Published August 13, 2023
After 6 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, Cpl Dax Klea will release on 18 September 2023. Congratulatory messages, well wishes and anecdotes can be sent to MCpl S.J.L. Killoran at Sean.Killoran@forces.gc.ca.
Cpl Dax Klea was born in Savannah, Georgia, and raised in Prince George, British Columbia. Dax enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in November 2016 and commenced Basic Training later that month. Following Basic Training in March 2017, he was sent to CFB Gagetown for the PH Tech QL3 course, which he completed in March 2018. From
Gagetown, Dax was posted to 191 CEF in Comox for the majority of his OJE training, with additional portions completed in Cold Lake and Winnipeg.
In April 2019, Cpl Klea had the opportunity to travel with 191 CEF to Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, Hawaii. While there, the Unit was tasked with demolishing an existing gymnasium and starting construction on the new building that would take its place. This project allowed Dax to work with units from Hawaii and New England, to take a course in topography, and to gain knowledge and experience in areas of carpentry that were new to him.
The training in Hawaii proved to be beneficial the following month in Lyon, France, during an annual French Reserves exercise called Op AIR-RAID. Hosted by a different air base each year,the exercise lasts 72 hours and consists of obstacle courses, ranges, and tasks that require good team communication. Cpl Klea was part of Canada’s team, who placed third in the international competition by understanding team member’s strengths and weaknesses.
From October 2022 to February 2023, Cpl Klea completed the PH Tech QL5 course that contributed to his growth as a tradesman. The end of the course marked the end of his time in Gagetown and the opportunity to start a new career in a completely different field.
After almost seven years in the CAF, Cpl Klea is grateful for the experiences he has had and for the people with whom he has worked. He looks forward to new challenges that lie ahead as a tattoo artist and the opportunity to learn from them.