Some things change, but the important things stay the same. 21736 Captain Adam Bruce, the first Sqn Comd of 13 Sqn when it stood up five years ago, took this photo from his office in Fort Lasalle. 13 Sqn will be officially stood down this Tuesday, 15 May – 0730.

21736 Adam Bruce, Former 13 Sqn Commander: “It was the best job I ever had…”

It was with great sadness for the end of an era that I read of the impending shutdown of 13 Squadron in e-Veritas 18. It was buried in the large article titled “Commandant’s Town Hall: ‘The Only Constant is Change…’” so many of you may have missed it. Indeed, many of you may never have known that there were 13 squadrons. As the first ever 13 Squadron Commander, I spent many a reunion with former classmates and RMCC alumni explaining that there were 13 squadrons and how they came about. I am proud to share this with you one more time.

Many of my former cadets in 13 Squadron will share a laugh at finding this information in an article on change. As I told them often, ‘progress is good; change is a waste of time’. 13 Squadron was born out of progress. The CF was still transforming and qualified NCMs were needed elsewhere than at RMCC. It was decided that, to account for the decreased administration and leadership capacity of the squadrons with the loss of a Squadron NCM, they would be downsized and three new squadrons created, leaving each squadron with about 75 officer cadets. D Division was created for these three new squadrons: 11, 12 and 13.

The first weeks of 13 Squadron were a lesson in adaptability. We started with no resources, no name, no colour, and certainly no traditions. The FYOP staff were not even into their jobs and the only cadets who were around were those finishing second language training. The most senior 13 Squadron cadet on campus was 24372 (III) Do Hyun Shin who became the first acting CSL of 13 Squadron, and we made it work. 24052 Sarah Rogers arrived soon after as the first FYOP CFL and remained in charge until 23981 Cameron Arsenault finally returned and took over as the first 13 Squadron CSL. As for history and traditions, 24348 Matt McInnes adopted the role very early on as Squadron Historian in charge of developing and implementing our brand new histories and traditions.

In relatively short order, we were given a squadron name and colour by the military staff – Joliet/Joliette was the name and tan was the colour. Out of that, flight names were chosen, as was a mascot – the lion, because of their colour – and an informal, and never officially established, affiliation with Special Operations was borne (out of the tan beret). Mr. McInnes conducted some very diligent research into the name, determining there were at least two prominent Joliets/Joliettes in Canadian History: the former a famous explorer and the latter a prominent businessman after whom the town of Joliette in Quebec was named. Understanding that the name was that of a former RMC Saint-Jean squadron, I sought out 20627 Hugo Laplante, then C Division Commander and a RMC Saint-Jean alum, to find out after which one we were named. This took a few days, but in the meantime it was decided by the cadets that we were the businessman, Joliette, a descendant of the explorer, and flight names were chosen based on that. They were the last names of three Victoria Cross winners who served in the same militia regiment, appropriately the 13th Royal Canadian Highlanders, as did Barthélemy Joliette. I didn’t have the heart to tell them that the squadron was actually named for the explorer and the names were so well chosen and so significant that they stayed, even if Good Flight for first years sounded awfully presumptuous (see the Wikipedia article on Herman Good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_James_Good).

This is not the first time in history that RMCC has downsized its number of squadrons. As a cadet myself in 1998 I witnessed the reduction of the Wing by one squadron when 11 Squadron, Tecumseh, was closed down following the reduction in the Wing a few years after the closing of RMC Saint-Jean and Royal Roads. Another top notch group, whose recruit CFL would go on to be the CWC (20979 Mason Stalker), they were shut down in their prime and redistributed amongst the remaining squadrons. This was a time of considerable turmoil in the Wing and it was only after that year that things settled down for a while. That is, until the decision was made to reorganize the cadets after second year so that they would serve in at least two squadrons in their four years. I understand that this had a detrimental impact on squadron history and traditions and was not ended until a new Commandant, now-LGen 12192 Tom Lawson took over and 13 Squadron was born in 2007. It was into this environment that I became Squadron Commander. At that time, many of my cadets were entering their third and even fourth squadron at RMCC with no sense of belonging. Maybe not so much for the fourth years, but I truly believe that the rest of them found a home in 13 Squadron and left the college proud to answer the inevitable alumni question following ‘What’s your college number?’ – ‘What squadron were you in?’ – proudly as 13 Squadron.

I am given to understand that 13 Squadron has done very well since my departure. This is not surprising. When the squadron was formed, the giving squadron commanders who allocated cadets to its ranks were given one important direction: do NOT send them any of your problems. The result was that they didn’t send us any problems, or any of their top cadets either. Despite the latter fact, we had a top 4 in the second semester of 2007-2008 and again in the Fall of 2008, 24039 Melissa Marshall and 24324 Jean-François Horth, respectively. In addition, 13 Squadron led the Wing with the most cadets in Wing HQ in the Fall of 2008, while at the same time maintaining a strong squadron bar slate. These leaders trained the leaders that trained the 13 Squadron cadets of today. The chain from my first years to the present day cadets will be broken with the end of 13 Squadron, but the cadets of today, who learned from these tremendous mentors, will reap a lifetime of benefits.

With so many fond memories of the times and the people of 13 Squadron, it is hard for me to believe it is coming to an end. Going to law school was a dream come true but it was bittersweet at leaving the best job I have ever had and the great people who made it that way. Although my son and daughter can no longer wear the lion costume I bought to support the first years at the obstacle course, our hearts will always be with “daddy’s peoples” from 13 Squadron.

xxxx

Short but impressive life – 1051 HL Holland (RMC 1914)

Researched by E3161 Victoria Edwards

1051 Lt. Hubert Lee Holland, M.C. (1896-1922), the son of William Hugh Holland of Toronto, was born Jan 10th 1896. He studied for a year at the Royal Military College of Canada in 1914-15.

He was an active militia officer and served with the 2n Divisional Cyclist Corps, Canadian Reserve Cyclist Company, in 1915. He enlisted at 19 years of age, during the First World War, and was appointed to commissioned rank. He served in Shorncliffe, England with the Cyclist Corps Depot, Canadian Expeditionary Force; was seconded to the Royal Air Force 1917-1919.

After studying at the RAF school of Aeronautics at Reading, he served as a Flying Officer with the Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force in France 1917 and in England. On Sept 19, 1918 Lieutenant Holland was awarded the  Military Cross 16/9/18 “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when working with artillery in carrying out six successful shoots whereby many enemy gun pits were destroyed and explosions caused. In one case he descended to 100 ft. and found all pits totally destroyed.

He carried out a good low reconnaissance of two suspected hostile batteries and also obtained other very useful information.” After taking his release in 1919, he worked at the Bank of Montreal in London, England. He and his wife Edna Alice returned to Canada, where he served with the Canadian Air Board 1922. He died on April 23, 1922 in Amaranth Township, Ontario at 26 years of age.

The Hubert Lee Holland fonds in Library and Archives Canada include black and white photos of Avro 504K aircraft G-CYDS and D.H.4 aircraft, as well as Fokker aircraft “Southern Cross”.

http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/public_mikan/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=200304

http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1918/1918%20-%201052.html

http://data2.collectionscanada.gc.ca/cef/10001-11000/10686-33.pdf

M0308 Kathy Hoyland (RRMC RMC 1985)

“After Roads, RMC seemed a bit of a let-down, but overall I had a great time there as well.”

While the focus of this series of vignettes has been “the First 32″, i.e. the first class of women to enter RMC Kingston, there were other women pioneers in the Canadian Military Colleges-St Jean, Royal Roads, graduate students and UTPMs-and their stories are important as well. Here is the story of M0308 Kathy Hoyland – Class of 1985. She began her milcol story at Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) in 1981, part of a very small group indeed.

By 15566 Helga Grodzinski (RMC 1986)

Career before Military College:

Joined in Dec 1972 as a Naval Radar Plotter.
Guys from class went to sea and girls to Shelburne NS to be employed as Ocean Ops.
Couldn’t remuster.
Got out.
Got back in as a Finance Clerk in Toronto.

How I got to Military College:

Wanted to go back to school, researched various routes, decided to apply UTPM and was accepted at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. Then came the message: Congrats – you’ve been accepted – UTPM Royal Roads Military College – SAY WHERE???? I had absolutely no idea what a military college was and that’s how I got there. I did my first 2 years at Royal Roads and last 2 at RMC.

The Experience:

The experience at MilCol was wonderful. I’m grateful that I had the opportunity to go that route because I met so many great people who would be a big part of my life in the military. At a civilian university you don’t have the opportunity to get to know as many future colleagues and the ones you will get to know will be in the same classification as yourself. MilCol puts you in contact will all classifications and the opportunity to network is endless. If you want a career in the military, the best place to start is MilCol.

I started at Royal Roads Military College (RRMC) in Sep ’81.

What was that like?

In ‘81 and 82 there were no female cadets at Roads, so we were very few women indeed. Roads was wonderful. The grounds were/are magnificent and it was much like being in a fairy tale. There were 4 females during my first year (2 in my year and 2 in the year ahead of me) then in my second year there were 5 but one quit half way through first term. I guess the small numbers made us stand out and everyone knew us by name quite quickly (don’t know if that’s good or bad). I’m not really sure if the differences were the result of small numbers of females (that was common in the military itself) or if it was the age difference. I really enjoyed getting to know my ROTP classmates and got along with them quite well. I did not find that there were any real inconveniences like washrooms, change rooms, etc. and of course, we UTPMs all had families and lived on the economy. I loved it there. After Roads, RMC seemed a bit of a let-down, but overall I had a great time there as well.

Special challenges by virtue of being UTPM – did you envy or feel sorry for the younger women who were cadets at RMC?

Neither really. I admired them I guess because that is a very full university life but very fulfilling at the same time. I did not even wish that I had gone there after high school. Personally, I was not ready for university right after high school (tried a civilian one for a semester) so I would definitely not have been ready for MilCol. l was not mature enough at that point. For me the UTPM route was they way to go. The female ROTPs that I got to know were a real mix of maturity and, on the whole, a wonderful group. Most seemed to fit in quite well but I did find it entertaining to be able to sit back and observe their growth over the 4 years (many I knew from BOTC).

Do you think the two colleges were “ready” for the admission of women when you were there?

Definitely, from my perspective as a UTPM. The only thing I cannot comment on is the accommodation side, since I lived off-campus.

Any memorable incidents?

Good, funny, bad, ugly, you name it. I remember a student’s car being disassembled and reassembled in the entrance of one of the quarters at Roads. The summer training where we rappelled from helicopters will always be a fond memory, I loved drill and parades, the professors/instructors were great, having to do overnight duty cadet in the “haunted castle” at Roads was a treat. To be quite honest, most of my fondest memories are of Roads and although I enjoyed my 2 years at RMC I’m really happy that I had the Roads opportunity.

Did Milcol help you develop any particular skills and attributes useful to your careers?

I was Log Fin and took the Force Reduction Plan (FRP) package in 1995 when they civilianized a whack of Finance positions. I basically rolled into a civilian job with Director General Personnel Services / Director Non-Public Funds Services which is now CFPSA – Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency; now I am an internal auditor. So my degree and military training have been a big benefit for my current position. Other than that, since I was “older” when I went to MilCol, I had pretty much developed socially and personally. Practicing patience and trying to always be optimistic through the four years was very good practice. Leadership training and the Truth, Duty, Valour motto have been helpful. Being a MilCol grad is an accomplishment that anyone would be proud of.

Advice to women entering milcol today…

Tough one . . . “Be all that you can be” pops into my mind. No matter how tough it seems at the time it will get better and you will look back on ALL experiences with fond memories.

14451 Theresa Towns (RMC 1984)

“Basic training wasn’t bad; it was more of an eye-opener for me as to what I could really do for myself and how I could rise to challenges never before considered.”

The “First 32″

By 15566 Helga Grodzinski (RMC 1986)

14451 Theresa Towns works as the circulation clerk for the Ottawa Public Library and is the proud mother of two grown daughters.

What prompted me to attend RMC? My father and maternal grandfather were both service men and I grew up in a military family and I was familiar with the military life. When it came time for me to make the decision of where to apply for university, one of the university presentations I attended concerned the military colleges and what they could offer. I think at that time in my life the biggest selling point was that I would get paid to go to school, I would get to travel for the summer to BC where I had never been before and my expenses would basically be paid and I would make money going to college! Along with applying to RMC, I also applied to a few civilian universities – Queen’s, Western for various programs. I was accepted at RMC and so began the adventure of leaving home and becoming more independent than I had ever been.

When I look back and try to put myself in the same mindset, I really think that I didn’t have any real expectations, other than the fact that I was going to get paid and have a guaranteed job after graduation. The real implications of what I was doing never really were considered, naïveté would definitely have been one of my characteristics at that time in my life as I think it is for most teenagers. I was only 17 when I left home and probably quite a bit less mature (from a worldly knowledge perspective) than the others I started out with. I think this fact actually helped me get through the first year. Basic training wasn’t bad; it was more of an eye-opener for me as to what I could really do for myself and how I could rise to challenges never before considered. I think too that it was a more realistic view of women in the military as I am sure women had been trained through Chilliwack before so it was not a new thing for them. On the other hand, when we got to RMC, women in the ranks was a novelty and it had not been experienced before, not to mention there was probably some animosity from the old boys club being invaded.

I have to say, that other than the pranks pulled on us generally as a group, I was never really subjected to any direct animosity. This observation is, however, directly related to my naïveté and that I took things as they were dealt to me without letting them really affect me. I think also that reminiscing 25-plus years later, things are forgotten or toned down in their affect that they may have had on me. When I really try to remember back, I can not think of too many direct events that happened other than the fact that we were referred to as “Sweats” and there was one incident where they had mounted a “Sweat relief station” on a wall and it consisted of a toilet paper roll with a conical end attached and it was mounted in such a way as to be lewd and its intent was clear.

In the first year Theresa is in the third row, second from the left and in the 4th year she is right in the middle of the second row.

There were a lot of good memories from RMC too. There were the friendships that kept you going and the people you could rely on to help out or be a listening ear. I can remember looking forward to exam routine (especially in the first two years) when the rules were slackened – no making the bed everyday, less structure to the routine, a lot more freedom to do what we wanted when we wanted. I remember Civy U day when we could wear regular clothes for the whole day-to classes and around the college. The squadron parties were fun, too and evoked a good camaraderie amongst all the years in the squadron. The things that we had to do, pushing an open can of shoe polish with our noses down our hallways, the races with the mattresses complete with mattress covers where one person goes in one side and you go in the other to see who emerges from the opposite side first, the morning runs to Fort Henry, the obstacle course (for which I have that to thank for my back condition now), the 2-minute showers, waking up to the blaring “I’m not Living in a Real World” by Blondie and going to sleep to “Nights in White Satin”, and all the other little “spirit-building” adventures were just that. Spirit-building and, 28 years later, actually funny to think about!

I remember one of out first runs to Fort Henry when my bra strap broke halfway through the run and having to hold up one side for the rest of the way home. I still hate running to this day! I also enjoyed how the females were given the one day a month grace for the cursed “time-of-the-month” blues. I know that excuse came in handy a few times!

Where I am today probably has a lot to do with what I learned in the military. After 16 years as a supply officer (CFB Trenton, NDHQ, Air Command HQ in Winnipeg and then back to NDHQ) I retired in 1996 and became a home daycare provider so I could be home with children-two daughters, now 23 and 21. I also realized that I no longer wanted to be part of the military. My husband had moved with me and, after watching him sacrifice his career for me for 16 years, I wanted to give him the opportunity to concentrate on his career. They were making early release offers so I jumped at the chance. I have to say that I really never missed the military life and was quite busy with my new career choice. Today I work as the circulation clerk for the Ottawa Public Library, which I find tremendously satisfying and enjoyable. At 46, and with the experiences I have had, I now know where I really want to work and that is within the library system. The qualities of being proud of my job and wanting to do the best I can was instilled in me from when I was young but also, the requirement to pay attention to detail, to do the required preparations, how to be an effective member of a team, were some of the many skills that were taught through military training. I think too, having gone through basic training and the antics at RMC really taught me what I can do and that the limitations that we feel are not necessarily insurmountable. That alone has helped me through many a situation and has allowed me to be successful at a lot of things including wanting a job in the Library system and getting a job there.

As far as what I think women entering RMC now should know… it is hard to say because it is now such a different atmosphere. I remember returning to RMC a number of years ago and seeing women in cadet uniforms everywhere and no one pointing or gesturing to single them out as was custom whenever there were events at the college when we were there. I really don’t think that the young women starting there today would be faced with near the challenges that met our class. It does make me proud to feel that it was our class that helped get RMC to the point it is at now. My advice would be applicable to anything in life, be true to who you are and allow for new experiences to further that development of your character and enjoy. Know that the things that happen to you now that seem monumental become little blips in life in the future and unless you are asked to reminisce about them they usually remain buried in your past!

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14510 Sue Wigg: Update

e-Veritas published a “First 32″ article on the 16th of March featuring LCol Sue Wigg.  We have been informed that from her posting to SHAPE, she has been deployed in Afghanistan since September 2008.