After more than 37 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, MWO Ted Gombert, MMM, CD, will retire on 07 May 2022. The tentative date for a DWD is 24 June 2022 during the 2 CER reunion. Congratulatory messages and best wishes can be sent to MWO R.D.E. Gilbert at Rodger.Gilbert@forces.gc.ca or to MWO G.T. Gombert at gtgontheroad@hotmail.com.
Ted was born in Hamilton, Ontario, and grew up Burlington. Unsatisfied with several years of working in the carpentry and construction trades, he joined the Regular Force as a Field Engineer, now Combat Engineer, in Sep 1984. He completed Basic Training in Cornwallis, NS, in Dec 1984 and QL3 in Chilliwack, BC, in May 1985. During this time, he joined 2 CER in Wainwright during RV85 and has served with 2 CER on and off ever since.
Ted has had a diverse and varied career serving in both operational and strategic roles. He served with 2 CER at 25 HQ, 2 Troop and Heavy Equipment in the Airborne roles from 1986 to 1991. During that time, he re-mustered to the new trade of 042 Field Engineer Equipment Operator and subsequently deployed to Akwesasne with 2 CER in 1990. In 1991, then Cpl Gombert served as a Test Driver at Land Engineer Test Establishment until its closure and then at the Canadian Airborne Regiment until its disbandment in 1995. Undaunted, MCpl Gombert’s next posting, back to 2 CER as a Section Commander with Heavy Equipment Troop (HET) and Regimental Transport, included a deployment to Bosnia with IFOR. Following this deployment, he was promoted to Sergeant to be 25 SQMS, where he deployed for the Winnipeg floods and the West Ontario / Quebec ice storm.
In 1998, Ted was posted to CFSME, at its new location in Gagetown, to instruct at HET. He received training in Ft Leonard Wood on soils analysis and as a HazMat technician with the Canadian Forces Fire Academy. He was then promoted to Warrant Officer and posted back to 2 CER. In 2003, he deployed to Bosnia as 2 Tp WO with 23 Field Squadron, where he received the moniker Uncle Ted. In 2005, Ted deployed to Sri Lanka as Tp WO with a DART and again to Afghanistan as 23 SQMS with Task Force 3-06. Having exhausted all employment at 2 CER, Ted was accepted to the Army Technical Warrant Program at RMC in 2008. He graduated the following year and was posted to the Directorate Land Requirements as a Programme Director and Deputy PD on several projects. In 2012, Ted returned to 2 CER to be employed as the Ops MWO, 25 SSM, 28 SSM, and QMSI.
In 2016, Ted was posted to CFJOSG in Kingston, Ontario, as a J3 Desk Officer and the deployed Sergeant Major for the Operational Support Hub in Kingston, Jamaica, and TLD support in Koln, Germany. For his final posting in 2021, he returned to where it all began at 2 CER as QMSI.
In 2017, MWO Gombert was appointed to the Order of Military Merit. He also received the Army Command Commendation for his deployment in Afghanistan and numerous Base Commander’s awards for his environmental work while at CFSME.
Ted will remain in Petawawa for the foreseeable future with Tracey, his partner of 30 years. He has accepted part time work with the Gasparotto Group. M