After more than 44 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, Cpl J.J.F. Martineau, CD, will retire on 11 September 2024. Messages can be sent to the OPI, WO B.J.A. Lagrange-Boissonneault, by email at:benjamin.lagrange-boissonneault@forces.gc.ca

Frank was born and raised in Montmagny Qc. After completing his secondary education, he enlisted on September 3, 1980, in Quebec City, initially as an infantry soldier. He completed his
recruit training at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in Saint-Jean in November 1980, and then completed his Infantry training at Valcartier in April 1981. Frank then served as an infantry soldier with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment for six years, participating in numerous training sessions and exercises. In 1985, he began the process of voluntary occupational transfer and was assigned to the Headquarters and Signal Squadron in Valcartier as a driver. In June 1985, he took a second language course in Saint-Jean before being posted to Gagetown in November 1986 to prepare for his Electrical Distribution Technician (ED Tech) apprentice course. The following year, Frank was transferred to CFB Chilliwack and then to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering to complete his ED Tech training. In July 1989, he was posted to the 5th Combat Engineer Regiment (5 CER) in Valcartier as an ED Tech, and then to Borden in July 1992, where he met his spouse, Milaine, in June 1993. In November 1996, Cpl Martineau completed his journeyman course in Chilliwack. In January 1997, he returned to the 5 CER in Valcartier, employed as a journeyman ED Tech. François and Milaine were married in August 1997. Cpl Martineau participated in his first deployment from August 1999 to February 2000 on Operation Palladium in the former Yugoslavia with NATO. Frank fortunately returned in time for the birth of their eldest son, Tom, in March 2000. In September of the same year, Frank joined the reserves. In April 2001, he was employed as a journeyman electrician with the real property operation section at CFB Bagotville and has been working since then at the 3rd Mission Support Squadron. Over the past few years, Frank has participated in various maintenance tasks in the Far North, in Iqaluit, and has trained numerous apprentice electricians posted to Bagotville.

Cpl Martineau was awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration CD3 on June 12, 2024, for his 42 years of military service.

Since their arrival in the region, Frank and Milaine have found a large house with a farm to complete their family. Gabriel was born in August 2004 and Marjorie in January 2006. The property included a farm where they initially had several animals. After renovating the house, Frank, Milaine, and their family transformed the barn into a business, creating the Chenil La Maison Bleue, a very popular dog day care facility in the area.