CWO T.S. (Ted) Bransfield, CD will retire from the Canadian Armed Forces on 08 November 2016 after more than 35 + years of loyal and dedicated service to the CAF and the CME Branch

CWO Ted Bransfield enrolled in the Canadian Forces in 1981 from Miramichi in New Brunswick. He has been posted to a number of Combat Engineer units in locations around the world. After basic trade qualifications, he was posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Chilliwack, B.C., After three years developing his skills as a Sapper, he was posted to 4 Combat Engineer Regiment, Lahr, Germany, in 1985.

On his return from Germany, he was promoted Sgt and posted to 22 Field Squadron in Gagetown, N.B., for one year. During that time, he was involved in the Oka Crisis. With his experience and expertise, he was sent to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering, Chilliwack, B.C., for four years teaching bridge building and water purification. After the school, he returned to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment where he deployed as the Recce Sgt to Bosnia in 1997 and again in 2000 to Bosnia as a Field Troop Warrant Officer. During his time in 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, he was involved in numerous major bridging projects. He was intimately involved commanding the construction of a 300-foot floating bridge in Atoka Bosnia, a 200-foot ACROW bridge in the village of Wainwright, a 120-foot ACROW bridge across the Battle River at Base Wainwright and a 120-foot Bailey bridge in the most southern part of Afghanistan which he constructed under combat conditions. In 2002 he was posted to Land Forces Western Area Training Center in Wainwright where he spent two years as Tp Commander of 1 Engineer Equipment Troop.

In 2004, he was promoted to MWO and appointed Squadron Sergeant Major of 11 Fd Sqn, 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, and deployed to the High Arctic twice. From January to August 2006, he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, as part of Operation ARCHER ROTO 1, as part of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM, the US-led war on terrorism. After returning from Afghanistan, he was posted to Land Forces Western Area HQ's in Edmonton as the Area Engineer Operations MWO. During his time there, he completed his Certified Engineering Technician qualification.

CWO Bransfield was then posted to Canadian Expeditionary Force Command (CEFCOM) in 2009 as the Joint Engineer Operations 2 MWO and appointed as the HQ's Sergeant Major. He was involved in all engineering aspects of operations in Afghanistan, the earthquake disaster in Haiti and many other operations around the world.

CWO Bransfield was appointed the OS Engineer Group CWO, CANOSCOM, on 22 June 2011.

CWO Bransfield was appointed as the RSM of the new Canadian Joint Operations Command Head Quarters on 05 October 2012 to 05 Sept 2016.

Ted will be retiring in Kanata ON, with Margaret where they built their dream home. Ted plans to take more time now for his passion of hunting and fishing. Ted is also the proud father of his daughter, Ocean Bransfield living in Edmonton Alberta with his first Grandson Ryker and his son Steven Bransfield who has just joined the military carrying on in Dads footsteps as a Combat Field Engineer.

A retirement function will be held on Friday 28 Oct 2016, 1130 – 1500 hrs at the NDHQ Warrant Officers and Sergeants / Chiefs and Petty Officers Mess, 4 Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa, Ontario. Congratulatory messages, anecdotes, photos, and farewell wishes can be forwarded to Retired WO Ed Storey at ED.STOREY@forces.gc.ca.

A retirement function will be held on Friday 28 Oct 2016, 1130 – 1500 hrs at the NDHQ Warrant Officers and Sergeants / Chiefs and Petty Officers Mess, 4 Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa.

Attendees are requested to advise the OPI of their planned attendance NLT 20 Oct 2016. Congratulatory messages, anecdotes, photos, and farewell wishes can be forwarded to OPI: WO retired Ed Storey at ED.STOREY@forces.gc.ca<mailto:ED.STOREY@forces.gc.ca>