Tag Archives: Afghanistan
Episode 056 – WO Aly Hirji
Warrant Officer Aly Hirji a member of The Royal Regiment of Canada was born and raised in East York Ontario. Warrant Officer Hirji completed his basic training through the Cooperative Education Program during February 1995 and May 1995 not earning any money, but in turn earning two High School Credits. Warrant Officer Hirji was promoted to Corporal in 1997, to Master- Corporal in 1999, Sergeant in 2007 and Warrant Officer in 2009. He has deployed to Israel in support of […]
Episode 053 – LGen Guy R. Thibault
Lieutenant-General Guy R. Thibault, CMM, MSC, CD joined the Canadian Forces in 1978 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Physics at the Royal Military College. Upon completion of Army Signal Officer training in Kingston, he served in various operational capacities within the Special Service Force in Petawawa as well as 4 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, and Canadian Forces Europe in Lahr, West Germany. He has held a wide range of command and staff appointments within the […]
Episode 052 – Col Kevin Cameron
Colonel (Ret’d) Kevin Cameron joined the Canadian Forces in 1989 under the Officer Candidate Training Plan (OCTP), was commissioned into The Royal Canadian Regiment (The RCR) and posted to 3rd Battalion, The RCR at Canadian Force Base (CFB) Baden-Solingen, Germany. During his two years with 3 RCR Germany, he deployed to Croatia and Sarajevo in 1992. Upon return from the Former Yugoslavia, and with the close-out of CFB Baden-Solingen in 1993, he was posted to 2nd Battalion, The RCR at […]
Episode 051 – WO2 Paul Baines
WO2 Paul Baines, MC joined the British Army on the 6th of April, 1996 at the Exeter Recruiting Office. He completed his Basic Training at the Guards Depot in Pirbright, Surrey, then completed Infantry training at the Infantry Training Centre Catterick. He passed in October, 1996 as a Guardsman and joined the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards in Oxford Barracks, Munster in Germany. Throughout his Army career he has participated in high profile state ceremonial events such as the Trooping of […]
Episode 050 – Sgt Sean Wickett & Cpl Allan Wickett
Sgt Sean Wickett joined The Grey & Simcoe Foresters in 2002, at the age of 18, after serving as a youth in the Royal Canadian Army Cadets. In the past 14 years, Sean has deployed to Afghanistan as part of Roto 3-08, deployed to the Middle East on Op Proteus as well as the Arctic and sub-arctic with the 4th Canadian Division’s Arctic Response Company Group as well as on Operation Nanook. In the summer of 2015, Sgt Wickett led […]
Episode 049 – BGen Omer Lavoie
Brigadier-General Omer Lavoie was born and raised in Marathon, Ontario. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983 as a private soldier in the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment. Upon high school graduation, he transferred to the Regular Force and attended Royal Roads Military College from 1985 – 1989. Upon completion of infantry phase training, he was posted to Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. Brigadier-General Lavoie’s regimental employment includes service with 2RCR, 1 RCR and as the Regimental Adjutant. As […]
Episode 045 – LGen Peter Develin
Lieutenant General Peter John Devlin CMM, MSC, CD was a senior officer in the Canadian Army and is currently President of Fanshawe College. He served as Commander of the Canadian Army from 2010 to 2013. Educated at the University of Western Ontario, Peter Devlin was commissioned into The Royal Canadian Regiment, having joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1978. He served in an operational role in Cyprus between 1984 and 1985 and in the Former Yugoslavia in 1992. He commanded […]
Episode 043 – Col Dwayne Hobbs
Colonel Dwayne Hobbs joined the Essex & Kent Scottish in 1988. In 1992, while a student at the University of Toronto, he enrolled in the Reserve Entry Scheme Officer (RESO) program with the Toronto Scottish Regiment. Following completion of Phase IV Infantry at the Combat Training Centre in 1995, he commanded at the Platoon level for multiple iterations of Combat Readiness Evaluation cycles. In 1996, he joined the Staff of Toronto District Headquarters as the G6 and completed the Militia […]
Episode 040 – HCol Bill Graham
William Carvel “Bill” Graham PC QC CM (born March 17, 1939) is a former Canadian politician, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of National Defence, Leader of the Opposition and interim Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada. Graham grew up in Montreal and Vancouver, and he was educated at Upper Canada College, Trinity College at the University of Toronto, the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, and the University of Paris. As a student, he traveled in […]
Episode 035 – Col Peter Dawe
Colonel Dawe joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990 as an artillery officer. Following a tour to Cyprus as a troop commander, he reclassified to the infantry, and joined the Second Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Col Dawe’s regimental experience has included command appointments at the platoon, company and, most recently, at the battalion level as Commanding Officer of 3 PPCLI. Col Dawe’s extra-regimental employment has included tours at the Canadian Forces Recruit and Leadership School as a recruit […]
Episode 026 BGen Richard ‘Des’ DesLauriers Part II
Brigadier-General DesLauriers is the Canadian Military Engineer Branch Colonel Commandant and is celebrating the 111th Anniversary of the Corps on 1 May 2014. Please visit The Canadian Military Engineers Association web site for more information about this proud Corps. Follow me on Twitter @MikeLacroix32 and keep track of my results on #Mike100Workouts You can support this site by shopping on Amazon. You still enjoy Amazon’s great prices, but a portion of your purchase goes to supporting the show. Des […]
Episode 021 LGen Marquis Hainse
Lieutenant-General Hainse joined the Canadian Forces in 1977 and studied at the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean. He was commissioned as an officer in August 1980 and then joined the Royal 22e Régiment. His operational postings began in 1980 with the 2nd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment in Quebec City. He served on five operational missions abroad and participated in two domestic operations, namely Oka and the 1998 ice storm. He also held diverse command appointments at every rank level. In […]
Episode 020 Sgt Christopher Murdy
Sergeant Murdy was born in London, Ontario and joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1999. He follows his Great Uncle Morris Murdy, a WWII signaler who served in the Italian Campaign, as the last known serving member in the family. Sergeant Murdy has served exclusively with the 4th Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. He joined the military while completing his Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at the University of Western Ontario. Upon completion of his Basic Infantry Qualification, Sergeant […]
Episode 019 CWO Carl Deroche
This week’s guest is CWO Deroche who enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in July 1980, initially serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment in Gagetown. After completing the Basic Para Course at CFB Edmonton in 1981 he was posted to the Canadian Airborne Regiment in Petawawa. He served with the Airborne Regiment for a total of eight years and is the youngest person to successfully completed the demanding Patrol Pathfinder Course. He subsequently served extensively in […]
Episode 018 BGen Gary Stafford
Today’s podcast guest is Brigadier General Gary Stafford, OMM, CD. In 1970, Brigadier-General Stafford joined The Royal Regiment of Canada as a Private and progressed to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in 1983. He held the position of Regimental Sergeant Major from 1983 to 1987. In 1988, Brigadier-General Stafford commissioned from the ranks, promoted to Captain and posted to Toronto Militia District Headquarters (now 32 Canadian Brigade Group) as the Recruiting Officer for one year. He returned to The […]
Episode 017 Col R.G. (Geordie) Elms
Geordie Elms was born in Toronto. In 1967 he followed his grandfather and father into the ranks of the 48th Highlanders of Canada when he joined as a piper. He served with the Pipes and Drums until 1972 when he applied to become an officer under the Reserve Officer University Training Plan (ROUTP). He transferred to the Regular Force, joining 3rd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment. As an RCR officer he has served on regimental duty with the 2nd and […]
Episode 016 CWO Grant Lawson
This week’s episode is with CWO Grant Lawson. Grant has served as a crewman in the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps in two Regiments: the Ontario Regiment and the Queen’s York Rangers. He has deployed to the Middle East, the former Yugoslavia and most recently to Afghanistan. His current appointment takes him out of his usual arcs and into the Infantry, serving as the Regimental Sergeant-Major of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. Grant is a good friend and a trusted advisor. […]
Episode 013 BGen Fred Lewis
Welcome Back and Happy New Year. This episode follows a short break which gave me an opportunity to get caught up and also rest a bit. I am very pleased to have been able to interview Brigadier General Fred Lewis, who has recently retired from the Canadian Armed Forces after a career that spanned over thirty years. General Lewis is an inspiring leader who always knew and spoke of the value of military families. As a military Engineer and Combat […]
Episode 012 MCpl Jody Mitic Part 2
Thanks for waiting – Here is the second part of the episode with MCpl Jody Mitic. In this episode Jody discusses his influences in his decision to become an Infantry Sniper as well as the genesis behind the Never Quit Foundation which he founded. He also discusses the challenges of going from the master of the battlefield to the recovering wounded warrior he is today. I truly appreciated the candor and openness of not only Jody Mitic, but also all […]
Episode 012 MCpl Jody Mitic Part 1
Today’s episode is with Bosnia and Afghanistan veteran MCpl Jody Mitic. Jody has served with the Lorne Scots as well as the Royal Canadian Regiment. He is the first member of the Junior Ranks to be interviewed for the podcast as well as the first television star; as he had been featured on a season of The Amazing Race Canada. He is well known for his efforts in supporting the recovery of wounded soldiers as he had to go through […]
Episode 010 Maj Andrew Hrycajkiw
My guest for this episode is the G1 Branch Head at 32 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters; Major Andrew Hrycajkiw. Major Hrycajkiw is the first guest from the Logistics Branch. He joined in 1996 after having to choose between policing or the Army. He says in the interview that he truly grew and developed into the person he is today because of his experiences in his officer training courses. As a Logistics Officer, he was very fortunate to experience a wide […]
Episode 009 Lt Ryerson Maybee
The guest this episode is Lt Ryerson Maybee of the Queen’s York Rangers (1st American Regiment) (RCAC). Lt Maybee is a Officer in the Armoured Corps who started as a Non-Commissioned Member, and commissioned from the rank of Warrant Officer. He is a highly skilled instructor and leader. He has served in the former Yugoslavia as well as in Afghanistan. As a Warrant Officer, Ryerson had the distinct duty to be a Liaison Officer to fallen soldiers and their escorts […]
Episode 008 CWO Kevin West
Today’s Interview is with the Canadian Forces Chief Warrant Officer, Kevin West, MMM, MSM, CD. Kevin’s CF Bio can be found at this Link. Kevin served in the Naval Reserve, then transferred to the regular force in the Royal Canadian Navy. After a period of five years, he transferred again to the Royal Canadian Air Force, where he worked his way towards the pinnacle of the Non-Commissioned Member corps as the CF CWO. He also was vital to providing leadership […]
Episode 004 LGen Andrew Leslie
In this episode, Lieutenant-General (ret) Andrew Leslie describes his service in the Canadian Army and specifically the Chief Warrant Officers who influenced him and helped guide his decisions as a senior commander. His service was both thrilling, as the Commander of 1CMBG, and heart breaking as the Commander of the Canadian Army during the fierce fighting days in Afghanistan. You can support this site by shopping on Amazon. You still enjoy Amazon’s great prices, but a portion of your purchase […]
