Published April 2, 2014
Chief Warrant Officer J.L.L.D. (Daniel) Gratton enrolled in the Canadian Forces on 02 January 1980, in St-Jérome, Québec as a direct entry into the electrical occupation.
After completing basic training in St-Jean, he was posted to 1 Construction Engineering Unit, Winnipeg, Manitoba. In March 1981 he was posted to CFB Valcartier Construction Engineering section. While there, he participated in Op Hurricane at CFS Alert, completed his QL-5 in 1983 followed by a 6-month tour to CFS Alert between October 1983 to April 1984.
In the summer of 1986 Corporal Gratton was posted to 1 Combat Engineering Regiment Chilliwack. While there, he did a 6 month tour with the Airborne Regiment in Cyprus between Sept 86 to March 87, on his return from his UN duties he took part in RV 87 Wainwright. In August 1987 Cpl Gratton was promoted to the rank of master corporal and posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering as an electrical instructor.
Upon his promotion to the rank of Warrant office in 1992 he was posted to 1 Construction Engineering Unit as the Electrical section supervisor. In 1995 WO Gratton was seconded to the Department of Foreign Affairs International Trade as building systems and operations superintendent. Upon promotion to the rank of Master Warrant officer in 1998, he was posted to CFB Bagotville as operations director within the infrastructure group. In July 1999 MWO Gratton return to Beijing China as project manager for the Canadian Embassy Expansion Project. In October 2000 he was posted to CFB Winnipeg Construction Engineering section as Operations Director and Unit Master Warrant Officer. While there he took part in Roto 10 Bosnia Herzegovina between March to October 2002.
Promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant officer in June 2003 he was posted to 1 Canadian Air Division Airfield Engineering training where he was also assigned the duties of Division CWO for A1 training. In May 2004 CWO Gratton move to Ottawa to become the career manager for all seven occupations of the construction engineers. In May 2007 he was appointed Canadian Military Engineer Branch CWO.
CWO Gratton is retiring from the CF on June 13th 2008, after 28 + yrs of loyal and dedicated service to the CME Branch and the CF. He will be taking a Regional Property Officer position with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada in Ottawa.