Yellowknife (Jan 19/07) - The Canadian Forces welcomed two more Northern recruits last Thursday.

Clayton Morrell and Elenore Sturko gave up their civilian status in a swearing-in ceremony in the officer's mess at Joint Task Force North headquarters.

Christine Grimard/NNSL photo Clayton Morrell left, and Elenore Sturko right, were sworn in to the Canadian Forces last Thursday by Lt. Col. Kevin Tyler, centre. Morrell and Sturko are two of 14 new recruits the Canadian Forces have enrolled in the past year. -

Sturko is a director at CBC.

"Because I work in the news, I'm always seeing people giving a lot to Canada," said Sturko. "I thought I would take a turn and help out."

As a reserve resource management and support clerk, Sturko will be able to keep her job at the CBC and work part-time in the military.

Morrell, however, is giving his full commitment to the Canadian Forces. As a maritime surface and sub-surface officer, Morrell will be heading off for four-and-a-half months of training, leaving behind his wife and three kids.

"I'll try to keep things as normal as possible," said his wife, Cindy MacDougall.

"I'll encourage them to remember that daddy's coming back."

Recruiting in the North can be a challenge, said Lt. Col. Kevin Tyler, who swore in the two new members.

Tyler said the ceremony was significant to Joint Task Force North because usually only five to eight recruits a year join up from here.

Tyler attributed the low recruitment rate to the Force's academic standards, which require completion of Grade 12.

However, Tyler said that though Northern recruits may be few, they tend to be highly qualified.

"Northerners are a real bonus to the Canadian Forces," he said. "Most already have bush skills, and those kinds of skills are basic military skills."

Capt. David Burbridge, a recruiting officer with Joint Task Force North, visited all 46 communities which lie in JTFN's jurisdiction in the past year. He said Northerners interested in joining the military are invited to attend a three-week introductory program in Victoria, B.C., to "get an introduction into what military life is like."