Blazing Trails – Captain Aleem Sajan

Captain Aleem Sajan cut quite a striking figure standing at attention in his UN Blue Beret and Desert Fatigues in the Khartoum War Cemetery. As an officer in the Canadian Armed forces he was participating in the Remembrance Ceremony during his UN tour in 2005.

It all began from a very unlikely beginning; Aleem Sajan came to Canada at the age of 13 years old from Tanzania with his family. Growing up in Calgary, he pursued studies at the Royal Military College in Kingston, winning a full scholarship after; gaining his Canadian Citizenship and achieving honors in first year at the University of Calgary. Graduating with a Honors Science degree in Space Sciences and Chemistry as well as receiving the Queens Commission as an officer in the Canadian Forces. The newly minted Lieutenant underwent military occupation training as an Aerospace Engineer, achieving the enviable feat of being the first one in his family to fly past the speed of sound during his training bout with the CF-18 Fighter Jet. This was a source of pride to the family especially when the first plane ride for the whole family had only been 8 years prior to that.

Lieutenant Sajan then spent a period of time in Ottawa as project lead in a multi million dollar project as part of the Maritime Subsurface Command, whilst there he was promoted to the rank of Captain. His stay in the Nations capital was not a long one as he went on to beat a vastly more experienced field in gaining a coveted spot as a UN Military Observer to the Sudan. His six month stint in the South of Sudan included monitoring the Comprehensive Ceasefire Agreement between the SPLA (Sudanese People’s Liberation Army) and the Sudanese Government. He also played a key role in the integration of one Unit in the Nuba Mountains of Southern Sudan into the Joint Integrated Force. A historic milestone which saw the unification of SPLA troops with Government Forces, which made history in Sudan since these same forces had been embroiled in a 20 year war with one another months prior to that.

Having been tested in the field Captain Sajan came back to Canada once again beating out fierce competition to gain his present post as an Executive officer to the Base Commander in Comox, Vancouver Island. This strategic base is the locus for Search and Rescue Operations in Western Coast as well as the primary base for major Canadian Sovereignty Operations in Western Canada. Being Executive Officer to a Colonel in command of more than 1, 000 Military personnel and 2 operational squadrons which fly the Aurora Maritime Patrol Aircraft, CC115 Buffalo Search and Rescue (SAR) Aircraft, and the CH-149 Cormorant Helicopter is quite an accomplishment for this 28 year old. His present duties as Executive Officer include wide ranging roles such as; Liaison between the Base Commander and military personnel as well as the general public and lead officer in planning any High Profile visits to the base, which have included the Prime Minister, various ministers, foreign generals as well as the Chief of Defense Staff.

This high profile and pressure filled job certainly doesn’t phase this young captain who takes it all in stride. His reply on being asked about the most memorable experience thus far in his Career, he mentions his time in Sudan as something he will never forget and which has given him priceless experiences that tested his leadership skills.

As the last post plays, and Captain Sajan closes his eyes in remembrance one can almost imagine with some certainty that this accomplished young Canadian is probably silently thanking all those fallen for having contributed to a country which has given him and his family so much.

For more information on Canada’s involvement in the United Nation Mission in Sudan, please visit http://www.journal.forces.gc.ca/engraph/vol7/no4/PDF/04-goodspeed_e.pdf

As part of the planning staff, next stop for Captain Aleem Sajan is the Governor General’s Canadian Leadership Conference. For more information on this conference, visit http://www.leadershipcanada.ca/