“You’ve been staring at that page for ten minutes,” said Chief Petty Officer Hendricks, her mentor, as he toweled off his bald head. “The manual isn’t poetry, Bessette.”

Petty Officer Third Class Mira Bessette stared at the open page of the Canadian Coast Guard Uniform Manual , 2023 Edition. Section 4, Subsection 12, Paragraph (c)(ii) was unexpectedly making her heart race.

Hendricks leaned over, reading the fine print. His bushy eyebrows lifted. “That’s the new one from Ottawa. You earned it, kid. But do you know where the actual patch is?” He gestured toward the supply locker. “It’s not just about wearing it. The manual also says you have to cut off the old one and re-stitch the new one at a precise 22-degree angle from the shoulder seam. They send an inspector for that.”