Sailor Profile: Able Seaman Mike Chacon
Home Unit: Personnel Coordination Centre Atlantic
Hometown: London, Ontario
Years of Service: 3.5 years
Current Occupation and Position: Naval Communicator aboard HMCS Moncton
Why did you join the RCN? I joined the navy to help Canadians and to better myself. I like working in a fast-paced environment that’s different every day.
What is the best part about being in the RCN? The best part is the travelling. In the past three years I have been to ten different countries.
What is your most memorable experience? Being on location and helping people during the floods in Quebec in 2017 was a very memorable experience for me. In Nicolet, QC, where the streets were covered in debris, my team and I cleared roads for emergency vehicles. The one part I remember the most was a tree had fallen on someone’s house and we had to remove it. It was challenging, yet rewarding. We were exhausted by the end of the day, however, the next morning we were all lined up with big smiles on our faces, ready to go.
What are some additional highlights of your naval career? Being part of the 2018 Great Lakes Deployment is a career highlight for me because like I sailing close to home, to places I have sentimental ties to, where my family can witness what I do in the RCN.
Why have you stayed in the RCN? Being in the RCN is a rewarding experience that allows me to travel and to thrive in a fast-paced work environment.
What would you say to someone that is considering a career in the RCN?
Find a trade that suits your career goals and then join the RCN.
What is it like to sail across Ontario and Quebec in the Great Lakes Deployment?
It’s great to be sailing close to home and seeing familiar places from a different perspective.
Please tell a little bit about yourself, outside of the Navy.
I live with my fiancée and English bulldog in Halifax, NS. I enjoy cycling and cooking as well as spending time with family and friends.