After more than 27 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, CWO Jeremy Buckingham, CD, will retire on 16 June 2024. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to CWO D.M. Matthews at Donald.Matthews2@forces.gc.
Jeremy was born and raised in Surrey, BC. After graduating
from a rural public high school in 1996, he enrolled in the
Canadian Armed Forces in 1997. Following initial Infantry
training, he was posted to the Third Battalion of the Royal
Canadian Regiment. As an RCR soldier, he occupied an
airborne position for four years and an 81mm mortarman’s
position for one year. He reached the rank of MCpl before
leaving the Canadian Army in 2005 to become a firefighter
with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
During his career as a firefighter, Jeremy served in a variety of roles and positions. After firefighter
training, he began his new career in Comox, BC. In 2009, he was given the opportunity to work
with the Royal Canadian Navy as a shipboard firefighter with HMCS Algonquin, HMCS Calgary,
and HMCS Ottawa, accumulating 371 days at sea. He took advantage of his sea time to attain the
ship’s diver qualification and in 2010, the ship's dive team supervisor. In 2012, as a Sgt and the
senior firefighter, he was posted to the MARPAC Fleet School Damage Control Division to teach
firefighting and shipboard helicopter crash rescue.
With a promotion to Warrant Officer in 2016, Jeremy was posted back to Comox as a fire hall
Platoon Chief, as well as the 19 Wing Urban Search and Rescue Team leader. After three years in that position, he was promoted to Master Warrant Officer in 2019 and had the privilege to be the
Canadian Forces Fire and CBRN Academy’s (CFFCA) Fire Training Squadron’s (FTS) Sergeant
Major. In 2021, Jeremy continued to round out his firefighting experience as the FTS Standards’
Quality Assurance MWO. In 2022, Jeremy was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and appointed
to the role of the Unit CWO of CFFCA.
During Jeremy’s time as CFFCA’s CWO, he was an active member of CFB Borden’s Defense
Advisory Group for Persons with Disabilities, the Family Violence Advisory Council, and the
Patient Advisory Committee. Jeremy enjoyed working with the Georgian Bay Volunteer Search
and Rescue K-9 teams and hosting Cadet visits at the firefighter training area.
Jeremy has accepted a position with the Department of National Defense in the Canadian Forces
Fire Marshal’s office as the Public Servant Firefighter training officer at CFB Borden. Jeremy, his
wife Deirdre, and daughter Meilah are looking forward to this next chapter in their lives.
Pro Patria! Airborne! Chimo!