Opportunities at Sea

I was posted to, after my course in, did my basic training in St. Jean, Quebec, and I went to Borden, Ontario to take my administrative course and I got transferred to Halifax. Now when I was in Halifax, I worked on the base and after the base I got transferred on board a ship. HMCS Skeena was my first ship, I went. And on that ship I had the opportunity to go do a trip with the NATO, the NATO forces. It was a good experience to work with the other countries and visited a lot of places. That was great, that's what I wanted to start with so, early at a young age, I already was travelling so was happy about that one. I loved the sea, it was different and working with a bunch of guys was like a big family. It was, the guys were great and we all got along and it was fine. I mean, I never had any problem aboard a ship.

Mr. Desmeules speaks about his opportunities in joining the navy and his enjoyment aboard ship.

Mike Desmeules

Mr. Desmeules was born in 1950 in Jean Pierre, Quebec. With little work in his hometown community, Mr. Desmeules decided to join the armed forces, considering it as an opportunity to travel. At 18 years of age Mr. Desmeules initially joined the Navy taking up the service occupation of administrative clerk. With this occupation being very generic to all branches of service, Mr. Desmeules later joined with the army and in 1975 accepted an opportunity to travel to Egypt with the Signal Regiment. In 1995, Mr. Desmeules accepted a posting to Rwanda, again in the administrative field of occupation. Upon return to Canada, Mr. Desmeules made the switch back to navy service and retired when 30 years of service was achieved. Mr. Desmeules and his family took up residence in Prince Edward Island, Canada.