Recap of the pre-deployment briefing for the crew and families of HMCS Yellowknife and HMCS Whitehorse.

1. HMCS YELLOWKNIFE & WHITEHORSE
Pre-Deployment Family Resource Centre Brief
LCdr Donald Thompson-Greiff
7 February 2019

2. • Operation CARIBBE takes place in the Caribbean Sea and the
eastern Pacific Ocean. Under this operation, the Government
of Canada sends ships and aircraft to support USCG
Operation MARTILLO. This United States-led effort involves
fourteen countries with the goal of reducing the flow of illicit
drugs in to North America.
• Operation CARIBBE began in November 2006. In October
2010, it expanded with a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) between the U.S. and Canada. The MOU allows U.S.
Coast Guard teams to operate from Canadian warships.
OPERATION CARIBBE

3. • The Government of Canada commits Royal Canadian
Navy warships and crews to this mission. They work
with the United States Coast Guard and United States
Navy. The Royal Canadian Air Force contributes to
surveillance efforts by deploying the CP-140 Aurora long-
range patrol aircraft.
• The warships find and track vessels of interest. The USCG
law enforcement teams approach and intercept in order
to board and inspect the ships and cargo.
What are we doing?

4. Sandra Pinard
Deployment Coordinator

5. Your Community,
Your Resource Centre
“offering programs and services unique to the
military lifestyle. ”

6. We support those who are
important to you
The MFRC proudly honours
the diversity of “families”

7. Key to Successful Deployments
Research shows that families that are well
prepared, know where to turn in case of
emergencies and have strong support systems
deal most successfully with deployments.

8. A few tips from our families:
• Put contact and emergency information on your
fridge
• Include the MFRC number (fridge magnet)
• For the partner at home, consider unlocking the
cell phone and putting emergency contact
information on the phone
• If you live alone leave your key with someone you
trust, give your landlord the MFRC number…we
will find you!
• Update Emergency Contacts with schools
• What about your pets?

9. Deploying Soon?

10. The MFRC’s Top 3 Tips
1. Plan well - Ensure your family knows how to
contact us
2. Learn about the available resources
3. Get connected

11. Plan and Prepare
• General checklists as well as
specific ones for Single
Members and Parents of
Military Members
• Pick up a MFRC Magnet
• Download the “Everything
Binder”
• Make sure eligible family
members have their MFID
• Fill out your Family information
form

12. Know what resources are available
• MCDV Family Network
• MFRC Sea Deployment
Handbook
• MFRC Resource and
Information tables
• MFRC website:
www.esquimaltmfrc.com

13. Prepare your Family Care Plan

14. Get Connected
• Join the MCDV Family Network
– Network volunteers: Vacant (Sophia)
mcdv.family@shaw.ca
• Join the MCDV Facebook Page
• Monthly Away Café sessions
• Monthly Deployment Bingo
“Helping another is always the best way to help yourself”

15. Types of Workshop offered
• Preparing for Deployment Workshops :
– Children’s Deployment Workshop
• Age 3-5: Tuesday mornings
• Age 5-8: Tuesday afternoons
• Age 9-12: Monday afternoons
• Kindergarten – age 12: Wednesday evenings
– R2MR Part 1 (all adults) 20 Feb 6:30-8:30pm
– R2MR Part 2 (those with children) 27 Feb 6:30-8:30pm
– Build your own Binder 25 Feb 6:30-8:30pm
Join the MCDV Family Network to receive emails and updates on
activities and information from the ship.

16. • Saturday Away Café 9 Feb, 23 Mar
• Wednesday Away Café 13 Feb, 13 Mar
• Thursday Away Café 21 Feb, 21 Mar
• Monthly Deployment Bingo 27 Feb, 27 Mar
• Deployment Bingo 27 Feb, 27 Mar
Check the MCDVs page on the MFRC website for updates
Upcoming MFRC Events

17. • L’il Sweetheart Dance 2 Mar
• Mother’s Day Tea 8 May
• Op Caribbe Banner Making 13 May
• Return and Reunion for Adults 13 May
• Return and Reunion with Children 13 May
• Father’s Day BBQ 15 Jun
Pick up an Op Caribbe Activity Calendar
Upcoming MFRC Events

18. Children’s Workbooks / Workshops
Complete the “Pre-Deployment activities with
your children.
Two options for offering your child support
throughout the Deployment
- Onsite Children’s Workshops
- At Home Children’s Workbooks with virtual
support for the “at home” parent via the web.

19. Parenting From Afar
Pick up a copy or
download the PDF
Go to our website and
check out the E-tool
Raising your Military Child

20. • Help you get an
emergency plan in place
• Help assist in finding
Emergency Child Care
Emergencies

21. Top Four Service requests by loved
ones of Deployed Members
1. Free Mail drop off
2. Staying in Touch Service
3. Networking Opportunities
4. Respite Childcare (including Saturday
mornings) Don’t forget to get your
loved ones their
Military Family ID Card
before you deploy

22. Single Members
You are part of a family too!
Services Provided
• SIT service for loved ones – wherever they may
be
• Postal services and VTCs
• Information services such as; pet care, car
storage, etc.
• Family lives out of town? Fill out an envelope
with your loved ones address and we will send
them a deployment package.
Be sure to give our contact information to your loved ones.

23. Contact
Esquimalt MFRC
(250) 363-2640
Or toll-free anywhere in Canada
1-800-353-3329
emfrc@shaw.ca
www.esquimaltmfrc.com
Afterhours Family information
Line : 1-800-866-4546
The Esquimalt MFRC is on Facebook and Twitter!!

24. Contacting a Deployed Member
Esquimalt MFRC
(250) 363-2640
Or toll-free anywhere in Canada
1-800-353-3329
After hours Duty Padre Line –
call the MFRC and Press “2”
The Esquimalt MFRC is on Facebook and Twitter!!

25. 25
DEPLOYMENT
POSTAL BRIEFING
February 7 2019
Cpl Jean

26. 26
TWO WAYS TO SEND YOUR MAIL:
Canadian Forces (CF) morale mail service
Canada Post

27. 27
CF MORALE MAIL SERVICE
Free Service
Drop off at the local MFRC or Fleet / Naden
Mail Offices
No special services available with
CF Morale Mail (i.e. parcel tracking or
express post)

28. 28
WEIGHT AND SIZE FOR PARCELS
The maximum weight for parcels is 20kgs
Oversize and overweight parcels will not
be accepted.

29. 29
Example
40 CM
Max weight:
20Kgs
100 CM40 CM
MAXIMUM SIZE FOR MORALE MAIL
PARCEL

30. 30
Aye Missew
123 My St
Victoria BC V9A 7N2
Tel-765-4567
Smith A. Pte 123 (Mess #)
HMCS WHITEHORSE/YELLOWKNIFE
PO BOX 17000 STN FORCES
VICTORIA BC V9A 7N2
CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS FOR
HMCS WHITEHORSE/YELLOWKNIFE
PERSONNEL
Contents:
Chips
Newspapers
Books
Sender’s address
AddresseeDescription of contents

31. 31
MAIL SENT VIA CANADA POST
Process at any Canada Post outlet
Postage is required on all parcels
Special services including insurance, Registered Mail,
Xpresspost, Priority, etc are only in effect until it
reaches FMO
Proof of delivery to a Military Post Office
Currently free letter mail

32. 32
John Doe
123 My St
Victoria BC V9A 7N2
Bloggins B. PO1 123 (Mess #)
HMCS WHITEHORSE/YELLOWKNIFE
PO Box 17000 STN FORCES
VICTORIA BC V9A 7N2
MAIL GOING THROUGH CANADA POST
Return address
Addressee
Canada Post Custom Declaration is MANDATORY!

33. 33
CANADA POST CUSTOMS DECLARATION
Sender:
Same as
on parcel
Destination:
Same as
on parcel
Description of contents
$20.00
*NCV
Sign here
x
*NCV = No Commercial Value

34. 34
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
ON THE CUSTOMS FORM
REMEMBER TO FILL OUT
THE LIST OF CONTENTS
AND DO NOT FORGET TO
SIGN AT THE BOTTOM

35. • Alcoholic beverages and tobacco
products
• Corrosive liquids/solids, flammable
liquids/solids
• Pornographic material
• Knives
• Drugs and narcotics (including
prescription drugs)
• Compressed Gases (aerosols)
• Perishable items
35

36. Supplementary
restrictions according to
host country
36
PLEASE NOTE:
Note: Batteries are
permitted only if they
are in their original
sealed package

37. ALL PARCELS WILL BE
SCREENED

38. CF MORALE MAIL DROP OFF POINTS
Signal Hill MFRC
CPAC MFRC
Fleet Mail Office
Naden Mail Room
A list of out of area locations is available at all drop off locations
Note: Wrapping paper and tape are available at all drop off
locations.

39. 39
CONTACT INFORMATION:
FMO (250) 363-2176
MFRC (250)363-2640

40. OP CARIBBE (MCDVs) Caribbean
Basin and Eastern Pacific

41. Monthly (non-taxable) Allowances
Operations Foreign Service Premium (Ops FSP) –
allowance payable to a member in recognition of service on
operations;
Hardship Allowance (HA) – an allowance to compensate
for the living conditions existing at a specific post;
Risk Allowance (RA) – an allowance to compensate for the
risks associated with a specific post;
Hardship Allowance bonus (HAB) – to compensate a
member for repeated deployments

42. OPS FSP – MFSI 10.3.04
Level Points Rate
1A 0-6 $839
1B 7-12 $913
1C 13-18 $989
1D 19-24 $1064
2A 25-30 $1138
2B 31-36 $1183
2C 37-42 $1227
2D 43-48 $1686
2E 49-54 $1318
2F 55-60 $1363
3A 61-66 $1407
3B 67-72 $1427
3C 73-78 $1447
3D 79-84 $1466

43. Risk Allowance – MFSI 10.3.07
Level Rate
I $188
II $375
III $563
IV $750

44. Hardship Allowance – MFSI 10.3.05
Level Rate
I $188
II $375
III $563
IV $750
V $938
VI $1125

45. Hardship Bonus – MFSI 10.3.06
Credit
Points
Percentage
0-6 0
7-12 20
13-18 30
19-24 40
25-30 50
31-36 60
37-42 70

46. Sea Duty Allowance (SDA)
Refs: A. DCBA 4-1735 24115Z OCT 17
B. DCBA 4-1840 291330Z OCT 18
SDA cannot be paid in conjunction with HA. SDA
and HA are evaluated for the same living
conditions experienced while at sea.

47. Tax Relief
Ref: NAVGEN 019/18
CAF Personnel deployed on named operations are
now eligible for Tax Relief measures while
deployed outside of Canada. The exemption will
be applied to employment income up to the
maximum LCol GSO rate.

48. Class C Reservists
• Operational Allowances can’t be paid in RPSR
(Revised Pay System for Reserves).
• Deployed Reservists will be paid through CCPS
(Central Computation Pay System).

49. OSM-EXP Medal
• Once the ship has been in theatre for 30 days the Cox’n
will send a message with the ship’s nominal roll to CFP
HQ FOR;
• OSM-EXP medals will be ordered for those who do not
already have it;
• OSM-EXP bars will be ordered for those with 210+ days;
• Order submitted on DH&R’s SharePoint site and medals
should arrive before ship returns to home port

50. References
MFSI Military Foreign Services Instruction
DCBA Results of the Departmental HA – RA
Committee
Tax Relief as of 01 Jan 17 as per
News Release on 18 May 17