After more than 31 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers, Captain Jean-Charles "J-C" Viens, CD, will retire on 07 June 2023. Anecdotes and retirement wishes may be sent to Capt C.W. Wentzell at Connor.Wentzell@forces.gc.ca.
Captain Jean-Charles "J-C" Viens, CD will retire from the Canadian Military Engineers on 07 June 2023 after 31 years of service in North America, Europe, Africa, Afghanistan, the Baltic Sea, and the Middle East.
J-C was born in Cowansville and raised in Granby, Québec. He completed high school in 1992 and joined the Canadian Armed Forces immediately after as an infantryman with the Fusiliers de Sherbrooke where he enjoyed snowshoeing with his house on his back in the cold winters of Québec. He transferred to the reg force the following year through the Naval Combat Systems Technician Training Program (NCSTTP) as a Naval Weapons Technician (NWT) when he learned that they had hot showers on ships.
He studied at the Cégep de Rimouski where he met his future wife, Mélanie and developed a taste for raw veggies like garden carrots. He graduated from Cégep in 1995 and was posted to the East coast where he spent the bulk of his career in the RCN. He first set sail on HMCS Terra Nova in December 1995 followed by HMCS Halifax, HMCS Fredericton (Swissair Flight 111), HMCS Montreal (Op APOLLO, Afghanistan), HMCS Ville de Québec (Op UNISON), HMCS Halifax (again), HMCS Iroquois (TF SNMG1, Op SEXTANT, ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR) and HMCS Charlottetown (CEFCOM TF SIGONELLA, OP SIRIUS).
Throughout his career, and most notably with the RCN, he has distinguished himself as a serving member who thrives on challenges and who excels in leadership. He received the JTFSWA Commander’s Commendation in 2004 and the CEFCOM Commander’s Commendation in 2007 and 2012. In 2014, his career accomplishments were greatly acknowledged when was invited to Ottawa to meet then PM Harper to receive from The Navy League of Canada, the Outstanding Service Award "in recognition for Outstanding Duty and Service of the Highest Order to the Royal Canadian Navy and the People of Canada."
He sailed to many countries on four continents and after 21 years with the RCN, he took the challenge to become a Construction Engineering Officer through the UTPNCM. He graduated from Dalhousie with a degree in Civil Engineering in 2018. Shortly after, he was posted to CFSME for his CEOC and RPOU (Atlantic) on completion.
J-C bought a house in Lévis, Québec where he will enjoy a well-deserved retirement and probably take advantage of his veteran’s priority status to continue serving his country as a public servant. He will spend his spare time with his beloved wife Mélanie and travel back and forth from Québec to regularly visit his two daughters.