RETIREMENT – SGT MICHAEL ROCKX, CD – 00109 ATIS TECH

by | Retirements | 1 comment

1. AFTER MORE THAN 33 YEARS OF SERVICE TO COUNTRY CANADA, THE CAF AND THE RCAF, SERGEANT MICHAEL ROCKX WILL RETIRE FROM THE CAF ON 28 FEBRUARY 2022.

2. BORN IN ST. CATHARINES 21 NOV 63, PRIMARILY RAISED AND SUBSEQUENTLY ENROLLED IN ST. CATHARINES AS A P.O.E.T. ON 22 MARCH 88. DID HIS BASIC TRAINING AT CFR CORNWALLIS 8813 PLATOON AND CONTINUED TO CFCSE KINGSTON AND THEN CFSATE BORDEN FOR TRADE TRAINING. HE SERVED HIS FIRST PART OF HIS CAREER AS A COMMUNICATION AND RADAR TECH (CRS) ON THE CP140 AURORA AT CFB GREENWOOD UNTIL 1993. POSTED TO AEROSPACE MAINTENANCE DEVELOPMENT UNIT TRENTON UNTIL 1996. DURING THIS TIME, CRS AMALGAMATED INTO AVIONICS. POSTED TO 427 SQUADRON PETAWAWA IN 1996, HE WORKED ON THE CH135 AND CH146. HE COMPLETED A VOLUNTEER OCCUPATION TRANSFER TO THE AEROSPACE TELECOMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN IN 1999 AND POSTED TO 8 AIR COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTROL SQUADRON TRENTON. POSTED TO CFB WINNIPEG IN 2001. POSTED TO CFB COLORADO SPRINGS DEPUTY COMMANDER NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND FROM 2003 TO 2008. PROMOTED TO MASTER CORPORAL IN 2006. IN 2008, HE FINALLY ENDED HIS POSTINGS AT CFB COMOX. PROMOTED TO SERGEANT IN 2014.

3. SGT MICHAEL ROCKX SERVED ON NUMEROUS DEPLOYMENTS AND INTERNATIONAL EXERCISES THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, INCLUDING A TOUR IN BOXTOP 2000, OP CALUMET 2009, JOINT TASK FORCE NAPLES HEADQUARTERS – OPERATION MOBILE 2011 AND MANY SMALLER TASKS ACROSS OUTCAN LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT NORTH AMERICA DURING HIS TIME WITH NORAD.

4 IN 2016, HE LEFT THE REGULAR FORCES AND JOIN THE RESERVES AS THE UNIT’S TRAINING COORDINATOR FOR CIS FLT. HE ENJOYED THESE PAST YEARS INVOLVED IN COORDINATING AND EDUCATION OF THE JUNIOR NCM MEMBERS. HE LIKES TO PASS ON HIS GRATITUDE TO THE TRAINEES FOR BEING A PART OF THE TRAINING AS HE HOLDS THIS EXPERIENCE IN HIGH REGARDS.

5. MICHAEL WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE WITH WHOM HE HAS CROSSED PATHS WITH DURING THE LAST 33 PLUS YEARS FOR THEIR INFLUENCE, LEADERSHIP, FRIENDSHIP, LAUGHS AND CAMARADERIE.

6. 19 WING AND CIS FLT COMMUNITY EQUALLY WISH TO CELEBRATE AND THANK SANDRA HARRISON FOR HER YEARS OF UNWAVERING SUPPORT TO MICHAEL AND HIS CAREER ASPIRATIONS, WITHOUT WHICH WOULD SIMPLY HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE. THE MILITARY FAMILY SUPPORT IS THE CRUX OF OUR OPERATIONAL SUCCESS. WE SO VERY MUCH THANK YOU.

7. WHILE MICHAEL SEEKS TO RECIPROCATE SUPPORT TO SANDRA IN HER PROFESSIONAL CAREER IN THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF 33 YEARS, MICHAEL AND SANDRA ARE CONCURRENTLY AND TOGETHER LOOKING FORWARD TO RETIREMENT BLISS AS ONE, SUPPORTING AND ENCOURAGING EACH THE OTHER IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ARTS/HOBBIES/INTERESTS, HIKING, HOME PROJECTS, TRAVELLING (NON-COVID, OF COURSE). ADDITIONALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANT, IT IS THEIR INTENT TO CELEBRATE AND ENJOY THEIR PRIDE OF, AND IN, THEIR SIX CHILDREN: SON MCPL PETER ROCKX (CFCSE CFB KINGSTON), DAUGHTER SHAINA CHRISTOPHER (ROCKX), SON JAKOB ROCKX, SON MARKAS ROCKX, STEPSON ANDREW GREEN, AND STEPDAUGHTER MARY-KATHERINE GREEN. THEY ARE SO VERY PROUD OF ALL OF THEM.

8. A DWD LUNCHEON WILL BE CELEBRATED WITH THE LOCAL 19 WING COMMUNITY (RESTRICTED – COVID) ON 25 FEB 2022 AT THE RICKYS RESTAURANT. LOCAL PERSONNEL WISHING TO ATTEND ARE ASKED TO REGISTER WITH MWO DARRELL BEDARD AT [email protected]

9. BEST WISHES AND ANECDOTES ARE MOST WELCOME AND REQUESTED, AND MAY BE SENT TO MWO DARRELL BEDARD AT [email protected]

Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Don Albert
2 years ago

Mike, you are never going to retire lol! Will see you at SMC when I come by for a laptop. Enjoy your ‘retirement’ you made a hell of an impact while green. Best of luck!