Sam Patchell is far from home. But that’s his job.
Born at Lions Gate Hospital, he grew up in West Vancouver and attended Sentinel secondary, graduating with the class of 1995.
By the time he was 12 years old, Patchell was already thinking about the navy, but not as a career.
In a recent email interview, Patchell recalls: “I had fond memories of my grandfather taking me down to the ships when they came into Vancouver, and he talked about his time serving in the army in the (Second World War).”
Years later, when he was completing a bachelor’s degree in science at the University of Victoria and working in an office at a co-op position Patchell decided a desk job wasn’t for him.
He wanted to do something different.
“I went to the recruiting centre, went through the process and joined on the sixth of September 2001. Five days later the world changed on 9/11 and I haven’t looked back,” says Patchell.
Now a Lieutenant-commander, Patchell has been serving with the Royal Canadian Navy for 15 years.
He is currently aboard HMCS Charlottetown, which was deployed in the Black Sea at the time of this interview. Despite the distance, Patchell agreed to an email chat from across the miles to connect with his hometown.
North Shore News: What appealed to you about a career in the military?
LCdr/CapC Sam Patchell: I’ve always felt a desire to serve. I know I’m fortunate to have grown up in a safe and secure country in West Vancouver. Joining the navy has been my way of giving back to the country that I am so proud to be from. The most appealing aspect of my career is that I have been learning ever since I joined.
When you start, you learn the basics of being a leader, manager, mariner and warrior before moving on to your first operational unit. For me, since then, I’ve never held the same post for more than two years as I’ve been developing my skills in my current position and learning the skills necessary to assume my supervisor’s duties and responsibilities.
NSN: Tell us a bit about the job you do now.
SP: The executive officer is the second in command on board. In short, I’m responsible for everything and everyone inside the guard rails of the ship so that the captain can “fight and defend” the ship, responding to anything outside the guard rails. My primary role is to understand my captain’s intent and translate that into co-ordinated employment of the 250 people on board, ensuring they all work together as a fighting and effective unit. Day-to-day, I’m continuously moving about the ship, maintaining an awareness of everything that’s going on, and making sure the ship remains a safe and healthy space in which the crew can live and work.
NSN: What was the training like?
SP: Two words: challenging and rewarding. It’s only when we are challenged that we achieve things we might not think were possible. For me, after 15 years of service, the training is still ongoing. You learn the fundamental skills in classrooms and then apply them at sea through mentorship. Even now, my CO is training me to be a captain, while I in turn mentor officers and sailors to develop their skills so they can progress their training.
NSN: What do you like most about your job?
SP: What I love about this job is that it doesn’t feel like a job at all; it’s a lifestyle where you get to work in challenging conditions with inspiring Canadians and do things that most people will never get to do.
NSN: What’s the hardest part of your job?
SP: When I’m having a bad day or feeling down because we’ve been away from home for a long time, it’s hard to stay positive and energetic, but I must. It’s incredible to see how a positive attitude, particularly in the face of adversity, inspires the crew to rise up and overcome obstacles.
NSN: What would you like people to know about your job that they may not know?
SP: Since I became the Executive Officer I found out that I’ve been given quite possibly the best job in the navy, and no one told me. As surface warfare officers we train to become captains of ships and for some, the XO position is a step toward that end. I’m having fun every day in this job working with a great crew. Even a bad day at sea is better than any day behind a desk. As XO, you’re tasked to inspire the crew to work as one cohesive unit and it’s very rewarding when you see happy faces as we achieve great things together.
• • •
As of this weekend, LCdr/CapC Sam Patchell is now on patrol in the Mediterranean Sea, still aboard HMCS Charlottetown, participating in exercise Joint Warrior 2016, which he describes as a “large multinational exercise to enhance interoperability with NATO allies.”
Patchell is married to his wife Tara (he will be celebrating their 10th wedding anniversary at sea), and he says he has already mailed home an anniversary present, “and she sent me one that I’m waiting to open soon.”
Patchell’s parents, siblings and family are spread out across both North and West Vancouver, and Patchell says he tries to get home as often as he can but work keeps him pretty busy.
When asked if he had anything else he wanted to add to the interview, he says: “I am honoured and humbled to be the Executive Officer of HMCS Charlottetown deployed . . . in the Mediterranean with 250 men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces. I do my best to make my country, navy and family proud of what we do.”
