Published December 12, 2025 · By Rolly Dusseault
After more than 17 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, WO M.-A.J.J. Bastille, MSM, CD, will retire on 11 December 2025. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to Sgt P.E. Doyon at: patrick.doyon@forces.gc.ca.
Marc-André Bastille was born in 1991, in Saint-Modeste, a small village near Rivière-du- Loup in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. He was raised in a family with two sisters and parents who were both former military members. His father is currently retired from the CAF, and his mother passed away in August 2016 due to a post-operative complication.
WO Bastille is in a common-law relationship and has two boys: a 7-year-old named Marc-Éli and an 11-month-old named Jake. Outside of his role as a father, he enjoys spending his free time doing outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, target shooting, and water activities. He spends a lot of time training in running and swimming to improve his physical capabilities.
He completed his primary education at the school in Saint-Modeste in a rural setting and continued his secondary studies in a private school in Rivière-du-Loup. He completed high school and then joined the Reserve full-time. During his time as a student, WO Bastille was part of the Rivière-du-Loup Olympic Boxing Club. His participation in the club ended when he enrolled in the CAF. He also holds high-risk environmental protection training provided by the Praetorian Protection firm.
Marc-André joined the Canadian Forces as a reservist in May 2008. He began as a Land Weapons Technician due to his poor eyesight (V4). After basic training, he worked full- time with A Company of the Fusiliers du Saint-Laurent in Rivière-du-Loup. He was later sent to Borden for his Weapons Technician course. Afterward, he was attached on Class B service to the 5th BNS as a technician. He held this position until the summer of 2010, when he was sent back to Borden to complete his QL5. Later, his request to transfer to the Regular Force was approved after 4 years of waiting and eye surgery.
He joined the Regular Force as a Combat Engineer in 2012. He completed his DP1 for engineers in Gagetown and was then posted to 5 RGC. He participated in Combat Diver selection and was sent on the course. After completing the diver course, he became a member of the 5 RGC Dive Section. In 2014, he completed his Engineer DP2. In July 2015, he went to the United States to attend the Sapper Leader Course. Later in 2015, he completed his QL-E and served as the Deputy Commander of the Dive Section. In 2016, he completed the Dive Supervisor course and served as the Dive Section Warrant Officer at 5 RGC.
In 2017, he completed the Combat Engineer DP3A. After completing his Sergeant course, he attended the Pathfinder course. Upon returning to 5 RGC, he held the position of Combat Engineer Troop Second-in-Command. In October 2018, he was deployed on Op IMPACT in Iraq as the Force Protection Commander and received the Meritorious Service Medal for his work. Upon returning from Iraq, he participated in Op LENTUS in Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac as an Engineer Reconnaissance member and Dive Detachment Commander, for which he received a commendation. In June 2019, he was posted to CAAWC in the Pathfinder cell as an instructor. In 2020, he was posted to CI 2 Div as an instructor. In 2021, he completed DP3B and was promoted after the course. Master Corporal Bastille then served as the course deputy at CI 2 Div. In June 2022, he was posted to 5 RGC to serve as Troop Warrant Officer.