MCpl Chris Budgell joined the CF on 4 November 1988 in St. John’s, Newfoundland as an Armoured Corps soldier. Upon completion of Basic Training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, he was posted to Gagetown, New Brunswick in February 1989. After completing TQ3 training in Gagetown, as well as a Leopard driver course, he was posted to Lahr, Germany in July 1989 with the VIII Canadian Hussars and remained there until July 1993.
In July 1993, MCpl Budgell was posted to Valcartier, Quebec with the 12 Regiment Blinde du Canada. After serving a year with the regiment and completing one tour in Bosnia between October 1993 and April 1994, he was posted to the language school in Valcartier for the year long French course. Upon completion of language training, he was posted back to the regiment in 1995. From July 1996 until January 1997 he returned to Bosnia for a second time.
In December 1997 MCpl Budgell was posted to the Armour School in Gagetown, New Brunswick. Fulfilling various roles at the Armour School, as well as one year at the Land Force Atlantic Training Center, he was promoted to Master Corporal in August 2001.
In August 2004, MCpl Budgell obtained an occupational transfer to Fire Fighter. Upon completion of QL3 he was posted to CFB Edmonton. In July 2007, he was posted to CJIRU in CFB Trenton and remained there until April 2009 when he was promoted, once again, to Master Corporal and posted to his current position as an instructor at CFFCA in CFB Borden.
He has accepted a position with the Coast Guard in Newfoundland. Upon completion of six months of training at the Coast Guard College in Sydney, Nova Scotia, he will be assuming a position in Port aux Basques Newfoundland.
Chris, his wife Janet, and their three children, Kyndra, Mackenzie, and Jaedon, will be departing Ontario and heading for Newfoundland the 8 July, with, he says, all rear view mirrors removed from the vehicle, as there is no turning back.