the task force. The sailors returned home on Oct. 24 and were greeted by the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk, and the Chief of the Maritime Staff, Vice-Admiral Drew Robertson.

Immediately following the return of the task force, HMC Ships WINNIPEG, REGINA, YELLOWKNIFE AND WHITEHORSE sailed south to rendezvous with the USS John C. Stennis Carrier Strike Group for Task Group Exercise, a large warfare exercise off Southern California. Significantly, WINNIPEG carried out a successful weapon test of the newly installed Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile. The improved weapon system will eventually be fitted in all Halifax Class ships.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the several dozen individuals who are currently deployed in Afghanistan. Many of them will be separated from loved ones over the upcoming holidays. I hope that they take some comfort in knowing that we are very proud of them.

The remainder of the formation will be home for Christmas and together we will enjoy the holiday season. In particular, the Naden Band of Maritime Forces Pacific annual Christmas Concerts will be held in Massey Theatre, New Westminster, Dec. 5 and the Royal Theatre, Victoria Dec. 15, 16, 17.
Additionally, ships in harbour will be decorated for Christmas Dec. 11 to 24. Bus tours will leave the Dockyard parking lot beginning at 6 p.m. until
9 p.m.

On behalf of Debra and I, from our home to yours, may your holidays be filled with the best the season has to offer.

Yours Aye,

Rear-Admiral T.H.W. Pile
   Commander
   Joint Task Force Pacific
   Joint Task Force Games
   Maritime Forces Pacific