Interview with John Larsen

Narrator: Larsen, John P. Interviewer: Interviewed by Oryssia Ochitwa Interview Date and Location 3 March 2025, electronic interview over Zoom (recorded in Victoria BC.) Synopsis: This interview covers Retired Captain (Navy) John Larsen’s childhood with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, his career with the CAF and his experiences as a Public Affairs Officer both in the regular and reserve forces. It discusses his training and briefly covers his time as a naval officer before becoming a Public Affairs Officer. It covers his time as a public affairs officer, both as a regular forces member and a reserve member, as well as why he chose to become a reserve member. It discusses his roles in Canada. He spent a great deal of time assisting with training and other special projects. Larsen discusses his deployment to Italy. He reflects on working with the US military during the 1999 Kosovo Air Campaign and on working with NATO. He discusses how social media and globalization has changed things, in his experience. He reflected on his time working with Captain Chris Henderson, and on the skills that he learned that served him well outside of the military. He discusses his time in Bosnia, and having talked to local media. He discusses the difference between NATO training exercises and regular, Canadian ones. He ended with his reflections on current events and the importance of the Canadian military. 0:00 – 2:35 – Introduction and clarification of rank 1:00 – 3:51 Childhood; Time in the Air Cadets leading to a military career. 3:52 – 5:30 Time as a Naval Officer leading to an opening in Public Affairs; 5:30 – 6:04 ROTP Training plan and schooling 1986-1989; schooling with Ret. Capt. Chris Henderson 6:04 – 6:34 Naval Operations; time as a diver (also with Henderson) 6:34 – 7:40 Transition to Public Affairs; appeal of Public Affairs 7:40 – 8:00 First posting as a Public Affairs officer (with Air Force) 8:00 – 9:40 on-the-job training for Public Affairs 9:40 – 10:43 First posting on an air base in Moosejaw; transition back to the Navy in Halifax 10:43 –13:08 time as a on-base public affairs officer 13:08 – 15:00 time in Halifax; helping with operations 15:00 – 19:35 transition out of the military and back in as a reserve member; overview of deployments 19:35 – 21:15 Experience in the reserves when not on deployment; training and support rolls; growing administrative rolls 21:15 – 23:15 Experience deploying with the Reserve forces 23:15 – 27:41 Experience in US Air Base Aviano during 1999 Kosovo Air Campaign; mission attempts to weaken resolve of enemy leader; Public Affairs roll was to speak to Canadian involvement and work with US forces 27:41 – 29:35 Experience working with the US and on a US base; 29:35 – 31:26 Effects of working with the US on Captain Larsen’s roll; value of Canada in 1999 Kosovo Air Campaign 31:26 –33:57 Roll as a Lead In Theatre Public Affairs Officer in Kosovo; interactions with media; assisting in procuring footage; creating internal messaging 33:57 – 37:14Balancing national defence’s aims, media interviews, and operations personal 37:14 – 39:21 Culture and policy changes with the development of social media; helping develop training. 39:21 – 42:00 How globalization has changed Public Affairs; changing news cycle. 42:00 – 44:01 Experience working with NATO; the US being the driving force 44:01 – 44:57 Other experiences in the CAF through 2019; Training exercises; special projects; Time spent working with Chris Henderson etc. 48: 36 – 50:30 Comfort with shifting chain of command with Chris Henderson; working with different ranks 50:30 – 52:40 Skills that transferred to the civilian world 52:40 –55:30 Favoured rolls in the military 55:30 – Experience in Bosnia, talking to local, Bosnian military; the difference between CAF spokespeople and NATO spokespeople 57:42 – 59:00 Summary of different dates of deployments; NATO experiences 59:00 – Experiences with NATO training exercises 1:02:40 – Time outside the PAO world in the military 1:03:40 – Retirement 1:05:40 – Final Words; importance of the military and thoughts on current affairs; confirmation of consent to be interviewed

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