Published March 16, 2021 · By Rolly Dusseault
1. AFTER 25 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CAF, WO MARK AUSTIN WILL BE RETIRING ON 06 APRIL 2021.
2. WO MARK AUSTIN JOINED THE CAF IN GRAND FALLS, NFLD ON 05 DEC 1995 AT AGE 17. HE BEGAN HIS CAREER IN THE PRIMARY RESERVES AS A RIFLEMAN WITH B COY, ROYAL NEWFOUNDLAND REGIMENT. IN 1998, WO AUSTIN TRANSFERRED TO THE REGULAR FORCE AND REMUSTERED TO ARMOURED CREWMAN. AFTER COMPLETING BATTLE SCHOOL IN WAINWRIGHT, AB, HE WAS POSTED TO C SQN, LORD STRATHCONA’S HORSE (ROYAL CANADIANS) IN EDMONTON, AB. IN 2002, WO AUSTIN WAS POSTED TO THE ARMOURED SCHOOL
IN GAGETOWN, NB WHERE HE SPENT HIS TIME DRIVING ARMOURED VEHICLES AND ASSISTING WITH CAREER COURSES WITHIN THE ARMOURED TRADE. IN 2005, WO AUSTIN REMUSTERED TO FIREFIGHTER. HE ATTENDED THE CF FIRE ACADEMY IN BORDEN, ON AND COMPLETED HIS QL3, QL5 AND QL6A TRG. UPON COMPLETION, WO AUSTIN WAS POSTED TO 12 WING SHEARWATER, NS AS A
FIREFIGHTER CREWMAN. IN 2008, HE WAS POSTED TO HMCS PRESERVER WHERE HE QUICKLY BECAME A CHEMOX AND WHISTLE EXPERT. DURING HIS YEARS AT SEA, WO AUSTIN HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAIL ABOARD MULTIPLE FRIGATES AND DESTROYERS WHEN THE SHIPS WERE SHORT ON FIREFIGHTERS. IN 2012, WO AUSTIN WAS POSTED BACK TO 12 WING SHEARWATER AS A DEPUTY PLATOON CHIEF. IN 2016, HE WAS POSTED TO 14 WING GREENWOOD, NS AS A DEPUTY PLATOON CHIEF AND EVENTUALLY BECAME THE CHIEF FIRE INSPECTOR
FOR 14 WING. IN 2018, WO AUSTIN WAS POSTED TO MONTREAL, QC AND WAS EMPLOYED AS A WATCH OFFICER FOR 2 DIV HQ, CDN ARMY. IN 2019, MARK WAS PROMOTED TO HIS CURRENT RANK OF WO AND POSTED TO REGIONAL CADETS SUPPORT UNIT, NORTHWEST (RCSU NW) IN EDMONTON. AS A J3 TRG SUPPORT COORDINATOR, WO AUSTIN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR 19 CADET CORPS SITUATED THROUGHOUT NORTHERN AB.
3. SOME CAREER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE MULTI-NATIONAL TRG IN CAMP BLANDING, FLORIDA, USA IN 1996. ALTHOUGH WO AUSTIN HAS FOND MEMORIES OF THE TRAINING BEING FUN AND EXCITING, HE RECALLS BEING TERRIFIED OF SLEEPING ON THE FLORIDA GROUND DUE TO THE “CREEPY CRAWLIES”. IN ADDITION TO HIS LOVE FOR “POUNDING TANK TRACK” AND BRIGADE EXERCISES IN WAINWRIGHT AND SUFFIELD, AB, WO AUSTIN ENJOYED ATTENDING THE ANNUAL CAN-AM CUP GUNNERY COMPETITION BETWEEN THE LDSH (RC) AND
THE USA TANK SQUADRONS HELD IN BOISE, ID, USA. AS FOR HIS TIME SPENT ON SHIP, MEMORABLE MOMENTS INCLUDE NUMEROUS BONG BONGS ALONG WITH TRIPS TO SCOTLAND, BERMUDA AND ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD. WO AUSTIN IS ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN CAF SPORTS THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER, PARTICULARLY BASKETBALL AND VOLLEYBALL. MOST OF ALL, WO AUSTIN HAS CHERISHED HIS SERVICE TIME AND WISHES TO EXPRESS HIS GRATITUDE TO EVERYONE HE HAS WORKED WITH
DURING HIS CAREER THAT HAVE HELPED MAKE IT A MEMORABLE ONE.
4. WO AUSTIN LOOKS FORWARD TO ENJOYING AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AND FAMILY LIFE WITH HIS WIFE JENNIFER, DAUGHTER BROOKE AND SONS JOSH AND LIAM WHO RESIDE IN YUKON. WO AUSTIN IS IMMINENTLY COMPLETING HIS POST- SECONDARY STUDIES AT THE NORTHERN ALBERTA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (NAIT) IN EDMONTON.
5. A FORMAL RETIREMENT FUNCTION IS INTENDED TO BE HELD IN EDMONTON IN LATE SPRING 2021 PENDING PROVINCIAL HEALTH RESTRICTIONS.
6. INQUIRIES REGARDING THE RETIREMENT FUNCTION ALONG WITH CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, ANECDOTES AND BEST WISHES CAN BE SENT TO WO KAREN SHIELDS (KAREN.SHIELDS(AT)ECN.FORCES.GC.CA).