Beth Champoux

Sports Mom. Winter Enthusiast. Nature Lover. Proud Canadian and Public Servant. Views my own.

[John Ʌ Konrad V @johnkonrad]

A story on how @ChowdahHill is making a real impact:

For years, I've been trying to get my son Jack interested in the sea services, but he always rolls his eyes.

Last year, we toured dozens of schools, but he only wanted to apply to two: @EmbryRiddle & @Cornell to study aeronautical stuff. I couldn’t even get him to submit an application to my service’s FREE and excellent US Merchant Marine Academy. He didn’t want to apply to USNA (no ships Dad) or USAFA (too much competition for pilot billets)

Our favorite show right now is "Masters Of The Air." He likes it better than "Top Gun" and it resonates because his namesake, Great Grandpa Jack, was a navigator in the 8th Air Force, literally the same job as the show’s narrator. Jack likes it more than Top Gun & has no interest in ships.

(He liked Top Gun 2 but said it was a “movie for dads,” which just didn’t resonate with him)

All his military-minded friends are going Army, but Jack is most interested in trying USAF ROTC.

This kid is smart - he has a scholarship at an elite New England boarding school - but has no connection to the military because schools like his keep military recruiters at arm's length, and the few who are interested are gently pushed to visit West Point, which is close and makes an effort to recruit from top private schools

I say this because it has forced him to mostly research the military on his own (much to the chagrin of his mother)

He was set on USAF ROTC, but I’ve been sending him Chowdah’s posts. The first dozen he ignored, but last week Capt Hill posted a photo of a young woman at the helm. This sparked a major debate with me saying that real warriors drive ships and Jack claiming that aviators are better

Me: “A pilot can only move one plane at a time, but a helmsman moves an entire airwing”

Jack: “But a pilot can go faster”

Me: “The pilot ain’t going nowhere if that helmsman runs aground”

I didn’t get far with the debate, but Jack started following Capt Hill on his own. All last week, he’s been peppering me with questions about naval aviation. He’s been really interested not just in carriers but has also been intrigued watching YouTube videos of USMC aviators operating from amphibious ships.

Yesterday, on the long car ride back to school, Capt Hill’s post dominated the conversation. Lots of questions about Marines as well.

Me: “Well, there is no USMC ROTC; you go Navy then choose Navy or USMC your senior year”

He liked that; he wants options. He did not apply for an ROTC scholarship because he doesn’t want to be locked in from the start; he wants to explore a bit and talk to other cadets and midshipmen once he reaches college.

As he’s leaving the car last night, he says, “I’m going to reach out to the Navy ROTC officer at @EmbryRiddle”

It’s not a done deal… he just needs to convince Mom to sign off (her Army Dad was seriously wounded in Vietnam, so it’ll be a hard sell) & the Navy will need to convince me we have enough warships to keep our carriers safe in the Pacific (we do not) and enough oilers to keep carriers fueled in war (not even close), but it’s a start

The moral of the story is that kids today ask a lot of questions & don’t just trust their parents. They aren’t swayed by TV shows. They want to see young adults like them doing good work. They have incredible tools to research on their own but need ideas on what to look for

What does shooter Tom do?

What’s the difference between a green and brown shirt on a carrier?

How do Marine fighter pilots take off from ships without a catapult?

Which service has the best-tasting chocolate chip cookies? (Don't laugh; this kid is a 6’3” athlete… he eats A LOT).

But most importantly, unlike all the recruiters, @ChowdahHill isn’t trying to sell him anything; the good captain is just exposing him to different types of jobs and is showing him that the team camaraderie he loves from sports exists aboard carriers

He doesn’t want to be sold; he wants to learn & discover his own path

[Sportsnet @Sportsnet]

“If you think you can, there’s always a way”.

Callie Bizuk's passion for ringette ignited at 4 years-old. Despite her challenges, her community came together to make her dreams a reality through teamwork and innovation.

Full 🎥: https://t.co/HyntI3Kqdq

@Scotiabank | #HockeyDay

[National Defence @NationalDefence]

Join DND at the Camosun College Career Fair on Jan 25, 10 am - 2 pm PST! Find your path at DND!
https://t.co/kysM7GDRpI
#CareerFair #JoinDND

[Ralph Goodale @RalphGoodale]

Honoured to participate in today’s somber memorial for the victims of Flight PS752. Canada’s relentless pursuit of transparency, accountability & justice for the bereaved families is faithfully following recommendations in this 2020 report. We will not rest til we get the truth.

[Rideau Canal NHS, Parks Canada @RideauCanalNHS]

See some familiar faces? 😊 These are some of the awesome folks who make the locks work across the Rideau Canal. 🤩

We look forward to welcoming you back for our 2024 season. 👋

[Ottawa Police @OttawaPolice]

In the last 7 days, 23 drivers have been charged with impaired-related offences.

9 of these charges are a result of collisions, where people have been seriously injured.

One driver had almost 4x the legal limit (blood alcohol content).

613 drivers have been charged this year.

These numbers are scary.

This is completely preventable.

Please #drivesober and stop impaired driving.
#ottnews
~
Ces 7 derniers jours, 23 conducteurs furent inculpés relativement à la conduite avec facultés affaiblies.

Dans 9 cas, il s'agit de collisions, où des gens furent gravement blessés.

Un conducteur avait un taux d'alcoolémie 4x supérieur à la limite légale.

613 conducteurs ont été inculpés cette année.

Ces chiffres sont effrayants.

Ceci est tout à fait évitable.

Merci d'être #SobreAuVolant pour freiner la conduite avec facultés affaiblies.
#OttNouvelles

[Beth Champoux @BethChampoux]

@OttawaJay @REDBLACKScomms Agreed!!!

[Hydro Ottawa @hydroottawa]

RESTORED: Power has been restored to some customers in Bay ward. For updates in your area: https://t.co/lFWY54ZpVH. Thanks for your patience. #ottcity @tm_kavanagh

[Hydro Ottawa @hydroottawa]

Mother Nature can be a real pain sometimes, knocking out power with a single storm.

Take action during Emergency Preparedness Week to prepare for extended outages by preparing an emergency kit & a plan.

Learn how to stay safe and resilient https://t.co/t3mRdx27zl #EPWeek2023

[Canadian Armed Forces @CanadianForces]

Watching her father overcome prejudice and discrimination to become Canada’s first black fighter pilot, she couldn’t imagine doing anything else. “It gave me an example that I wanted to follow.” Watch LCol (ret’d) Shelley Peters' story. #BHM2023

[Isaac Bogoch @BogochIsaac]

Malawi is in the midst of a deadly cholera epidemic with over 36000 cases & 1200 deaths.

@WHO: "There is an urgent need to improve access to safe water sanitation & hygiene."

A vaccine campaign is ongoing, however there is a global supply shortage.

👉https://t.co/3V7SOWwCxc

[Privy Council Office @PrivyCouncilCA]

#GCEmployees: your opinion matters. This is the last week to fill out the 2022/2023 Public Service Employee Survey. Make sure to provide your feedback by February 5, 2023, using the link sent to your inbox. #PSES

– Clerk Charette

[Isaac Bogoch @BogochIsaac]

10/ So in the words of your favourite 90s hip hop artist, Ludacris: "What you gonna do?"

Let's start with this 👇
1. Develop & teach critical thinking skills
2. Seek diverse yet credible viewpoints
3. Engage fairly with others
4. Understand bias
5. Appreciate nuance
6. Etc.

[Service Canada @ServiceCanada_E]

Have you received a call claiming that your SIN will be suspended for illegal activity? 🚩

It’s a scam!

Hang up and report the call to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre 👉 https://t.co/fC7856rFNj

[Ottawa Police @OttawaPolice]

This holiday season, the OPS is conducting its RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) programs and reminding drivers to celebrate responsibly.

[DIFD at The Royal @difdroyal]

Holiday tip: Be compassionate with yourself.

If you are struggling, don’t beat yourself up. Remember that you are doing the best you can. Sometimes, getting out of bed and brushing your teeth makes it a good day 💜

#DIFD #WeAllSkateTogether

[Veterans Affairs CA @VeteransENG_CA]

For some who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces or the RCMP, mental health challenges can take on many faces.

Know that you are not alone. If you’re struggling there is support available.

Call today to get started: 1-800-268-7708.

#SupportForCDNVeterans

[Beth Champoux @BethChampoux]

@CanadaArmyRun #BestTimeNotFast

[Canada Army Run | Course de l'Armée du Canada @CanadaArmyRun]

Amazing! Great job!

[Mary Kirby @marykirby71]

We did it! 27km. @PSPOttawa 46k steps. @CanadaArmyRun @GCActiveMvt #gcactive