Black Press reporter Kendra Wong goes ‘undercover’ in Victoria to learn how to be the best she can be

Black Press reporter Kendra Wong is seen here with a tactical vest and helmet as she takes part in Victoria’s “Experience the Canadian Armed Forces” event at the Bay St Armoury. (Arnold Lim/BlackPress)

Have you ever wanted to experience the Armed Forces without actually having to sign up?

That’s how Goldstream Gazette reporter Kendra Wong felt when she learned of the chance to participate in a special hands-on, fully interactive practice run of Victoria’s “Experience the Canadian Armed Forces” at the Bay St Armoury in Victoria.

Donning her runners and workout gear, the diminutive reporter who stands roughly five feet tall but has the internal fortitude of a large linebacker on your favourite football team, demonstrated her athletic abilities and resiliency on Thursday.

This dry-run was organized in preparation for a full event on Saturday at the Armoury, which will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Officials chose this interactive experience to provide the public with an inside look at what it’s like to begin a career as a soldier, sailor or aviator.

These are called sandbag lifts and Kendra needs to do 30 of them 😮 Help us cheer her on!! #gokendra 🏋🏻‍♀️ #canadianarmedforces #military pic.twitter.com/gb8FXQ2PYg — Goldstream Gazette (@GoldstreamNews) November 16, 2017

Members of the media were given the opportunity to take part in dry land training, attempt the Forces’ physical fitness test, sample military rations, try on full combat gear, and practice on a fully electronic shooting range.

“It was a pretty eye-opening experience,” said Wong after finishing the two-hour training experience. “Some of the exercises were quite challenging, especially the physical fitness test — a lot of them were carrying sandbags. But overall it was very rewarding.”

When approached with the opportunity to put on her camouflage and test her limits, Wong jumped at a chance that doesn’t come around all the time.

“It sounded like a an extremely interesting opportunity,” she added.

“To sit in someone else’s shoes, especially as a report where you’re usually telling someone else’s story, but this was the opposite of that. I have a lot of respect for armed forces personnel who can do all this.”



ragnar.haagen@bpdigital.ca

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