1. AFTER OVER 42 YEARS OF SERVICE MAJOR B. O’REILLY, SIGNALS OFFICER, IS RETIRING FROM THE CAF.

2. MAJOR B. O’REILLY JOINED 728 (ST. JOHN’S) COMMUNICATION SQUADRON IN JUNE OF 1977 UNDER THE STUDENT SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM. ONCE HIS SUMMER JOB WAS COMPLETED AND FINDING OUT THAT BEING IN THE MILITARY WAS FUN AND EXCITING HE DECIDED TO STAY WITH THE RESERVES TO HELP PAY FOR UNIVERSITY.

3. AFTER GRADUATION FROM MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY AND UNABLE TO FIND FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT HE TOOK A RESERVE CLASS B –ANNOTATED A JOB AT COMMUNICATIONS COMMAND HEADQUARTERS.

3. IN 1990, AFTER 13 YEARS AS A RESERVIST, MAJOR B. O’REILLY ENROLLED IN THE REGULAR FORCE (ONE DIDN’T JUST TRANSFER FROM ONE COMPONENT TO THE NEXT BACK IN THOSE DAYS). DURING 29 YEARS IN THE REGULAR FORCE HE HAS BEEN POSTED INTO MANY REWARDING POSITIONS AND LOCATIONS, A COUPLE OF PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS BEING THE ARMY TROOP COMMANDER AT CFSCE RUNNING PHASE IV AND AS AN EXCHANGE OFFICER WITH 1 (UK) ARMOURED DIVISION HEADQUARTERS AND SIGNALS REGIMENT IN HERFORD, GERMANY.

4. HE HAS HAD THREE OPERATIONAL TOURS: GOLAN HEIGHTS, BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA WHILE ON EXCHANGE, AND AFGHANISTAN.

5. UNLIKE MOST, HE IS ACTUALLY RETIRING, NOT CHANGING JOBS, AND PLANS ON CONTINUING HIS WOODWORKING OVER THE SUMMER UNTIL THE “WOODSHOP” TURNS BACK INTO A GARAGE IN THE FALL WHEN HE WILL LOOK FOR SOME VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL AS ATTEMPT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT – HE IS LEANING TOWARDS THE TRIANGLE OVER THE PIANO AS IT MAY BE A LITTLE EASIER.

6. IN LIEU OF A TRADITIONAL DWD THERE WILL BE A SIMPLE INFORMAL LUNCHEON HELD IN HIS HONOUR AT THE LONESTAR TEXAS GRILL AT 128 GEORGE ST, OTTAWA ON 25 JUN 19 AT 12:00PM. ATTENDEES ARE REQUESTED TO RSVP TO: (CONTACT REMOVED 2023 APR 20 BY ADMIN. SEND INQUIRIES HERE: https://cmcen-rcmce.ca/contact/).