Our Canadian Military Personnel never ceases to amaze me. A young female reservist as a Firefighter, signed on to the regular force. On a tour of the SAR Tech Hanger in Bagotville, she caught the bug. That is to say she saw an opportunity to try and qualify for the most difficult trade in the entire Canadian Military. Her success story follows after the photo credits:
Photo Credit:
SAR Techs Sgt Stuart Neill (left), from 444 CS Sqn, and Sgt Audrey Bourgoin, from 424 TR Squadron, discuss with Canadian High Commissioner to Jamaica Stephen Hallihan their flight over Kingston, Jamaica. Credit: Capt Steven Dieter.
2011/11/WEB2011-YD543-01.jpgWho would have thought a chance walk through an aircraft hangar would change someone’s career path? Well, that’s exactly what happened to Sergeant Audrey Bourgoin.
After four years in the Reserve Force, Sgt Bourgoin transferred to the Regular Force as a firefighter, in pursuit of her goal of becoming a search and rescue technician (SAR tech).
“I was doing firefighting training in Bagotville and we got a tour of the hangar; I walked into the SAR tech shop – I’d never heard of them before,” she says. “I saw the mannequin dressed as a jumper, then a climber and a diver. I was thinking, ‘Who are you guys? Wow! What do these guys do; this is awesome!’” Sgt Bourgoin says with excitement.
She was intrigued not only by the physical and mental challenge of the trade, but also by “the opportunity to provide assistance and care to those who find themselves in situations where no one other then the SAR community can help them,” she says. “There is nothing more rewarding then returning someone home to their loved ones.”
So, she got serious about the trade and set her sights on becoming a SAR tech. To be eligible to apply, you must have four years in the Regular Force. Sgt Bourgoin also had to learn English – she knew only a few words. Being physically fit was simple; as a firefighter, she’d already had to meet strict criteria, so fitness was a way of life for Sgt Bourgoin. She’d already been a climber, and she took up diving and skydiving to help prepare herself for the gruelling, mandatory SAR tech pre-selection evaluation.
During the evaluation, candidates must complete a 2,400-m run in 10:15 minutes or less; then 31 consecutive push-us, 33 consecutive sit-ups, eight consecutive chin-ups, and a 450-m shuttle run, all within 16 minutes or less; and finally, a 675-m swim in less than 20 minutes.
After a successful pre-selection and 11 months of training, Sgt Bourgoin achieved her goal of becoming a SAR tech. One of her "proudest moments was getting my SAR tech wings,” she says, “and, at the parade, when they handed me my orange beret.” Does she look good in orange? “Yes; I do,” she says with a laugh.
Sgt Bourgoin enjoyed the medical part of her training, though it required a lot studying – and in her second language. She felt driven to do well. “Though it was hard, it’s the most important thing you need to know to be a SAR tech.”
Sgt Bourgoin deployed on Task Force Jamaica (TFJ) under Operation Jaguar. The operation was the result of the Jamaican government’s request that Canada help with the Jamaican Defence Force (JDF). The CF were asked to provide aviation support and capabilities such as search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster relief and humanitarian aid, to bridge the gap while the JDF regains its operational status.
“We [had] a very good crew and we did a lot of hard training,” Sgt Bourgoin says. “And it was extremely warm; it was very different from training in Canada.”
Aside from her SAR training, Sgt Bourgoin was involved in several SAR missions on Op Jaguar and has found JDF personnel good to work with. “The Jamaicans were very friendly, always smiling,” she says. “We have a very good relationship with them.”
Though she doesn’t consider herself as a role model, Sgt Bourgoin has several nieces and a god-daughter she hopes to inspire with what she has accomplished; she hopes they follow their dreams and set goals, knowing anything is possible.
Well done Sgt it is people like yourself that make me extremly proud to be both a Canadian and a Veteran.
Meanwhile Iran attempts to make the world quake in fear, attacking the British Embassy and saying that it is a haven for Spies and that Canada is also training spies against Iran. This sad form of a tyrannical government is drawing many countries into the possibility of an all out war with Iran. The tensions are rising faster than the temperature in Tel Aviv.
Please remember our Troops and their families especially at this time of the year with Christmas and New Years coming up. It may seem a wee bit early but I have attached a PDF poem for soldiers at Christmas enjoy.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
