1. ON 02 MARCH 2022, LIEUTENANT COLONEL JEAN-MARC J. GUÉRETTE, CD, WILL RETIRE AFTER MORE THAN 35+ YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES AND THE ROYAL CANADIAN CORPS OF SIGNALS.
2. JM ENROLLED IN THE RCCS RESERVE SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM DURING THE SUMMER OF 1986 TO SEE IF HE “WOULD LIKE IT” AND WITH THE INTENTION THAT HE WOULD GET HIS BASIC TRAINING DONE SO HE COULD TRANSFER TO THE INFANTRY. THAT TRANSFER NEVER HAPPENED AND HE CONTINUED HIS CAREER AT 723 (HALIFAX) COMMUNICATIONS SQUADRON (NOW 36 SIGNAL REGIMENT) FILLING VARIOUS ROLES WITHIN THE SQUADRON UNTIL HIS COMPONENT TRANSFER TO THE REGULAR FORCE IN AUGUST OF 2000.
3. LCOL GUÉRETTE’S POSTINGS INCLUDED IM GROUP IN OTTAWA, 3 CDSG HQ (1 ASG HQ), 1 CMBG HQ & SIGS, CFSCE, DIRECTORATE OF ARMY DOCTRINE, STRATEGIC JOINT STAFF, DIRECTOR MILITARY CAREERS AS SIGS CAREER MANAGER, 3RD CAN DIV HQ AND TWO POSTINGS TO JOINT TASK FORCE PACIFIC. AS WELL HE COMPLETED OPERATIONAL TOURS OF BOSNIA IN 2001/2002 AND KABUL, AFGHANISTAN IN 2012/2013.
4. LCOL GUÉRETTE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WITH WHOM HE HAS SERVED WITH DURING HIS TIME IN THE CAF, BOTH THOSE HE FOLLOWED AND THOSE HE LED. HE WANTS TO PARTICULARLY THANK ALL THOSE WHO MADE HIM LAUGH WHEN TIMES WERE TOUGH, WHO HE MADE LAUGH WHEN THEY NEEDED IT AND FOR THE YEARS OF CAMARADERIE AND FRIENDSHIP WHILE SERVING. ABOVE ALL, HE WANTS TO THANK HIS SPOUSE KELLI AND HIS CHILDREN ERIN AND NICOLAS FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND PATIENCE WHILE UPROOTING THEIR LIVES MOVING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, AND WAITING PATIENTLY WHILE DAD WAS AWAY. HE KNOWS IT WAS NOT EASY. WITHOUT THEM HE WOULD NOT HAVE HAD SUCH A SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE CAREER. BUT IN PARTICULAR HE WANTS TO THANK HIS SPOUSE KELLI FOR PUTTING UP WITH HIM FOR THE PAST 30 PLUS YEARS.
5. LCOL GUÉRETTE AND HIS LOVELY SPOUSE KELLI WILL BE REMAINING IN THE VICTORIA, BC AREA WHERE HE HAS ACCEPTED A POSITION WITH THE PUBLIC SERVICE. THEY PLAN ON REMAINING THERE AND ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, EXCELLENT WEATHER, GREAT FRIENDS AND DISTINCT LACK OF SNOW OR COLD WEATHER.
6. DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, THERE WILL BE A LIMITED, SCALED DOWN DEPART WITH DIGNITY TO BE HELD AT THE CFB ESQUIMALT WARDROOM ON 02 MARCH 2022. FOR ANYONE WISHING TO SEND CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, ANECDOTES, EMBARRASSING STORIES OR JUST GENERAL WELL WISHES, PLEASE FORWARD THEM TO MAJOR SLADE LERCH, [email protected], NLT THAN 28 FEBRUARY 2022.
JM, I just learned of your recent retirement! Congratulations my friend on an amazing career and long service to the CAF. I can not tell you how much your support meant to me while we served at CFSCE. Your guidance will always be remembered and appreciated. I often tell stories of walking down the halls of The Forde Building and hearing a Turkey Call or “That’s Nice ” LOL!! Your humour applied at the most appropriate and inappropriate times was simply brilliant. I wish you and yout famiglia all the best! VVV!
Bonne retraite JM!
Jean-Marc, Wow! 1986 wasn’t that long ago was it? Chernobyl, Halley’s Comet, “We Are The World” in music and Brian Boitano won the figure skating championship! Intel brings the 80386 chip to market. Those PCs were leading edge with 32 bit processors and 640K RAM… I guess it has been a while but Bolitano sure was awesome! I really enjoyed the times our paths crossed over the years. You always had a ready joke, great attitude and valuable perspective on whatever the problem of the time was. Thank you! Best wishes to you and yours with this new line of support to Canada.
Let me be the first to congratulate you on your retirement! Looking forward to our next adventure.
Let me be the first to congratulate you on your retirement! I love you very much and look forward to many more adventures.
Félicitation pour ta belle carrière. Bonne retraite!!!