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The Times Advocate, 2006-07-26, Page 16Crossroads 16 Wednesday, July 26, 2006 Exeter Times Advocate life takes Van Bergen around the world By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Three years of navy life have taken an Exeter area resident from as far north as the arctic circle, south to Bermuda and across Canada. Twenty-eight year Ben Van Bergen Varna, who grew up in Exeter, said joining the military was something he always wanted to do and in 2003 joined the navy "It was something that was always in of my mind," Bergen. "It was something that I had always planned on doing but never got around to." A weapons technician by trade, Van Bergen said it offered the most variety. Attending boot camp in St. Jean, Quebec, Van Bergen said he enjoyed the 10 weeks of training, finding it challenging and fun to "play army." After his initial train- ing, Van Bergen was posted to the East coast and joined the Canadian Patrol Frigate (CPF) class frigate HMCS Montreal in January 2004. Van Bergen, who holds the rank of Able Seaman, said the events of Sept. 11 also had an affect on his decision to join the military. "It sped up my desire to get in." According to Van Bergen, he had no marine experience before join- ing the navy and can't swim, saying "I'm terrified of the water." Despite his lack of ability in the water, Van Bergen is a scuba diver and is planning on becoming a ships diver. "I still can't swim, I can swim under the water, I just can't swim above it." Van Bergen's first trip after joining HMCS Montreal was south for exercises with the American aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy. Life on board his ship took some getting used to old of "Once yo in open w there we bergs and ice...we w bumping.' -BEN VAN CANADI for Van Bergen, but he says despite the cramped quarters, "I'm sleeping great on board ship. When you do get time to lay down, your rack can be very comfortable." While the Montreal is a co-ed ship, Van Bergen said there aren't many women in the weapons technician trade yet, so having women on board does- n't come into play that much for him although the ship he is join- ing, HMCS Algonquin, is also a mixed ship with a female master weapons techni- u got ate r, re ice pack ere BERGEN AN NAVY the back said Van seaman cian. Although the Algonquin is a larger ship with a bigger crew, Van Bergen says it is a step back from the Montreal, which was designed and built in the 1990s, compared to the Algonquin, which was built in the early '70s. After visiting Florida, the Montreal was off the Carolinas for a month engaged in war games with the British, Americans and Germans. The ship then headed to the arctic for a seven week sovereignty patrol off Narwhal. "We were the first Canadian warship to go into the Arctic Circle since the Second World War." While there, Van Bergen said the ship par- ticipated in combined exercises with air and infantry units also deployed to the area. The weather wasn't too bad, said Van Bergen. "The long days were just ending, so the sun was going down about 11 p.m. and coming up about 2 a.m." There was a bit of ice, according to Van Bergen, who said the ship was in Frobisher Bay and the fjords of Iqaluit. "Once you got in open water, there were ice bergs and pack ice...we were bumping. "My first time ever on the helm was running ice in the middle of the night and we bumped a couple of small ones...you could "You have to have a spouse who can be self supportive because there are going to be times when you're gone for maybe six months at a stretch:' -VAN BERGEN feel it, it's just like a thump. "I love it, sailing is an experience you don't get anywhere else...being at sea and seeing the sun rise over the ocean. It's a unique experience." As a weapons tech, Van Bergen is responsible for weapons of all sizes and types, including torpe- does, surface to air mis- siles and deck guns, which on the Montreal is 57 millimetres with a larger 76 millimetre on the Algonquin. While he hasn't done any missile shoots yet, Van Bergen said he has seen plenty of gun shoots as well as humpback whales off the coast of Newfoundland. He has also seen rough weather. "They say there is nowhere as unpre- dictable as the North Atlantic and from my sailing we've had some pretty rough storms." V a n Bergen said the Montreal was off Bermuda last year during hur- ricane season, "two a week, and there wasn't much of the ship left standing by the time we got in. It was a beam sea all the way down and 30- 40 foot waves the entire time. When it's coming on your side, you can't get used to it...a lot of Gravol given out." Van Bergen has just finished a two-year long weapon trades course, which is the longest trade course in the navy. He is heading west to join the Algonquin July 28. After sailing on both types of ships, Van Bergen said the CPFs sail smoother than the 280 class. "The 280 has a for- ward, back, left, right motion and the CPFs are a lot lower in the water. The fuel tanks are a lot lower so you don't get that sloshing motion." According to Van Bergen, the 280s, which are a generation older than the CPFs, "have been updated and are fully capable ships, but the hulls are starting to get up there in age." Van Bergen said he is looking forward to his west coast posting with the chance for deploy- ments around the Pacific Ocean. "Where ever I can go, I like travelling, it's one of the things that drew me to the navy." Van Bergen said he thinks about continuing unrest around the world. "There is always tur- moil, and you have to keep that in mind when you join, regardless. Nothing might be flared up at the moment, but it is the military. My atti- tude or opinion towards the job doesn't change, regardless of being deployed...if you don't train like its real, you're not going to be ready when it is." A regular routine on board, said Van Bergen, starts with an hour of cleaning the ship. "A clean ship is a happy ship." The rest of the day is spent on departmental work. "There is always turmoil, and you have to keep that in mind when you join, regardless." -VAN BERGEN For him it means main- taining the weapons sys- tems, part of which involves daily and weekly checks to be done on the guns and the mis- siles. With newer systems, some of the work can be done with software, but Van Bergen said systems such as the 76 millimetre are nothing but hydraulics and electron- ics. "You're still a grease monkey when it comes to that." Although Van Bergen said he is looking for- ward to getting back to sea he adds being mar- ried and with a baby due in September, it takes a supportive spouse to withstand the demands of navy life. "It's something we dis- cussed a lot before we got married. You have to have a spouse who can be self supportive because there are going to be times when you're gone for maybe six months at a stretch. It doesn't make it any easi- er when you are gone, but she understands it's part of the job." L !33:15:11' Able Seaman Ben Van Bergen has been a member of the Canadian navy for three years and is heading for a new posting on the west coast. (photo/submitted) Ladies Day OutThurs.Aug. 10 By Joan Beierling VARNA CORRESPONDENT VARNA - Pastor Elly Van Bergen welcomed Anna and Bruce Keys fami- ly to church on Sunday. The family were celebrating the 60th Wedding Anniversary of Bruce and Anna on Sunday. Elly read a thank you from the Choir thanking her for the special tribute Sunday and Elly in reply said how appreciative she was of the Choir in Varna -Goshen and she thanked them. Next Sunday July 30th everyone is welcome to gather at the Complex for the Annual Picnic Service with a pot luck lunch to follow. There will be local musical talent and also music by Ralph Topp. It is still not too late to register for Vacation Bible School in Brucefield from August 8 -11. Ladies of the U.C.W. and community please take note of the Ladies Day Out on Thurs., Aug. 10. Meet at the Varna Church at 10 am for car pooling. The day will include lunch out and afternoon tea and dessert which will cost approximately $15. Mark your calendars for Sat., Oct. 21. Five Alive presents Father Mark Curtis, Canada's Singing Priest in Concert at the Brucefield Church. Wedding congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Darren and Shelley Stevenson. They were married on Saturday at the home of Kim and Kevin Armstrong with Pastor Elly performing the cere- mony. Congratulations to proud grandpar- ents Dale and Karen Ratcliffe on the birth of their grandson.