After more than 20 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, LCol J.C. Hallett, CD, (00181) will retire on 15 July 2025. A DwD reception will be held on 19 Jun in Edmonton at Yang Ming Buffet starting at 17:00 May 25. RSVP to Capt K. Ho NLT 12 Jun 25. Anecdotes, well wishes, and donations for the departure gifts may be sent to Capt K.S.C. Ho at Kyle Ho@forces.gc.ca. Yang Ming Buffet – The Best & Biggest Buffet in Edmonton – We have the best and biggest buffet in Edmonton.
CHIMO!
It is with profound respect and admiration that the Real Property Operations Unit (West) (RPOU-W) recognizes Lieutenant Colonel (LCol) Jonathan Charles Hallett for his distinguished 20-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
Lieutenant-Colonel John Hallett was born and raised in the Calgary, Alberta area. After earning a civil engineering degree from the University of Calgary and spending a couple of years working in the concrete industry, he still wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do when he grew up—so after reading a Globe and Mail article about the military, he decided to join the Canadian Armed Forces as a Combat Engineer through the Direct Entry Officer program.
The first half of his 20-year career was spent in the Army of the West, where he served in a variety of roles with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment and 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. Following a brief posting to Defence Research and Development Canada in Suffield, he found himself thrust into the Base Engineer role with 48 hours’ notice—thanks largely to a peer’s spouse who couldn’t handle the Chinook winds of southern Alberta. From that point on, he remained in Real Property Operations.
Over the next decade, LCol Hallett filled key leadership positions including Officer Commanding at Suffield, Deputy Commanding Officer of Real Property Operations Unit (RPOU) Ontario, and most recently, Commanding Officer of RPOU West. Along the way, he earned several project and facility management designations, a Master of Business Administration, and a Master of Defence Studies.
Operationally, LCol Hallett supported multiple domestic missions and deployed twice to Afghanistan: first as a Troop Commander on Task Force 1-08, and later as a Planning Officer with the Mission Transition Task Force. His reflections on preparing for and conducting combat operations in the Horn of Panjwayi as a Troop Commander will be featured in his forthcoming memoir, Unconventional, set for commercial release this fall.
Outside of uniform, John enjoys hunting, ice fishing, motorcycles, and hiking. Though he still isn’t entirely sure what he wants to be when he grows up, he’s looking forward to spending more time with his kids, Ben and Anna, while they grow up. Part of the short-term plan includes travelling across North America and down the Pan-American Highway with the family in a camper van.
Thank you for your service.
CHIMO!
En dehors de l’uniforme, John aime la chasse, la pêche sur glace, la moto et la randonnée. Bien qu’il ne sache toujours pas exactement ce qu’il veut faire quand il sera «grand», il se réjouit à l’idée de passer plus de temps avec ses enfants, Ben et Anna, pendant qu’ils grandissent. Le plan à court terme comprend un voyage en famille à travers l’Amérique du Nord et jusqu’à l’autoroute panaméricaine, à bord d’un fourgon aménagé.
Merci pour votre service.
CHIMO!