Canadian Forces “Penpal” Visits Students at C.C. McLean Public School

PHOTOS – Heather Jefkins

Students look at maps
with Warrant Officer David Wilkinson and discuss how soldiers use them on the
ground in Afghanistan.

Nick Secord tries on
the "kit" brought to C.C. McLean Public School by Warrant Officer
David Wilkinson.

Warrant Officer David
Wilkinson presents teacher Heather Jefkins with an Operation Athena print for
her contribution to C.C. McLean Public School’s Troop Support Programs for
members of the Canadian Forces.

ANA, ANP, FOB, IED, CCP,
BIP, RPG “birds”, “eyes on” and “dismounts”…Grade 6, 7 and 8 students in
Heather Jefkins’ classes at Charles C. McLean Public School learned a whole new
vocabulary on Monday, May 2nd when Warrant Officer (WO) David
Wilkinson of the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) visited the school to deliver a
presentation on his recent tour of Afghanistan.

Traveling from Petawawa, WO
Wilkinson made a special trip to Gore Bay to thank the students for the support
they provided to he and his men during their seven-month tour of duty in 2010,
when he was their “CF Penpal” over e-mail, and “snailmail”.

Arriving with an abundance
of photos and videos from his tour, he was able to show students a realistic
view of life on the ground for Canadian soldiers working in Afghanistan.  Students were able to see videos of the
demolition of IEDs, the deadly improvised explosive devices responsible for many
Canadian casualties.  They saw
soldiers working on dismounted patrols, as well as working to create a new
Combat Outpost (COP) for the VanDoos (the Royal 22nd Regiment from
Quebec) who took over for the members of RCR in the late fall of 2010.

WO Wilkinson talked frankly
about the dangers facing Canadian soldiers, and students expressed amazement
when he showed them pictures of a helicopter crash he survived in August 2010,
when he and more than 20 other soldiers were headed for leave. He reassured students
that all personnel on the chopper survived, but that all that was left to
recover of the helicopter itself were the rotor blades – nothing else survived
the crash and ensuing fire. 

His over two hour
presentation allowed students to learn more about the reality of life for CF
members, the technology available, and the support provided by NATO allies such
as the U.S. (who he said could land a “bird” or helicopter nearly anywhere to
assist in the removal of casualties). 

A career soldier, WO Wilkinson
started his career at 16 with the British Army, serving in Northern Ireland and
West Germany in the 1980s.  In
1990, he emigrated to Canada, and, after a stint in the Reserves, joined the
regular Canadian Forces (CF) in 1994. 

With the CF, he served tours
in Croatia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Turkey, as well as assisted with the famous Red
River Flood of 1997.  A member of
3RCR, his platoon was selected to travel to Afghanistan in the Spring of 2010,
following more than a year and a half of training for the mission, including
time in California for desert training. 
He explained to students that soldiers are trained in weapons, fitness,
and navigation, in order to build their skills to function in their “Battle Group”. 

WO Wilkinson began his
presentation to students of the Grade 7/8 class by thanking them for the
support they provided to he and his men, through their letters and packages
during the spring and summer of 2010. 
He reassured them that while sometimes they don’t always reply, Canadian
soldiers such as himself really enjoy getting cards and letters from Canada,
and that the students’ efforts helped improve morale when their cards, letters
and packages arrived at the FOB where the men and women were working.  He said that although the Afghan Mission
was winding down, they should still continue to send cards and notes, because
it was a positive experience for CF members serving around the world.

In addition to his visual
presentation, WO Wilkinson brought a number of items from his “kit”, including
his helmet, an ammunition belt (filled with metal bars to simulate the weight
of loaded magazines), his pack, and his fragmentation jacket.  Students had an opportunity to try
these items on, and many took up his offer, expressing amazement at the weight
of the equipment he would have to carry in the desert heat (which he explained
could reach over 54 C!).  In
addition, he showed them maps he had used during his tour, and explained the
use of the various items in his “kit”.   He also brought a number of “treats” for his penpals,
including magnets, pens, buttons, lanyards and other Canadian Army materials.

The Grade 6/7 and 7/8
classes presented gifts to WO Wilkinson, and his daughter, who also came for
the presentations.  Included in the
gifts were “Made on Manitoulin” jackets from My Ol’ Blues, chocolates from the
Manitoulin Chocolate Works, an embroidered C.C. McLean blanket and ornament
from River Mist Designs, and Manitoulin bags from Island Promotions. 

WO Wilkinson then made a
presentation to the school of a Canadian Flag, which had flown over his base in
Afghanistan.  This flag will be
kept by the school, and flown during Remembrance Week (Nov. 4 – 11th)
each year. 

In addition, he presented teacher
Heather Jefkins with an Afghan Flag for her classroom, and a signed framed
print of Canadian artist Silvia Pecota’s 1RCR BG’s Operation Athena
Commemorative painting.  He read
the inscription on the painting to the students, which stated it was “Presented
to Mrs. Heather Jefkins for her dedication in support to The Canadian Forces on
Operations. From 3 Platoon, Oscar Company, 1RCR BG, TF 1-10.” 

Since 2006, Heather Jefkins
has led various “Troop Support” initiatives in the school, including organizing
sending more than 100 packages, and many letters and cards to soldiers serving
in Afghanistan.  Students from JK
to Grade 8 have created numerous cards and letters, and according to WO
Wilkinson, they are all appreciated and provide a boost for the morale of CF
members serving far from their own homes and families.