The Citizen, 2015-11-05, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2015.
Blyth native retires after 34-year military career
Earlier this year, Chief Petty
Officer Second Class Mark A.
Bearss CD2 retired from active duty
after 34 years of service.
The Blyth native, who now makes
his home on the east coast, put pen
to paper and recounted some of his
experiences, dating back to when he
first enlisted in the Armed Forces in
1981.
• June 9, 1981 – Enrolled at
Canadian Forces Recruiting
Centre – London, Ontario: I joined
the Canadian Armed Forces (Unified
Services) and left for basic training
while Grade 12 final exams were
being written. I was exempt.
I travelled by car from Blyth to
London, to Ottawa from London by
train, by military flight to
Greenwood, Nova Scotia from
Ottawa and again on a bus where I
was removed from any civilian
thinking for 11 weeks.
• June 12, 1981 – Canadian
Forces Recruit School Cornwallis –
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia: After
joining the military so I wouldn’t
have to be in any classes, I was
immediately put into a classroom.
After 11 weeks, I was no longer
Sally (we weren’t as politically
correct in those days), but an
untrained Private, soon to be re-
educated as an Ordinary Seaman.
• August 28, 1981 – Canadian
Forces Fleet School – Halifax, Nova
Scotia: With basic training
successfully completed (a term I
would learn to love for the next 34
years) I began my Naval training
with four weeks of Sea Environment
training. Knots, how to flip over an
upside-down life-raft, seamanship,
etc – always a sailor first, then a
tradesman.
Following the course, I started the
seven-week Weaponman Surface
course where I fired the 3”/50-
calibre gun for the first time. I was
now a qualified tradesman.
After finishing school in June, I
started military training and was in
classrooms until November with a
break.
• November 16, 1981 –Her
Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS)
Athabaskan – Halifax, Nova Scotia:
The HMCS Athabaskan was my first
ship, which will never be forgotten. I
met my best friend there and though
we are separated by a couple
provinces, we still remain close.
I practised and continued to learn
my trade for two years under the
guidance of experienced sailors. I
embraced the life of a sailor and I
learned all about secondary duties as
a member of the Naval Landing and
Boarding Party.
• November 10, 1983 – Canadian
Forces Fleet School – Halifax, Nova
Scotia: After completing on-the-job
training to become a Naval Weapons
NW Technician, I went back to
school for two 13-week semesters of
academics, which consisted of seven
hours of classroom instruction
followed by several hours of
homework each night.
Twenty-one students began the
course and only eight graduated.
Finally, the equipment phase had
been successfully completed.
• November 12, 1984 – HMCS
Athabaskan – Halifax, Nova Scotia:
I returned to my first ship as a
journeyman qualified Able Seaman.
During this posting I was a member
of the Naval Landing and Boarding
Party and we took over the Spanish
Fishing Trawlers during the Turbot
War of the 1980s.
I was recalled from my
honeymoon and sent to sea for an
unknown duration on an unknown
mission. It wasn’t the Cold War this
time, but Tamil refugees trying to
sneak into the country.
• January 8, 1988 – Canadian
Forces Fleet School – Halifax, Nova
Scotia: I went back to school as a
student for three 13-week semesters
of academics and equipment
training – a course that 26 people
started and 12 finished.
I was the course’s top student and
was able to be home for the birth of
our son. In those days, being home
for the birth of a child was
considered a luxury.
• May 12, 1989 – HMCS
Nipigon – Halifax, Nova Scotia:
This was my second class of ship
with a completely different
equipment group to learn.
It was back to sea for me as a
Master Seaman on the first fully
mixed-gender frigate in the Royal
Canadian Navy. While here, I went
on course and became a Ships Team
Diver Supervisor, learning to work
underwater.
• May 31, 1991 – Canadian Forces
Fleet School – Halifax, Nova Scotia:
Back to school I went, but as both
staff and student this time.
I served as an instructor for three
years. Part of this time was teaching
both senior and junior personnel at
the PARAMAX facility in Montreal
for two years.
• July 4, 1994 – HMCS Toronto –
Halifax, Nova Scotia: As a Petty
Officer Second Class, I sailed for a
week after joining the ship for
Operation Sharpguard off Bosnia.
My wife and son learned that the
Navy will take me away for
Christmas.
• July 28, 1997 – Canadian Forces
Naval Engineering School –
Halifax, Nova Scotia: I returned to
school again as a NW Tech CPF
Instructor.
• July 15, 1998 – Canadian Forces
Base Halifax – Halifax, Nova Scotia:
The military attempted, and
succeeded in teaching me French.
• May 30, 1999 – HMCS
Montreal – Halifax, Nova Scotia: I
spent a one-month posting at sea
along with a promotion and a new
ship.
• July 5, 1999 – HMCS
Charlottetown – Halifax, Nova
Scotia: As a Petty Officer First Class
and Senior Naval Weapons
Technician, I was deployed to the
Persian Gulf to work with the U.S.
Battle Group for six months. I
returned home and was re-certified
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Calling it a career
Blyth native Mark Bearss, right, officially hung up his uniform earlier this year, retiring from the
Canadian Forces after nearly 35 years of service. He and members of his family were
honoured at a special Depart with Dignity presentation, which included presentations to
Bearss’ wife Keatha and their son Andrew. Here, Commander Matthew Coates, CO Sea
Training Atlantic, Bearss’ commanding officer, presented Bearss with his Certificate of Service,
which was signed by the Canadian Armed Forces Chief of Defence Staff General Tom
Lawson. (Photo submitted)
True sacrifice
As part of Mark Bearss’ Depart with Dignity ceremony,
members of his family were honoured for their sacrifice over
Mark’s decades of service. Here, Keatha, right, Mark’s wife,
was presented with a Wife’s Certificate of Appreciation,
signed by Vice Admiral of the Royal Canadian Navy Mark
Norman. It reads “In recognition of your devotion, unfailing
support and understanding which made possible your
spouse’s contribution to the Royal Canadian Navy and the
Canadian Forces.” Keatha was presented her certificate by
Chief Petty Officer Second Class Mike Culligan. (Photo
submitted)
Continued on page 17