CWO Jeremy Buckingham CD enrolled into the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997. On completion of his initial infantry occupational trade training he was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. As an infantryman he occupied an airborne position for 4 years and an 81mm mortarman’s position for 1 year. He reached the rank of MCpl before making the decision to leave the Canadian Army and become a firefighter with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In 2005 CWO Buckingham’s request to become a firefighter under the Construction Engineer’s Branch was approved. During his career as a firefighter, he has served in a variety of roles and positions. After his firefighter training, CWO Buckingham was posted to Comox to begin his new career. 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 time on ship to attain the ship’s team diver qualifications and in 2010 became a Naval Ship's dive team Supervisor. In 2012, as a Sgt, he was posted to the MARPAC Fleet School Damage Control Division teaching firefighting and Shipboard helicopter crash rescue, as the Senior firefighter.
In 2016, with a promotion to Warrant Officer, CWO Buckingham was posted back to Comox as fire hall Platoon Chief, acting as well as the 19 Wing Urban Search and Rescue Team leader.
After three years of success in that position, he was promoted to MWO and had the privilege to become CFFCA’s Fire Training Squadron’s Sergeant Major, then in 2021 he continued to round out his experience as the FTS Standards’ Quality Assurance MWO.
Throughout his time as both infantryman and firefighter CWO Buckingham served on multiple operational deployments. With 3 RCR he deployed to Bosnia (OP PALLADIUM) with ROTO 3/1998 and ROTO 8/2001 and Afghanistan (OP ATHENA) with ROTO 0/2003, then as a firefighter to Kuwait (OP IMPACT) with ROTO 4/2017, and Iraq (OP IMPACT) with ROTO 5/2017. In 2021 as a part of a firefighting needs assessment of the Palestinian Authorities he was deployed to Jerusalem (OP PROTEUS). CWO Buckingham has also been deployed domestically serving in Inuvik and two times to CFS Alert.
CWO Buckingham is married to an ever patient and loving wife Deirdre Buckingham. Together they have a talented and lovely daughter Meilah.
CWO Buckingham is looking forward to his new appointment as CFFCA CWO.