1. CAPTAIN CHUCK “GOAT” GAUTREAU WILL RETIRE ON 7 MARCH 2020 AFTER MORE THAN 33 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES (CAF) AND THE ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS (RCCS).
2. HAILING FROM FOX CREEK NB, CHUCK ENROLLED AS A RADIO OPERATOR (MOC 211) IN 1987 AND COMPLETED HIS INITIAL SIGNALS TRAINING AT THE CANADIAN FORCES SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS (CFSCE) IN KINGSTON. HIS FIRST POSTING WAS TO THE 1ST CANADIAN SIGNAL REGIMENT KINGSTON, FOLLOWED BY 444 TACTICAL HELICOPTER SQUADRON LAHR GERMANY, 4 CMBG HQ & SIGS SQN LAHR GERMANY, COMMUNICATION SQUADRON LAHR GERMANY, 1ST CANADIAN HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNAL REGIMENT KINGSTON, 724 COMMUNICATION SQUADRON GAGETOWN, COMBAT TRAINING CENTRE HEADQUARTERS (CTC HQ) GAGETOWN, AND 1 CMBG HQ & SIG SQN EDMONTON. UPON BEING COMMISSIONED AS A SIGNAL OFFICER IN 2016, HE WAS POSTED TO 742 SIGNAL SQUADRON EDMONTON, 73 COMMUNICATION GROUP HQ EDMONTON, ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA (RMCC) KINGSTON, CFSCE KINGSTON, CANADIAN FORCES CRYPTOGRAPHIC MAINTENANCE UNIT (CFCMU) KINGSTON, THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT CENTRE (SMC) KINGSTON AND FINALLY THE TRANSITION CENTRE (TC) KINGSTON.
3. GOAT COMPLETED 5 OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ, HONDURAS, RWANDA, UGANDA (THE BUNGLE IN THE JUNGLE) AND THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC. AS A NON COMMISSIONED MEMBER (NCM), HE WORKED IN TACTICAL RADIO, LONG RANGE COMMUNICATION TERMINAL (LRCT KILO TROOP), MILITARY AERONAUTICAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (MACS), LAND TACTICAL AREA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM (LTACS), INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT), AND WAS AN ADMINISTRATION NCO, COMMAND POST SERGEANT, SIGNALS SECTION SERGEANT, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR, AND TROOP WARRANT OFFICER. AS A COMMISSIONED OFFICER, HE CARRIED OUT THE DUTIES OF ASSISTANT ADJUTANT/PLANS OFFICER AT 742 SIG SQN EDMONTON, G3 OF 73 COMM GP HQ, OPS OFFICER & PLANS OFFICER AT CFSCE KINGSTON, DEPUTY COMMANDING OFFICER OF CFCMU, STAFF OFFICER TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS (DGIMO) AND OFFICER COMMANDING THE SERVICE MANAGEMENT CENTRE (SMC) IN KINGSTON. SOME OF HIS PROUDEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING THE UNITED STATES ARMY AIR ASSAULT COURSE AT AGE 33, A MARATHON AT 40 AND OBTAINING HIS BACHELOR’S DEGREE FROM RMCC AT 48.
4. GOAT WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HE HAS HAD THE HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE OF SERVING WITH AND IS DEEPLY GRATEFUL FOR THE LONG STANDING FRIENDSHIPS DEVELOPED OVER HIS 33 PLUS YEARS IN UNIFORM. HE WILL REMAIN IN THE KINGSTON AREA WITH HIS WIFE TAMMY, WHERE AS EMPTY NESTERS, THEY WILL CONTINUE TO SPEND MORE QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN ZACHARY, CARTER, AND CHANTELLE. GOAT WILL BE ATTENDING AS MANY OPEN MIC NIGHTS AS HE CAN AS A DRUMMER, PERCUSSIONIST AND DEDICATED COWBELL PLAYER. HE PROMISES TO CONTINUE TO BE A PASSIONATE ADVOCATE FOR MENTAL HEALTH AND HE WANTS TO REMIND EVERYONE WHO IS DEALING WITH POST TRAUMATIC STRESS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT THERE IS HOPE AND HELP AVAILABLE AND THAT PROJECT TRAUMA SUPPORT, THE VETERANS TRANSITION NETWORK, CAF HEALTH SERVICES AND THE TRANSITION CENTRE KINGSTON WERE PARAMOUNT IN HELPING HIM GET HIS MOJO BACK; IN SPADES.
5. AN INFORMAL DEPART WITH DIGNITY CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN CHUCK’S HONOUR AT THE VIMY OFFICERS MESS AT CFB KINGSTON, ON 28 FEB 2020 COMMENCING AT 1330HRS. DRESS IS CASUAL. PLEASE RSVP NLT 14 FEB 20 TO CAPT (RETIRED) STEPHANE BRISSON AT (613) 541-5010 EXT 2648 OR [email protected] WITH FAREWELL MESSAGES AND/OR ANECDOTES.
6. RCCS DE GOAT ZKJ 2 NOW AR. FOR NON-SIGNALLERS: ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS, THIS IS GOAT, CLOSING DOWN NOW, OUT.
Hi Chuck! Vert proud of working with you! What a Nice person you are! Félicitation pour ta belle carrière! Bonne retraite Chuck! 🍻
Good Luck mi amigo Chuck!!! enjoy your retirement and have a good time with the family. I still remember when Eric Allaire, you and I, were in the Basic Training in St. Jean. Excellent times.
Su amigo Rey
Congratulations Chuck! Well deserved. Enjoy all that retirement brings with your loved ones.
Cheers Brother.
Chuck:
Congratulations on an accomplished career that spanned the NCO and commissioned ranks across numerous bases, deployments, and positions.
Thank you for being a stalwart example of understanding and support for our brothers & sisters facing the challenges of mental health and injury.
Enjoy your well-earned retirement. The Branch Office will continue to publish these support programmes on your behalf.
VVV
Blair,
Thank you for your kind words and well wishes. It warms my heart to hear that the Branch will continue to be an advocate for mental health for our brothers and sisters in arms.
Chuck
VVV
Hey Chuck! Finally pulling the plug, good for you! I enjoyed working with you in Gagetown.
Mike Lapalme sends
VVV
Hey Mike,
Thanks, I enjoyed working with you in Baghdad and Gagetown as well. Cheers!
Goat sends
VVV
All the best bud! I hope you have a great retirement! I throughly enjoyed serving with you… Never say Die!!! VVV