1. AFTER 31 YEARS OF SERVICE, WARRANT OFFICER THOMAS MICHAEL CHURCH WILL BE RETIRING FROM THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2021.
2. WO CHURCH JOINED THE CAF AS AN ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN ON 1 JUNE 1990. HE WAS OFF TO CORNWALLIS, NOVA SCOTIA FOR HIS BASIC TRAINING AND ENJOYED EVERY ASPECT OF MY TIME THERE. HE THEN COMPLETED HIS TRADES TRAINING IN KINGSTON, ONTARIO WHERE HE WAS SELECTED TO BE A RADAR TECH, SUBSEQUENTLY THIS IS ALSO AROUND THE TIME THE MILITARY CLOSED THE DOOR ON HIRING WHICH WE ARE NOW FEELING THE EFFECTS OF. AFTER GRADUATING FROM POET (1992-94) HE WAS POSTED TO AEROSPACE ENGINEERING TEST ESTABLISHMENT (AETE) IN COLD LAKE, ALBERTA WHERE HE MARRIED HIS FIRST WIFE IN 1991, DIVORCED 1994, BLESSED WITH HIS DAUGHTER MHARI, THEN POSTED TO NORTH BAY, ONTARIO (NORAD).
3. IN NORTH BAY, WHERE WO CHURCH SPENT THE NEXT 11 YEARS (1994- 2005), WORKING IN A 3 STORY BUILDING 600 FEET UNDERGROUND, HE OCCUPIED VARIOUS POSITIONS. DURING JUL 2001 – JAN 2002 HE WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO ALERT FOR 6 MONTHS ADDING HIS NAME TO THE FROZEN CHOSEN LIST.
4. WO CHURCH WAS THEN POSTED TO OKLAHOMA (2005-2009) FOR 4 YEARS, FLYING ON THE AWACS (FRISBEE AIRCRAFT) DOING CIRCLES IN THE SKY, WITH A FEW DIVERSIONS (CURACAO, ARUBA) AS WELL AS (GERMANY) WHERE FOR 2, 3 WEEKS HE WAS A PART OF THE FLT CREW.
5. AFTER RETURNING TO CANADA, WO CHURCH WAS POSTED AT CANADIAN FORCES LEADERSHIP AND RECRUIT SCHOOL (ST-JEAN SUR RICHELIEU 2009-2012), WHERE HE SERVED AS INSTRUCTOR FOR BASIC MILITARY QUALIFICATION AND FOR BASIC MILITARY OFFICER QUALIFICATION. HE WAS POSTED BACK TO NORTH BAY THIS TIME ABOVE GROUND FOR 5 YEARS (2012-2017) WORKING ON THE CRYPTOGRAPHY SIDE OF THE SECRET AND TOP SECRET NETWORKS WHERE HE WAS PROMOTED TO HIS CURRENT RANK.
6. WO CHURCH’S FINAL POSTING IS AT CFB COMOX 2017 TO 2021 WORKING AT THE AIRFIELD, SMC, C4 SYSTEMS ENSURING THE RADAR SYSTEMS PROVIDE SAFE PASSAGE TO WEARY TRAVELER FAR AND WIDE.
7. WO CHURCH IS MARRIED TO A GREAT WOMAN FROM NFLD FOR OVER 23 YRS, WITH A DAUGHTER AND SON BOTH IN THEIR EARLY 20’S. OUR CHILDREN (MHARI & AARON) MOVED TO COMOX 1 YR AFTER OUR POSTING HERE TO LIVE CLOSER TO US. IN CONCLUSION, WO CHURCH STARTED AS A RADAR TECH AND STAYED A TECH WORKING WITH RDR INFO. WO CHURCH HAVE HAD A GREAT CAREER, FANTASTIC TIME AND THE PLEASURE OF WORKING FOR & WITH ALL OF YOU OVER THE LAST 31+ YEARS IN THE MILITARY.
8. A DEPARTURE WITH DIGNITY CEREMONY WILL BE HELD LATER IN SEPTEMBER WHEN CONDITIONS ALLOW AN INFORMAL GATHERING WITH CLOSE FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES. PLEASE SEND ANY CONGRATULARY MESSAGES OR HUMOROUS ANECDOTES TO CAPT JAPHET HONVO BY EMAIL: [email protected].
Congratulations on a great and varied career. Wish that we had more time to work together but thank you for all that you did to help keep WTIS in Comox running smoothly. You brought excitement and great attitude to all your jobs there and always had a great smile and booming voice.
Hopefully we will get together again in the future, but enjoy your retirement with your wife Dawn and the rest of your family.
Tom;
Congrats on the great career and the impending retirement. When I read that Mhari was in her 20’s I’m like “whaaaat??” Then I remembered that the last time I saw her was when we worked together about 25 years ago. So, ok.. there is that… Best of luck in the future… Velox, versutus, vigilans
Tom:
I hope you and Dawn have a pleasant retirement. The forces will be short a great man.
Tom, while we didn’t work directly with each other, you were always there to lend an ear and give sage advice. Best of luck in the future!
Tom, when I arrived as a brand new face in the DND environment, you were one of the people who immediately made me feel comfortable. Thank you for the long chats and the occasional advice.
Congratulations on your retirement! I’m sure there will be many fun-filled adventures as well as relaxing afternoons. You deserve them all!
Hi Tom,
It was an honour to meet work with you. You always have a smile and ways to create some positivity in everything. Wishing the best for you and your family. I’m sure we will meet again!
Tom, it was truly a pleasure to work with you for so many years in North Bay. I enjoyed our many conversations, appreciated your professionalism and your skills, but mostly am thankful for your friendship. After a lengthy and fulfilling career, retirement is calling your name. You are going to love it! I wish nothing but the best for you in all your future endeavours and hope to see you again in the future. Take care of yourself. Velox, versutus, vigilans