Article by Major C.A.M. Marques

An important milestone was achieved at the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at CFB Gagetown on 6 December 2004. Mr. Edward F. Leslie, the Executive Director for the New Brunswick Society of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists, presented L Col R.K. Gupta, CFSME Commandant, with the national CCTT accreditation for the seven trades in the Construction Engineering Training Program at CFSME. The accreditation includes the following trades: Refrigeration and Mechanical Systems Technician (RM Tech); Electrical Distribution Technician (ED Tech); Electrical Generation Systems Technician (EGS Tech); Plumbing and Heating Technician (PH Tech); Water, Fuels and Environment Technician (WFE Tech); Construction Technician (Const Tech) and Construction Superintendant (CE Supt).

The CCTT is a national professional organization with over 41,000 members and it’s role is to ensure that Canadian technicians and technologists maintain a high standard of excellence. The accreditation was provided after a standing committee reviewed the standards, curriculum, documents and through various interviews and site visits to ensure that the training provided at CFSME met the national CCTT competency standards. This accreditation will allow members who successfully complete any of the Construction Engineering trades and a minimum of two years of work experience to apply for certification and if successful can use the designation of C Tech (Certified Technician). This will provide a milestone during members military career, but will also provide a distinct benefit to those seeking employment after the end of their career in the CF. This initiative was part of the SCONDVA report.

A small ceremony took place at the Mitchell Building whereby Mr. Leslie presented seven certificates (one for each trade) to LCol Gupta on behalf of the CCTT. Mr. Leslie provided a brief summary of the CCTT organization and answered some questions from the military members present. Mr. Leslie stated that: ‘a Technician designation proves that you know what you are doing. It removes questions for possible future employers’. LCol Gupta thanked Mr. Leslie for acknowledging the excellence in training at CFSME and stated that: ‘this is an important step to recognize that the CME branch, CFSME and CCTT have a common mission to provide excellence in engineering training’.

CHIMO!