Archive for the 'i. Ex-Cadets in the News' Category

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How Canada’s armed forces should be used

Peacekeeping nowadays is not a matter of slapping a blue beret on a Canadian soldier and patrolling a ceasefire line to stop people from killing each other.

5105 J.L. Granatstein is a Senior Research Fellow of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.

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Soldiers at work on flood-mitigation efforts along Assiniboine

One hundred soldiers, most of them from CFB Shilo, are helping to raise a dike along the Assiniboine near Poplar Point, east of Portage la Prairie, while another 30 to 50 are working in Brandon, said Lieutenant Colonel Shane Schreiber of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

16591 Shane Schreiber

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Government Of Canada And The Canadian Forces Assist Those Affected By Flooding In The Province Of Manitoba.

“Folks should understand that the Canadian Forces will be acting at the direction of the Government of Manitoba,” added Brigadier-General Wynnyk. “The Government of Manitoba are the experts at dealing with flooding in Manitoba”

15706 Paul Wynnyk

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Grits set interim-leader criteria

Marc Garneau is one name being whispered because he’s bilingual and has national appeal as the first Canadian in space.

8276 Marc Garneau

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CFB Kingston will not change dome location

“It was asked again today: can they move the dome? They said no. They don’t have to report to us civilians.”

Group wants auditor general to nix dome

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Canadian Forces completes participation in NATO-Iceland Air Policing Program

“I am proud of the flexibility and agility of Canada’s Air Force to quickly deploy and integrate into the NATO- Iceland Air Policing Program while simultaneously supporting air combat operations over Libya,”

11275 Lieutenant-General Marc Lessard, Commander, Canadian Expeditionary Force Command

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Two-per-cent tax hike irks rural residents

“Most rural taxpayers see this as the thin edge of the wedge, ruining what we thought was a well understood arrangement, fair to all,”

5877 Ted Davie

Article first appeared in the National Post

Ex-Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 7th May 2011

Assignment Kandahar: A general on the road

“It won’t be long before you’re working for an American commanding officer, but you’re going to work for me for the next two and a half months,” he told them. “Okay? I really like working with Americans, you guys are great guys, fantastic guys, I’m really proud to be working alongside, you guys are excellent people, excellent people.”

14596 Brigadier General Dean Milner is commander of Task Force Kandahar.

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Ex Cadets 2 for 6 in federal election results…

14872 Pierre Lemieux was re-elected as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada to represent the riding of Glengarry-Prescott Russel.

http://www.pierrelemieux.ca/en/mp_index.htm

8276 Marc Garneau was reelected as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada to represent the riding of Westmount-Ville-Marie in the House of Commons

http://www.westmountexaminer.com/News/Local/2011-05-03/article-2474898/Garneau-wins-by-658-votes/1

7977 John Kidder was not elected as a member of the Liberal Party of Canada to represent the riding of Okanagan–Coquihala, British Columbia.

http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/pentictonwesternnews/news/121188164.html

8475 Rem Westland was not elected was reelected as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada to represent the riding of Ottawa-Vanier, Ontario.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Longtime+Mauril+B%C3%A9langer+holds+Liberal+bastion/4713480/story.html

8927 Patrick Hunt was not elected as a member of the Conservative Party of Canada to represent the riding of Victoria, British Columbia.

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Savoie+cruises+easy+third+victory/4716576/story.html

8944 Paul Maillet was not elected as a member of the Green Party of Canada to represent the riding of Ottawa – Orleans.

http://www.orleansstar.ca/News/Elections/2011-05-04/article-2478193/Galipeau-hangs-on-to-his-Ottawa-Orleans-seat–/1

History of Federal Ridings since 1867

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Canada’s chief of defence addresses massive Wear Red on Fridays rally in Petawawa

“The fact is that when we are doing that business we really wonder whether Canada knows what we are doing. And when people wear the red on Fridays folks down range they know that Canada cares,”

12320 Walt Natynczyk

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Search concludes for soldier missing in river valley

“We’re not done,” Lt.-Col. William Fletcher said. “We’ve called off the physical search, but we’re confident we will find him.”

19662 William Fletcher

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Ex-Cadets & Cadets in the News & … More

Posted by rmcclub on 17th April 2011

Canadian jets fly nearly 100 missions in Libya

Brig.-Gen. Richard Blanchette said that Canadian CF-18 fighters have been active in Libyan skies, accounting for 98 of the 832 fighter missions flown by NATO jets since the start of combat operations.

13595 Richard Blanchette Bio

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Military hockey teams pay tribute to fallen comrade

“You’re showing everybody that this is the way to live your life,” Latulippe told CTV Atlantic. “Enjoy the moment, celebrate life. So I think we’re celebrating Chris’s life by doing this every year.”

19181 Sebastien Latulippe

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Panjwaii sweep nets Taliban weaponry

Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner, the Canadian task force commander, explained that a series of recent operations were designed so that his troops would be “well prepared for the fighting season. We have the initiative. We have captured or killed a large number of insurgents this winter. They’re off balance.”

14596 Dean Milner

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Academics 101: An Introduction for the Military Community

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Still soaring

“Our previous captain had graduated, so my best friend and I ended up taking on that leadership role. Being captain of any team is an honour, but with the group of girls we had, it was a great honour,”

25121 OCdt (IV) Carolyn Pumphrey

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Comparisons between rugby and the battlefield

“People do like to compare warfare and doing battle on the sports field and I am always hesitant to do that,” he told me. “One is over in about 80 minutes and the other is far more serious and that is where the true heroes lie …”

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Julia Gillard backs a woman’s right to fight on the frontline of military combat

“I have a view that men and women are equal. A few years ago I heard Peter Cosgrove say that men and women should have an equal right to fight and die for their country. I think he is right about that,”

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The shuttle’s last blast

“The interest in Canada was phenomenal — media were coming to my house and wanted to watch me putting the kids to bed at night, watch us eating hamburgers outside,”

Marc Garneau

“It was thrillingly challenging,” he says. “It was taking two very fractious draft horses and putting them in the same harness and trying to get them to pull together.”

Chris Hadfield

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Rotary steps up with new pool proposal

“We think repairing the Rotary Pool and the recreation equipment, adding a Splash Pad … and finally converting the pool into a 12-month pool will resurrect activities at the Conservation Park and make it a year-round attractions for family rest and recreation,”

Rotary President 5780 Bernie Laliberte

BRANCH UPDATES: KINGSTON & VANCOUVER

Posted by rmcclub on 10th April 2011

Kingston Branch Making A Difference

Photo: Last day on the job! Front – 5207 Andrew Robb; Middle – A 118 Ray Dignum; Back left – 4976 Reg Watts; Back right – 3572 Frank Norman.

‘It’ Completed After 4 Years of Work

By: Andrew Robb

‘It’ is finally completed, after four years and many dedicated hours each month by members of the Kingston Branch of the RMC Club. ‘It’ is the project to protect all the pre WW II cadet files from deterioration. Each sheet of each of the 2828 files of the cadets who entered the College up to and including 1940 has been interleafed with a sheet of acid-free paper. This will protect the contents of the files from further more rapid deterioration. All files are now boxed and stored in the climate controlled workshop of the RMC Museum where they are readily accessible by researchers and others. Twenty-one volunteers from the Branch worked on the project at different times, and it took over 700 man-hours to finish the job. 4459 Ed Murray conceived the project, and 5207 Andrew Robb managed to keep the volunteers on track and the records in good order.Thank you to all Branch members involved for completing this Herculean task.

Sadly we have been unable to locate any of the files of cadets from the post WW II years. The best information we have received is that they were destroyed. Too bad!

Final word to: 4976 Reg Watts, President, Kingston Branch

“This project has several levels of significance. First of all, the RMC spirit of getting the job done came through on this. Some days we trudged through the snow and occasionally sweated through summer mornings when the library air conditioning failed. It showed that our common past is a still a strong bond. Second, we realized the wealth of College Heritage information contained in the ex-cadet files now preserved for researchers, families and interested parties, and it revealed to us that there are many similar aspects of College heritage in similar danger. Thirdly, projects like this can keep alive the fellowship aims of the RMC Club of Canada by bringing Branch members together. We are fortunate because of our location to have access to records and memorabilia, but we need the support of the entire Club in future to make major progress. Hopefully this accomplishment will lead to similar activities in other branches, or support of the RMC museum financially.

Well done to all “KB Filers!”

Kingston Branch Meet Up With Cadets At Yeo Hall

By: Andrew Robb

Members of the Kingston Branch of the RMC Club had a real treat on 6 April. They were the guests of the cadets and had lunch with them in the Yeo Hall dining room. This was a different experience for many as the cafeteria style service has been added in more recent years. The cadets chatted openly with the members over lunch and answered many questions.

Thanks to Bill Oliver for helping make this connection.

Photos by: Dan Flemming and Kate Haddon

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Vancouver Branch:

After-Action Report & Warning Orders for Military Ball and Golf Tournament.

The RMC Club Vancouver Branch had a very successful Gun Range Night this past Wednesday March 30. The attendees were:

14390 Kate Armstrong and guest Miles Federspiel

20028 Torren Craigie-Manson

7566 Chris Haines the Elder

4473 Dave Larrigan

7786 Doug Matthews and spouse Marimae

10969 Mike McAuley

13766 Konrad Mech and spouse Kim

16064 Ingrid Milne and spouse Ron

9406 Bob Parsons and spouse Kathy

10992 Jeff Poste and spouse Maria Primavera

9835 Jim Reith and spouse Maggie (non-shooter)

16586 Scott Ross

11559 Steven Shore

The program was a lot of fun, comprising 2 bays X 9mm Glock, 1 X .40 cal automatic, 1 X .45 cal automatic, and 1 X 8 gauge shot-gun. Each person shot 10 rounds scored on the 9mm Glock and prizes were awarded at the Cat and Fiddle Sports Bar and Restaurant afterward as follows:

Best ex-serviceperson: 10992 Jeff Poste with a perfect score of 50.

Best female guest: Kim Breakell Mech (mother of 1st year OCdt Anders Mech, Hunter Flight, 12 Sqn), with a score of 32 – and the first time firing small-arms.

Best male guest: Ron Milne, with a score of 48.

Prizes were donated for this event by Weatherhaven, “Proven Expertise in Redeployable Shelters” and familiar to serving CF members as their home away from home in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and UN missions around the world.

Photos: the smiles say it all – this was a great night.

012c: Dave Larrigan, Torren Craigie-Manson, and Steven Shore

014c: Scott Ross on the .40 automatic.

016c: Kim Breakell Mech on the .45 automatic.

026c: Marimae Matthews before the 8 gauge shotgun.

027c: Marimae Matthews after the 8 gauge shotgun.

031c: Sherriff Konrad Mech, (background) Doug Matthews, David Larrigan, Maria Primavera, and Jeff Poste.

033c: Kate Armstrong showing form.

034c: Ingrid Milne.

038c: Kate Armstrong getting instruction on the shotgun from the Range Safety Officer.

049c: Ingrid Milne working the .45 automatic with Miles Federspiel on the 8 gauge shot-gun.

056c: Kate Armstrong and Doug Matthews.

058c: Doug Matthews on the shotgun.

061c: Trinity from the Matrix readying her personal hand-gun.

067cc: L-R: Miles Federspiel, Torren Craigie-Manson, Bob Parsons, Kate Armstrong (back), Kathy Parsons, Ron Milne, Ingrid Milne, Dave Larrigan, Doug Matthews.

071cc: Dave Larrigan with a respectable score of 38 out of a possible 50. And they all would have hurt a lot, especially the one to the left iliac in the pelvis.

081cccc: Jeff Poste with the trophy for Best Ex-Service Person, Kim Breakell Mech with trophy for Best Female Guest, Ron Milne with trophy for Best Male Guest, and event organizer Sherriff Konrad Mech.

Upcoming Events for Vancouver Branch:

1. The RMC Vancouver Branch is booking tables for attendees at the Vancouver Garrison’s Annual Military Ball, which will be held on Saturday 21 May 2011 with the Hyatt Regency Vancouver as the host hotel for 2011. The hotel’s well appointed ballroom has served as a great venue for both dancing as well as floor shows several times in the past and it is expected to do same excellent job again for the 66th Annual Military Ball.

The tariff for the Ball has been set at $110 per person. This increase comes after having kept the line for the last six years, however, reality of the general costs today vs six years ago is, reluctantly, reflected in the tariff for the 2011 Ball but with the anticipation that the new level will be sufficient to cover costs for several years to come.

Interested parties are asked to book their tickets directly with the event coordinators on line at http://site.militaryball.ca/2011tickets and request seating with the RMC Club of Canada group.

2. The RMC Vancouver Branch is again holding its Annual Texas Scramble and Steak Dinner at Ft. Langley Golf Course on Sunday June 12th. This is always a popular event and is a great time on a great course. Pricing and specifics to follow but book the date now.

3. Recce has begun for the exact route for the RMC Vancouver Branch Mini-Fondo. The Fondo will be in the Pitt Meadows/Pitt Lake region of the Lower Mainland, with Golden Eagles Golf Course as the start and end point. We will run two routes, one a 50km (flat!) route for roadies, and the other being a mountain-bike friendly route on the dykes bounding the Alouette River. Stay tuned for dates and timings. Maggie Reith will be the chase car driver for mechanical breakdowns and general baggedness, and a steak dinner will follow at the Golden Eagles Golf Course.

Your faithful correspondent and Branch President, 13766 Konrad Mech.

Posted in i. Ex-Cadets in the News | 1 Comment »

Ex-Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 10th April 2011

15492 Dave Cochrane leaving CFB Trenton

Heading to Australia this summer

Article by: Ernst Kuglin and Jerome Lessard – The Trentonian

After spending the last year lifting the morale of the country’s largest air base, Col. Dave Cochane will be lifting off for a new challenge.

The Trentonian has learned Cochrane will head to Australia this summer take on “professional development and advanced training.” The Defence and Strategic Studies Course is a top level curriculum for senior military officers, a military source said.

16855 Col. Sean Friday, who is currently serving at Canada Command Headquarters in Ottawa, will officially take over Cochrane’s command sometime this summer.

“There is no timeline confirmed yet regarding the change of command, but Col. Friday will be appointed as the new commanding officer at CFB Trenton by the end of the summer,” said the source.

In February 2010, military brass had to move fast to find a new commanding officer for the local air base after Russell Williams, its former commander, had been arrested and charged in the sex slayings of two young women — Jessica Lloyd, a civilian, and Marie-France Comeau, an air force corporal.

Senior air force commanders, including Maj.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, Commander of 1 Air Division, said they had then found the man capable of putting the base back on course.

He described Cochrane then as a dedicated family man and a community-minded individual.

Less than 24 hours after he assumed command of 8 Wing, Cochrane found himself standing on the steps of the headquarters building in front of a large crowd waving Canadian flags.

In a year-end interview given to QMI Agency, Cochrane described those two February days as a “remarkable” sequence of events.

“The rally couldn’t have come at a more perfect time,” he said then. “Military personnel that had gathered on the steps of the building were overjoyed. I was speechless at watching how many people were coming through the main gates. It was a special day that I won’t soon forget.”

Cochrane’s civilian counterpart — Quinte West Mayor John Williams — was largely responsible for the rally.

Williams said the civilian ties with base had to be rebuilt.

“From the time he took command Dave has been a great guy to work with,” said Williams. “There aren’t many better. He was the right man to lead the base at exactly the right time. He helped to lift a dark cloud that hung over the base and the entire Quinte region.”

Williams said it didn’t take long for Cochrane to immerse himself into the civilian host community.

“Dave brought instant stability and confidence to the entire base and our community,” added Williams. “He’s been a fantastic asset to the city. We’re going to miss him.”

The relationship between the wing commander and the mayor blossomed. Williams flew to Camp Mirage in Dubai last summer with Cochrane to visit the Wing Mission Support Squadron. It was the first time a local civilian leader was flown into a combat theatre of operations.”

Williams said the trip was a “blast.”

“I jumped at the opportunity,” he said. “Dave has been a great communicator, but unfortunately he’s a Maple Leaf’s fan. I supposed I can’t fault him for that.”

Cochrane described the job of 8 Wing commander as the best in the Air Force.

“I may be biased but I think we are located in one of the best host communities across Canada and the bond with the local community is incredible,” he had said in the same year-end interview. “That strong bond has been reinforced over this past year. I would love to stay here for longer. It’s a coveted position…people are lined up behind me.”

A request to interview Cochrane regarding his departure from CFB Trenton was denied by the Department of National Defence (DND) Tuesday, suggesting a phone interview with the air base’s commanding officer “could affect the outcome of the federal election,” said a public affairs officer at DND’s media liaison office in Ottawa.

Friday joined the Canadian Forces in 1985 and graduated from the Royal Military College in 1989. Following Air Navigator wings training, Friday served with 429 Transport Squadron in Trenton where he flew as an Advanced Tactical Airlift Navigator and as a Formation Lead Navigator on the C-130 Hercules. He later joined 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron in Winnipeg, conducting strategic airlift and tactical air-to-air refueling missions around the globe on the Hercs.

Between July 2006 and May 2008, Friday was appointed as commanding officer of 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, and during this tour the unit was awarded the coveted Mynarski Trophy as Canada’s top search and rescue squadron and was later recognized with the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation.

The incumbent 8 Wing commanding officer is currently appointed Deputy Chief of Staff – Plans at Canada Command Headquarters in Ottawa.

National defence officials refused to make either officer available for this story, citing regulations that prohibit officers from speaking on issues that “may influence” the federal election.

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What happens if Gadhafi survives?

For NATO, the abortive Libyan intervention will be yet another proof of the alliance’s inability to get its act together. Europe’s weakness will have been revealed yet again and, just as in Afghanistan, members put caveats on the employment of their aircraft.

5105 J.L. Granatstein is a senior research fellow of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.

Read the entire article

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Route Hyena a Canadian-built ‘dagger through the heart of the Taliban’

Lt. David Cossette, a combat engineer three years out of Royal Military College, “jumped on the road project” when he arrived in Kandahar four months ago. “As much as possible we try to keep our footprint as small as possible and have them decide where …

23854 David Cossette

Read the entire article

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Ex-Cadets & More in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 3rd April 2011

Pub night at The Cove last Friday March 25th went well. It was a bit noisy due to the Vancouver Canucks / Atlanta Thrashers hockey game (which Vancouver won), but we were in the best location possible in the upper area away from the packed lower bar and a lot of the noise. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves as we told old stories of our times at the Colleges. We didn’t have as large a crowd as our first pub night on 25 February but the following nine attendees had a good time from about 5:30 until 8:45 PM:

- 10061 Dana and Margaret Vanier

- 10323 Ken and Carol Tanner

- 10992 Jeff and Maria Poste

- 7516 Ian Sanderson

- 7059 Terry Senft

- 4913 Ed Hare

I plan to start arranging the 29 April event about mid-April and give you the details shortly thereafter. If you have any pub preferences please let me know.

Cheers,

4913 Ed Hare

Pub Night Coordinator for Vancouver Branch

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Frontenac grad on move

Milner, a graduate of Frontenac Secondary School and Royal Military College, will be leaving his post as commander of Joint Task Force Afghanistan later this year to become deputy commanding general of III Corps in Fort Hood, Tex.

14596 Dean Milner

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Frigate patrols Libyan coast

“Success is predicated on the support of family and friends back home,”

21214 Lt.-Cmdr. Matthew Coates, a Halifax native who is the executive officer of HMCS Charlottetown

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Military to test new Arctic search-and-rescue plan

“Defence must develop a greater capacity to operate in the North for extended periods,”

E2319 Maj. Tony Balasevicius

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New CEO for the Canadian Centre for Court Technology – Centre canadien de technologie judiciaire

A bilingual Quebec Bar Member, Patrick graduated from McGill University (common law and civil law programs) and from Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean in 1992 (B.Sc.).

18099 Patrick Cormier

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Retired officers unleash battle strategies on Carleton-Mississippi Mills riding

Decorated air force pioneer Lt.-Col. Karen McCrimmon will attempt to seize the riding for the Liberals from army Brig.-Gen. Gordon O’Connor, the former defence minister who now serves as chief whip in the Conservative government.

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Ex-Cadets & More in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 27th March 2011

Camp Mirage – The end of an era

“…this is the final ceremonial act of closure. When we take this flag down, we are closing a chapter on Camp Mirage. However, we part as friends. Aviators, warriors – men and women of arms. But friends.”

17829 LCol Tom Dunne – the last commanding officer of the base in southwest Asia – Camp Mirage

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How signing your name can influence what you buy

Häubl and 20771 Keri Kettle, a Ph.D. student, conducted four studies with hundreds of participants – both in the field and in the laboratory – to look at the impact of signing one’s name on consumers’ shopping patterns. The results are to be published in the October issue of the Journal of Consumer Research.

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Canadian fighters conduct first mission in Libya

“Our crews are highly trained in the use of precision-guided munitions. However, having said that, the risk in deploying air-to-ground munitions in such a fluid environment is real. Our aircrews understand this and they’re well aware of the need to positively identify potential targets…. To be clear we will aim for no collateral damage.

“Having completed our first mission, Canada’s Air Force is clearly an engaged and valued part of the coalition,” he said.

Major-General Tom Lawson, Assistant Chief of the Air Staff.

Canadian jets bomb Libyan target in first attack

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Air Force member receives Sea Service Insignia

“It is a visible and formal recognition of the key role that naval operations play in Canadian security at home and abroad. Whether participating in search and rescue operations, protecting Canada’s ocean approaches, conducting arctic sovereignty exercises, or patrolling the world’s oceans to keep them safe for all to use, and conducting these vital activities in all weather conditions”.

Chief of the Maritime Staff, Vice-Admiral 11919 Dean McFadden

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Canadian Forces’ area won’t be part of Afghan security handover

“I think their focus is going to be on intimidation of the locals, and I think they are going try to intimidate and bring harm to some of the Afghan officials. And I think they are going to try to occupy some of their traditional areas or safe havens.”

Canadian Brig.-Gen. 16663 Andre Corbould who is serving as the deputy commander of NATO’s war effort in southern Afghanistan.

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Toronto class tops Canadian quiz

“Fisher said some Canadians on peacekeeping missions are faced with conditions “more like wars,-^but softly declined to answer one student who asked if he had ever killed anyone, saying “it’s not a question you ask a soldier.”

12535 Major John Fisher described 31 years in the army

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Peter Milliken says hello to retirement

“When you elected me to this job you raised me high in this House, but what has been the wonderful part about it is the affection and the respect that you have showered upon me since my first election.”

Honourary member S149 Peter Milliken – RMC Club of Canada

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Honorary Colonel of the Army Appointed

“Our soldiers make great sacrifices in the service of Canada and Canadian interests. I am grateful for this opportunity to support them by continuing to be a bridge between the business community and the men and women in uniform who make us proud at home and abroad.”

Mr. Blake C. Goldring, Chairman and CEO of AGF Management Limited

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Ex-Cadets & More in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 20th March 2011

Canada may take on large share of Libya mission

“Nothing has changed since World War One, World War Two,” he said. “The fighter pilots are very carefully trained and they look forward to an opportunity to show they have learned their skills well.”

3528 Paul Manson, a retired air force general and chief of the defence staff in the late 1980s.

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Families of Canadian fallen visit Kandahar

“It’s good to be here to see the full moon over Kandahar and taste the dust and just be in this place where Nichola was,” Mr. Goddard said Sunday, following a sombre memorial service at Kandahar Airfield. “My wife, Sally, decided she didn’t want to come; she feels at peace with things as they are. I felt a duty to come.”

Tim Goddard father of Capt. Nichola Goddard the first female Canadian soldier to be killed in combat.

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Defence industry critic claims he was blacklisted over political views

“I have a great deal of respect for him,”

Retired Canadian 10155 Brig.-Gen. Greg Mitchell, then in charge of SHIRBRIG, also supported the idea of deployment to Darfur, although he presented his case to his military superiors in Ottawa, rather than the PMO.

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Obama’s foreign policy is in tatters

Historian 5105 J.L. Granatstein is a senior research fellow of the Canadian Defence and Foreign Affairs Institute.

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Afghan, Canadian gunners train together

18254 Lieutenant-Colonel Michel-Henri St-Louis, commander of 1st Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group

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Canada prepares to pack everything for Kandahar pullout

“We could put more people, we could put more effort, we could put more hours … but we’re done that day. That’s the one constant.”

16124 Lt.-Col. Steve Moritsugu

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Flying high in Kingston

It was RMC Paladins coach Adam Shell who recommended the Vees program to Pym, who missed the application deadline for the college last year.

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Afghan governor praises ‘peace, stability’

“The surge has enabled us to have the right counter-insurgency ratio on the ground to properly provide the security that’s needed,”

14596 Dean Milner

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Ombudsman accepting award nominations

“Liz Hoffman was an investigator with our office who had a deeply rooted sense of fairness and was a tremendous force for positive change,”

DND/CF Ombudsman 9485 Pierre Daigle

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Troops prepare for last rotation in Afghanistan

“The purpose of this exercise is to validate and confirm the level of operational readiness of the members of the unit prior to deployment to Afghanistan,” said 22780 Captain Daniel Baillargeon, the Assistant Operations Officer of 430 Tac Hel Sqn.

“Being able to conduct joint training with the Battle Group in Valcartier prior to deployment was very interesting, and the training was highly realistic,” commented 23126 Capt Jillian Bristow, a CH-146 Griffon helicopter pilot.

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Canadian fighter jets en route to support Libya no-fly zone

“They’re properly positioned and upgraded to participate in this sort of conflict,”

16392 Elinor Sloan, an associate professor of international relations at Carleton University and a former Defence Department analyst.

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The trouble with training

“That type of training always carries risk,”

Walter Dorn, an associate professor at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto.

Walter Dorn – Bio

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Wolfe Island’s Hockeyville support network extends to Florida

“It’s like you were the Montreal Canadiens,” he said. “Everyone on the island made a big deal out of us. Everywhere you went people made a point of congratulating you. It made you feel like you were a National (Hockey) Leaguer.”

Jim Hulton – Florida Panthers assistant coach – former RMC Paladins Head Hockey Coach

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Canadian space business group mulls Arctic sovereignty and small satellites

“We’re claiming that all of this acreage is ours and yet we’d be very hard-pressed to survey it, let alone protect it,”

M0776 Maj. Marc Fricker, a lecturer at Royal Military College in Kingston, Ont

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Ex-Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 13th March 2011

Snowbirds’ Tutor aircraft greets visitors at museum’s new wing

6757 HCol Michael Potter

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Snowbird #7

“I saw the team when I was in high school and said, ‘ya that would be an awesome job to do’,”

Captain Marco Rusconi

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Snowbird #2

“As long as they make the effort once in a while, I’m happy with that,” he said, joking, “Sometimes it’s more painful to see them trying to speak French.”

Captain Jean-Francois Dupont

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Canadian soldiers raise money for CAI

“This fund-raising activity will allow us to leave a legacy to the people of Afghanistan, because investing in education is a way of making a lasting and positive impact on the lives of the Afghan people,”

18086 Major Christine Carignan

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22498 Lt(N) Janan Sutherland receives CDS Commendation

“I contacted my family back home and told them about the project I had, of building a school,” Lt(N) Sutherland says. “My family and friends raised $15 000, allowing me to buy material from the local merchants and have the people of Kortala work collectively to build this school.”

22498 Lt(N) Janan Sutherland

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Fighting crime on the high seas

“We’ve taken our participation one step further, and it’s incredibly important for us to do that as a part of our contribution to the defence of North America. The amount of illicit narcotics making it to the streets of Canada and the United States is enormous. It’s a huge marketplace, it’s all illegal, and this is a way for Canada to play an active role in defending against this threat to our citizens.”

CO Commander 18127 Paul Forget

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Ex-Cadets & Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 6th March 2011

CF members in Sudan: Witnesses to the birth of a nation

23056 Capt Brad Fee brings a group of village children to pose for the camera.

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Canadian warship en route, JTF2 sent to Libya

16392 Elinor Sloan, an international relations professor at Carleton University, said the situation in Libya is not unlike the one in Kosovo in 1999. Should the international community fight back against Gadhafi’s regime, Canada could play a role similar to the one it played in Kosovo.

“Kosovo was a humanitarian circumstance. It was the Serbian government acting against the Albanian minority and we deployed CF-18s there,” she said. “The entire allied operation was precision air power striking resources of the Serbian government with the goal of getting (then-president Slobodan) Milosevic to change his behaviour.

“In this case, we’d be striking Libyan government assets with the goal of getting Gadhafi to change his behaviour.”

Read it on Global News: Canadian warship en route, JTF2 sent to Libya

Elinor Sloan, an international relations professor at Carleton University, said the situation in Libya is not unlike the one in Kosovo in 1999. Should the international community fight back against Gadhafi’s regime, Canada could play a role similar to the one it played in Kosovo.

“In this case, we’d be striking Libyan government assets with the goal of getting Gadhafi to change his behaviour.”

Frigate turnaround planned, navy says

“The Charlottetown coming back last night was planned,” navy spokesman Major Paul Doucette said Thursday.

“Once they started to prepare for the deployment, the actual schedule was put together and that was part of the schedule.”

20319 Paul Doucette

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Ignatieff is protecting taxpayers

Article by: 8276 Marc Garneau

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Gotta climb! Mountain adventure whets student’s appetite for more

“I’m not a daredevil,” he says. “I just want to push myself to extremes.”

25881 Anthony Matlock

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OMG! Shooting Stars explained by Astronaut – 13738 Chris Hadfield

A little gem of good humour from Chris Hadfield. Educational and in good taste piece about practicalities on day-to-day living in space.

Short video

Space station evolution

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Ex-Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 27th February 2011

Remise de la Mention au GT 3 R22eR

Son Excellence le très honorable David Johnston pose en présence du Col Alain Gauthier (à droite), Directeur général – Autorité des griefs des Forces canadiennes, et du Lcol Roch Pelletier, commandant du 3 R22eR.

18726 Lcol Roch Pelletier

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Massive operation seen as key test for Afghan planning, logistics skills

“I had nothing much to say, other than we’re ready to go,” Dufault said. “I think they have come to a new level of maturity. It’s a tribute to their progression.”

21353 Francois Dufault

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Resupply and over-watch:

Task Force Faucon in the Horn of Panjwa’i

Since early December 2010, the helicopters of Task Force Faucon have become vital to the air bridge connecting Kandahar Airfield to Canadian and American soldiers deployed at the austere forward operating bases (FOB) of the Horn of Panjwa’i.

21497 Major Christopher McKenna

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Ottawa Flying Club great place to learn

“A highlight in my career was when I was selected by the Canada Space Program to become an astronaut but I had to drop out due to medical reasons. I was an aeronautical engineer and often worked with C5 aircraft. We had to do all sorts of environmental training, much of it underwater. Once we lived in an underwater dive chamber for a week to simulate what it would be like to live in a space station,” he added. But now it’s nice to be on the management side of things because I have a family and small children so my priorities have changed.”

15003 Michael McKay, CEO Ottawa Flying Club

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Canadian troops finding more insurgent weapon stashes in Afghanistan

“February has been particularly positive in our ability to find weapons caches, IED component caches and all the materials the insurgents need to do us harm,”

18254 Lt.-Col. Michel-Henri St – Louis

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Ex-Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 20th February 2011

Westport’s Glenn Allen honoured

“This is recognition for volunteers,” said Allen. “The whole world is run by volunteers.”

5533 Glenn Allen

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Canadian generals to oversee critical Afghan training programmes

“That is an incredible compliment to Canada,”

13337 Maj-Gen. Stu Beare

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Third time’s a charm

He is replacing the Rev. George Bruce, who announced last October that he would retire effective Aug. 31, 2011. Bruce has been bishop of the diocese since 2002.

6090 Rev. George Bruce

More info on Rev. George Bruce

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Military revising domestic strategy after Olympics reveal huge flaws

“It is not to say that we’re not ready at home, we are ready at home,”

16651 Colonel Sean Friday

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Twin Otter reaches service milestone

“[The Twin Otter] has supported a wide number of roles while supporting Canada, the Canadian Forces and Canadians,”

15382 Lieutenant-Colonel Dwayne Lovegrove, Commanding Officer, 440 (T) Sqn

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE & VIEW THE SHORT VIDEO

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Canadian CC-130J completes its first mission in Kandahar

Gehl added he was looking forward to the Canadians operations relationship with American and British forces who have been using the C-130J for some time now.

22523 Captain Chad Gehl

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BGen Peter Atkinson, “pinch-hits” for G.G. in Texas

13068 Brigadier-General Peter Atkinson, Deputy Commanding General (Canada) III Armored Corps

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Military’s failure to produce key F-35 document questioned

“I started my career in the military, and I have never seen the government so pro-actively go on a selling campaign,” he said.

“I can understand politicians doing it, that’s natural, especially when it’s controversial and it’s being questioned. But to co-opt the military to go out and do sales jobs for them…this to me has been unprecedented.”

8276 Marc Garneau

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Morris predicts great Scotties for Homan

“This becomes cliche,” said Morris, “but they have to take every game one at a time. But more so, they have to play with confidence and they can and do. Even watching the rink practise, they exude confidence and it shows in their body language and their attitude.”

7301 Earle Morris

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Pelley about to be part of something bigger than self

“You put on the uniform to do something, to be part of something that is bigger than yourself. After your career is over, you like to think that you’ve a made a little difference in the world,”

M820 Capt Mark Pelley

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When Canada speaks, no one listens

“Our influence in the Middle East has always been overrated, including during the Suez Crisis,”

5105 J.L. Granatstein

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Stepped-up night patrols aim to disrupt Taliban bomb planting

“If we are there by day, there by night, in vehicles, on foot, everywhere, then the insurgent has nowhere to go,”

21353 Maj. Francois Dufault, deputy commander of the current battle group, featuring the 1st battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment based in Valcartier, Que.

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13738 Chris Hadfield on Arctic sovereignty

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Canada’s top soldier hopes to build trust in Afghanistan’s Ambush Alley

“I think they are sitting on the fence right now and they’re waiting to see who is more capable, who is winning,”

14596 Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner

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Ex Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 13th February 2011

First woman to fall in Afghan combat earns nautical honour

Families of fallen heroes ‘honoured’

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New Canadian Forces Promotions and Appointments Announced

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, is proud to announce a portion of the 2011 senior Canadian Forces (CF) promotions and appointments. These officers are instrumental in leading the Canadian Forces in the defence of Canada and in the protection of Canadian interests at home and abroad.

“Strong leadership is essential to the success of military activities and these officers are continuing a proud Canadian Forces tradition of standing up for Canada and Canadians,” said Minister MacKay. “It goes without saying that the extensive knowledge and skills that these General and Flag Officers possess are essential to the success of Canadian Forces operations and effectiveness.”

“These men and women have demonstrated the leadership skills and professional attributes to excel in these appointments,” said General Walter Natyncyzk, Chief of the Defence Staff. “I am proud to work alongside them and am confident they will continue the CF’s tradition of providing world-class leadership.”

Below are three Ex cadets who we recognized from the list, if we missed any please let us know. Source

The following promotions and appointments for Canadian Forces senior officers will take place in 2011:

General Promotions & Appointments

16663 Brigadier-General Corbould K.A. , OMM, CD – was promoted to Brig.-Gen. and remains as Director Future Plans Regional Command (South) HQ – Joint Task Force in Afghanistan;

14472 Brigadier-General Mcquillan K.D. , CD - was promoted to Brig.-Gen. (acting while so employed) and appointed Deputy Commanding General for Coalition/Effects with U.S. First Cavalry Divisions Regional Command (East) Afghanistan;

14378 Brigadier-General Thompson D.W. , OMM, MSC, CD - will be appointed Commander Canadian Special Operations Forces Command at NDHQ, in Ottawa, replacing Brig.-Gen. M.D. Day.

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Security is high-tech at base

14069 Colonel Michael Pearson is Commander 3 Area Support Group/CFB Gagetown, the commander of the base

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Canadian helicopters keep eye in the sky on new Afghan road construction

“The linking of Bazaar-I-Panjwaii to Zangabad, Talikhan and Mushan (in the Horn) has caused some fields to be plowed over by road construction elements and some compounds had to be taken down, just as it would if a road was being built south of Montreal,”

18254 Lieutenant-Colonel Michel-Henri St-Louis

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Ex-Cadets in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 6th February 2011

Canadian military wants new F-35 fighter jets

Jet setter. Major-General T.J. Lawson, assistant chief of the Canadian military’s Air Staff, was in Mississauga last week to talk about the F-35 fighter jet. Construction of the aircraft will bring jobs to Mississauga. Photo by Chris Horobin

“We’re not only defending Canada,” said Lawson. “We’re also doing that with a partner to the south who expects us to meet our NORAD obligations.”

12192 Major-General Tom Lawson

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Troops hone firing skills with new tank technology

21212 Major Derek Chenette

VIEW THE SHORT VIDEO

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1 R22eR BG begins its tour overseas

“The members of 1 RCR BG prepared us very well. They made a point of giving us as much information and knowledge as possible about the terrain,”

18254 Lieutenant-Colonel Michel-Henri St-Louis, commanding officer of 1 R22eR BG.

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Canadian patrol crew visits NORAD

“From a user perspective, we were just given our orders and we’d go out and fly a mission, come back and the information goes in a box somewhere,”

23181 Captain Daniel Klco, a 407 Squadron pilot

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1 RCR conducts counter-insurgency operations

21554 Major Eleanor Taylor

VIEW THE VIDEO

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NSE supplies Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan

“Everyone here is working for the guy out in his tank in the middle of the desert with only water and rations,”

18777 NSE Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Sébastien Bouchard

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Compensation: Fredericton politician goes against the grain

“I’d support an independent panel,”

19874 Brian Macdonald, the MLA for Fredericton-Silverwood

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11 Ex-Cadets Earn New Letters After Their Names. Others in the News

Posted by rmcclub on 30th January 2011

The Governor General Announces 114 new Appointments to the Order of Military Merit

At least 11 Ex Cadets Among Recipients (If we missed anyone let us know with college number)

COMMANDERS

12286 Rear-Admiral Nigel Stafford Greenwood, C.M.M., C.D.

(This is a promotion within the Order)

12296 Major-General Joseph Marcel Marquis Hainse, C.M.M., C.D.

(This is a promotion within the Order)

12192 Major-General Tom James Lawson, C.M.M., C.D.

(This is a promotion within the Order)

12444 Rear-Admiral Paul Andrew Maddison, C.M.M., M.S.M., C.D.

(This is a promotion within the Order)

13143 Major-General Mark Edmund McQuillan, C.M.M., C.D.

13551 Major-General Guy Robert Thibault, C.M.M., C.D.

OFFICERS

13846 Lieutenant-Colonel Kevin Francis Bryski, O.M.M., C.D.

M773 Major James Randall Burton, O.M.M., C.D.

16663 Colonel Kenneth André Corbould, O.M.M., C.D.

15318 Colonel Martin Girard, O.M.M., C.D.

13041 Colonel James Baxter Simms, O.M.M., C.D.

The Order of Military Merit recognizes distinctive merit and exceptional service displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Forces, both Regular and Reserve. Many have demonstrated dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty, and the Order honours them for their commitment to Canada, according to the following three levels:

The level of Commander (post-nominal: C.M.M.) recognizes outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility.

The level of Officer (Post-nominal: O.M.M.) recognizes outstanding meritorious service in duties of responsibility.

The level of Member (Post-nominal: M.M.M.) recognizes exceptional service or performance of dutyThe Order of Military Merit recognizes distinctive merit and exceptional service displayed by the men and women of the Canadian Forces, both Regular and Reserve. Many have demonstrated dedication and devotion beyond the call of duty, and the Order honours them for their commitment to Canada, according to the following three levels:

The level of Commander (post-nominal: C.M.M.) recognizes outstanding meritorious service and demonstrated leadership in duties of great responsibility.

The level of Officer (Post-nominal: O.M.M.) recognizes outstanding meritorious service in duties of responsibility.

The level of Member (Post-nominal: M.M.M.) recognizes exceptional service or performance of duty. Source

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Power shift in Panjwaii offers new hope

“I can only speak for my own experience,” said Montreuil, of Montreal. “I’ve been in country since September and I can tell you that Haji Baran has been 100 per cent supportive of the Canadian forces.

“And he will still be. He even told us that even though he’s not a district governor anymore, if we need him, he’s going to help us out. He’s going to support the new district governor by being here, talking to tribal leaders.”

20212 Maj. Eric Montreuil (CMR RMC 1996)

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The truth about those jets

Canadians need to be able to see through the many misconceptions that surround the F-35 acquisition, which is a vital element in the securing of our nation’s future, write 3528 Paul Manson (RRMC RMC 1956) and 11330 Angus Watt (CMR 1977).

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Vance feels right at home when he visits CFB Gagetown

“Even one is hard, (but) six all at once is very tough for all of us,” said Brig.-Gen. Vance who, at the time, was commanding 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) in Edmonton.

15696 Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance (RRMC 1986), a two-time commander of this country’s troops in Afghanistan

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Military investigates leak of secret documents from Kandahar base

“I’m not leaking national secrets by saying we have human failings,”

16039 Lieutenant-Colonel Sandy Schwab (RMC 1987), who is charge of signals traffic coming from overseas.

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Awards honour athletes’ dedication, determination

“This has allowed me to do a lot of traveling,”

24568 Vanessa Larochelle-Meilleur (RMC 2010)

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Olympic sized commendation

“I definitely want to acknowledge the support I received from Air Canada, who graciously granted me the time off required for me to participate in this operation as a member of the Reserve Force.”

12240 Jim Sullivan (RMC 1979)

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