1. CAPTAIN GARY OLIVER, AF ENGR (00189) (FORMER INFMN AND FIRE FTR), RETIRES FROM THE CF ON 02 JAN 08 AFTER MORE THAN 36 YEARS SERVICE TO CANADA, CF AND THE ENGR BRANCH. A FAREWELL RETIREMENT LUNCHEON WILL BE HELD AT THE 9 WING GANDER ALL RANKS MESS 18 DEC 07. HIS ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE FOR JUL WAS POSTPONED BUT HE DEFINITELY PLANS TO RETIRE ON 02 JAN. FOR THOSE WHO SENT CONGRATULATORY WISHES THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN A SCRAPBOOK FOR PRESENTATION. FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE MISSED THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY, YOU GET A SECOND CHANCE

2. CAPT OLIVER ENROLLED WITH 56 FIELD ENGR SQN, ST. JOHNS NL 09 JUL 70 AS A RESERVE FIELD ENGR AND SUBSEQUENTLY TRANSFERRED TO REG FORCE 15 JAN 71 AS A PRIVATE INFMN 031. HIS SHORT ARMY CAREER STARTED AT 3RCR PETAWAWA, AND THEN IT WAS OFF TO THE CANADIAN AIRBORNE REGIMENT IN EDMONTON (WHICH INCLUDED A SIX MONTH UN TOUR TO CYPRUS IN 74). 

3. IN JAN 78, CAPT OLIVER CHANGED HIS OCCUPATION TO FIRE FTR AND WAS POSTED TO CFB COMOX. ON 7 APR 81, IN SEARCH OF GREENER PASTURES, HE LEFT THE CF BUT QUICKLY REALIZED HIS ERROR AND REENROLLED 16 NOV 81 AND WAS POSTED TO CFB OTTAWA SOUTH AS A FIRE FTR. IN 83 HE TOOK UP INSTRUCTIONAL DUTIES AT THE CANADIAN FIRE FIGHTING ACADEMY (CFFA) IN BORDEN WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY FOLLOWED BY A SEA POSTING TO HMCS MARGAREE IN 86. A TWO YEAR POSTING BACK TO OTTAWA EARNED HIM ANOTHER THREE YEAR SEA TOUR ON HMCS FRASER. IN 94 HE WAS POSTED TO 14 WG GREENWOOD WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A POSTING BACK TO CFFA BORDEN AS STANDARDS MASTER WARRANT OFFICER IN 99

4.CAPT OLIVER WAS COMMISSIONED IN THE RANK OF CAPTAIN 9 JUL 01 UNDER THE SPECIAL RANKS COMMISSIONING PLAN AND ASSUMED THE POSITION OF CHIEF INSTR FOR CFFA. IN JUL 04 HE RECEIVED HIS LONG SOUGHT AFTER POSTING TO THE QUOTE ROCK UNQUOTE AND ASSUMED THE ROLE OF OC 91 AIRFIELD ENGINEER FLIGHT GANDER

5.FOLLOWING RETIREMENT, GARY AND HIS WIFE SANDRA ALONG WITH THEIR TWO DOGS, WILL RESIDE IN NORTH VALLEY, NL 6. FAREWELL WISHES AND ANECDOTES TO BE E-MAILED SGT ONEILL AT ONEILL.GE AT FORCES.GC.CA OR FAX TO (709) 256-1739