Awards and Decorations
These are the awards and decorations I have received during my time in the Navy - with a little explanation as to what each is...
DECORATIONS
![SSM](images/ssm.jpg)
Special Service Medal - NATO BAR(SSM)
Awarded for 180 days accumulated service with the Standing Naval Force Atlantic (STANAVFORLANT) Some sailors have been known to jokingly call this the "Thanks for coming out medal" as it really requires nothing more than participating in enough NATO deployments (usually 2) to accumulate the time required to receive it.
![CD](images/cd.jpg)
Canadian Forces Decoration (CD)
Awarded for 12 years continuous service in the Canadian Forces. This is a medal you will see every "Lifer" in the navy with. As long as you don't end up in jail for something, you will be awarded this medal. After 22 years, you add a rosette on the ribbon... after 32 you get another rosette... these are the REAL lifers! If you check back here in ohhhh
6 years - I will update the picture when I get my rosette!
AWARDS
Commendation from the Commander, Antisubmarine Warfare Force U.S. Pacific Fleet:
For outstanding performance of duty while serving as Plans and Exercises Leading Chief Petty Officer and Departmental Canadian Forces Senior Enlisted Advisor, Naval Ocean Processing Facility Whidbey Island Washington, from April to October 1998.
His outstanding performance and dedication to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Canadian Forces and the United States Naval Service.
Like I said on my page about Whidbey Island... the send off they gave me was the most memorable that I have seen in my career and this citation from Admiral Holmes USN was only part of it!
Bravo Zulu from Rear Admiral B. Johnston, Commander Maritime Forces Pacific (May '95)
For outstanding dedication and effort in producing a Service Paper that when incorporated will assist in addressing the challenges of today's changing Navy.
This was given to me for writing a paper about the changes we needed to make in our trade to meet the challenges that we would face with the arrival of our new ships (Canadian Patrol Frigates - see HMCS Winnipeg)
Command Chief Petty Officer Award
Awarded to the graduate of the Junior Leadership Course who has displayed the following exceptional qualities as selected by his/her peers:
Leadership
Co-operation with peers
Enthusiasm
Ability to inspire team spirit
Personal integrity
I received this award in December of 1990. It is the only award that your Junior Leadership classmates vote on - and I was very honoured to be chosen as the recipient from such an outstanding group of people. I am probably more proud of this award than anything I have received ever since only because it came from my classmates.