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Mission Accomplished
By Joanne Nesseth
 Michelle Cormier, CFPSA Fitness, Sports and Recreation Coordinator, runs an aquafit class in Camp Possum Lodge, Haïti (June 2004) |
Op HALO is a brilliant model of what five CFPSA staff can accomplish given a few months, and a little determination. Last March the small crew set out for Haiti to take part in the CF Task Force Haiti (TFH), Op HALO humanitarian relief and stabilization mission.
Their efforts produced a camp built from scratch in a field of grass and mud near the airport. It was big enough to support 550 troops, and strong enough to withstand the force of flooding and heavy winds. The team worked for two months straight, fueled by a diet of ration packs. Fresh food appeared on the 60th day.
"All have a feeling of accomplishment, to have experienced a Roto 0, and tear down of the mission all on one tour.” says CFPSA manager Robert Payette.
The original mission was set for 90 days. The Op HALO crew provided basic canteen services for three separate camps, an R&R program and fitness equipment, along with other CFPSA amenities. Other services were added after an extension was announced. These included recreational pools, a barber, HLTA support and a Fitness/Sports Recreation Coordinator.
"Although CFPSA involvement in OP HALO was minimum compared to Op PALLADIUM and Op ATHENA, CFPSA quickly trained and provided personnel to administer the R&R, retail, fitness and barber programs," says Marie DeMarbre, deployed operations manager. "The mission was identified from the beginning to be one of short duration. However, despite the short duration, CFPSA was able to offer many programs."
The most exciting service provided by CFPSA, according to Payette, was the Sunday Boston Market days. As the team was not authorized to leave camp due to the risky situation, they arranged for local vendors and artists to sell their arts and crafts on site.
"The market was a complete success," notes Payette. "One of the vendors commented that over the course of the seven Boston Market Days that we organized, she had earned more money than she had been able to earn in her entire life."
Despite austere conditions, the crew maintained high standards, on par with any CF mission.
