Master Warrant Officer Kenneth (Ken) S. Purcell is retiring from the CF after 24 plus years of dedicated service.

On Sept 24 1983, Ken Purcell enrolled in the Y-TEP program as a Crewman at CFB Gagetown in Oromocto, New Brunswick. He became a Trooper in the Armour Corp in July 1984, and the following year was posted to the Lord Strathcona’s Horse Regiment in CFB Calgary. After spending three years in Alberta, Cpl Purcell continued his career at the CFB Gagetown Armour School in the summer of 1988. Beginning the 1990’s with more than a typical New Year’s resolution, Cpl Purcell continued his career by going LOTREP as a WSPOL Tech with the Canadian Military Engineers.

It took Ken a few years to see the light, but joining the Engineers was a great choice.

Continuing his career at CFB Trenton in July 1991 for three years, MCpl Purcell moved to Nova Scotia where he was posted to CFB Greenwood until mid 1997. During that summer, he was posted to 1 Construction Engineering Unit (1 CEU) Moncton for five years until 2002, where he had the privilege of working with some great Engineers from Canada and around the world. This exceptional list of places includes Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, Croatia, Macedonia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and both Alert and Eureka, NWT.

During his time spent in CFB Greenwood and at 1 CEU Moncton, Sgt Purcell took the opportunity to go on three tours. Traveling to Haiti in May 29, 1995 and again in March 31, 1997, he gained a wealth of tour experience and continued his endeavors by going to Bosnia on May 29, 1999.

In the summer of 2002, WO Purcell was posted to the Golan Heights in Israel as part of his fourth tour and ended in Syria in June, 2003. His career then led WO Purcell from the hot, dry summers of Syria to the unpredictable weather conditions of Halifax where he was posted to CFB Halifax on June 30, 2003. Since his posting to FCE, WO Purcell went on his fifth and final tour on October 31, 2007 to Afghanistan and was promoted to MWO the following year. MWO Purcell has been able to travel to over 30 different countries and retire with over 24 years of experience as a valuable member of the Canadian Forces.

Master Warrant Officer Purcell is married to his beautiful wife, Wendy, and has two sons, Kenneth and Boyce.

Anecdotes, well wishes, and farewell messages can be sent, emailed or faxed to CWO Gary Ryan, Formation Construction Engineering, CFB Halifax. The fax number is (902) 722 4458 or email ryan.gj@forces.gc.ca by 1 June 2008, as Ken will be honoured at a retirement function on 18 June 2008, Juno Tower, CFB Halifax.