- I, WILL RETIRE FROM THE CAF ON 14 JUL 2023 AFTER 26 PLUS YEARS OF REGULAR FORCE SERVICE AND LITTLE RESERVE TIME.
- I HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED MY CAREER, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE I MET ALONG THE WAY. THERE WAS A LARGE GROUP OF US THAT GREW UP TOGETHER IN G103, FROM OUR STUPER HERO NIGHTS TO OTHER TEAM BUILDING EVENTS, WE HAD A GOOD TIME. TO MARK, AARON, DWAYNE, FOOK, MORLEY, SCOT WITH ONE T, ROBIN, 3 RCR SIG PL AND THE BOYS OF 2 CER, THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES.
I TRULY WANT TO THANK MY MCPLS WHO WERE PATIENT WITH ME WHEN I ARRIVED IN PET IN MARCH OF 97. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION I GOT TO SLEEP OFF THE NIGHT BEFORE ON THE CAM NETS ABOVE B TP STORES. SPECIAL THANKS TO RANDY LEIGHTON, SEAN KEELS, KEVIN BONE (RIP) AND MARCO COMMISSO.
I GOT TO SERVE OR DEPLOY WITH A VARIETY OF COMBAT ARMS UNITS WHICH SOLDIFIED MY FOCUS ON THE TACTICAL END WHEREVER I WAS EMPLOYED. MY POSTINGS CONSIST OF 2 SIGS, 2 CER, COMD SIGNALLER, 2 RCR, 1 FD AMB, 1 SIGS, 2RCR AGAIN, SSU(A), AND LASTLY 5 CDN DIV HQ. I HAVE MET SO MANY AMAZING PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY, SOME WHICH HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.
THE BEST PART OF SERVICE IS THE SPECIAL BONDS YOU MAKE, ESPECIALLY THOSE YOU DEPLOY WITH. KELLY P, BROWNIE, DOUG YEO, OLD MAN RALPH, SCHULTZY AND THE LEGEND JIM GASH WHO FORCED US TO CREATE A SAFE WORD AT 5 CDN DIV OR WE WOULD NEVER GET OUT OF HIS OFFICE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO SERVE WITH YOU AGAIN IN OTHER UNITS. 2 RCR PLAYED A HUGE ROLE IN MY CAREER. IT WAS THERE THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH TWO LIFELONG FRIENDS THAT HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON ME, GOOD GO GARY AND STEVEY G (LEAFS SUCK), WE SPENT A TON OF TIME WORKING, LAUGHING AND PLANNING OUR SIG PL TAKEOVER STRATEGY TOGETHER. YOU MADE WORK FUN AND FOR THAT I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL.
- LASTLY, TO MY ROCK, GWEN. THERE WAS A TIME WE SPENT MORE TIME APART THEN TOGETHER AND YOU WERE THE ANCHOR THROUGH IT ALL. I WAS BLESSED TO HAVE A MILITARY SPOUSE WHO UNDERSTOOD WHAT I HAD TO DO EVEN WHEN IT MEANT LEAVING AGAIN. WE HAVE TWO SMART, POLITE AND AMAZING KIDS THANKS TO YOU.
- A DWD WILL BE HELD AT DOOLEY’S IN SACKVILLE, NS ON 15 JUN 23 AT NOON. PLEASE SEND ANY WELL WISHES, CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, PICTURES, AMUSING ANECDOTES OR JUST RANDOM OLD JOKES WITH HIM AS THE PUNCHLINE TO RICHARD(DOT)SCHULTZ(AT)FORCES(DOT)GC(DOT)CA. DON’T WORRY HE LOVES THE ATTENTION.
Rod: It was an absolute pleasure to serve with you on Op ATTENTION. I don’t know how I/we would have made it through the tour without your leadership in planning M&W events like hockey, card nights etc. I am sorry I cannot make it to your DWD but I wish you all the best in your well deserved retirement. If you are ever in Ottawa, please give me a call and you will always have a place to stay!