1. AFTER 27 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CANADIAN FORCES, THE ARMY, AND THE ENGINEER BRANCH, MAJOR AL JENSEN WILL RETIRE FROM THE MILITARY ON 5 NOV 07.
2. MAJOR AL JENSEN WAS BORN IN BADEN-SOELLINGEN, GERMANY ON 09 JUNE 1962. HE GRADUATED FROM THE ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE OF CANADA (KINGSTON, ONTARIO) IN 1985 WITH A DEGREE IN BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (APPLIED). UPON GRADUATION FROM ENGINEER OFFICER TRAINING FROM CFSME IN 1985, HE THEN EMBARKED ON A CAREER THAT WOULD TAKE HIM ACROSS THE BREADTH AND DEPTH OF COMBAT ENGINEERING. FROM THE TACTICAL LEVEL WITH 1 CER AND AS REGULAR SUPPORT STAFF WITH 44 FES IN TRAIL, TO THE OPERATIONAL LEVEL IN DOMESTIC OPERATIONS, A TOUR WITH CFSME, AND TOURS IN CYPRUS AND BOSNIA. AT THE STRATEGIC LEVEL WITH J3 ENGR, THE LAND STAFF AND ADM(MAT) WORKING ON ENGINEER DOCTRINE, ARMY EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT, SUPPORT TO OPERATIONS, AND APPLYING HIS CONSIDERABLE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE IN THE FIELD OF MINE WARFARE AND EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE. ACADEMIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDED A PG DIPLOMA FROM RMCS SHRIVENHAM, UK AND THE LAND FORCE TECHNICAL STAFF PROGRAM QUALIFICATION FROM RMC. SECONDED TO CIDA, MAJ JENSEN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINE ACTION INITIATIVES UNDER THE OTTAWA CONVENTION/LANDMINE TREATY - CANADIAN LANDMINE FUND WITH FAR-REACHING EFFECTS FROM HIS PROJECTS IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND EASTERN EUROPE. MAJ JENSEN HAS SPENT THE LAST EIGHTEEN MONTHS IN THE JENGR CELL IN JOINT TASK FORCE PACIFIC, SEVEN MONTHS OF WHICH WERE AS THE JENGR.
3. AL IS AN ACCOMPLISHED GOLFER AND AVID HOCKEY PLAYER. HE HAS COMPETED FOR MANY YEARS IN MANY LOCAL, PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL AMATEUR GOLF COMPETITIONS. SINCE 1990, HE HAS ALSO BEEN A MEMBER ON THE CF NATIONAL/CISM GOLF TEAM AND IN 2006 WAS THE WORLD CHAMPION – GOLD MEDALIST (SENIOR DIVISION) AT THE CISM INTERNATIONAL WORLD MILITARY GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS, BALLINROBE, IRELAND. HE WILL BE COMPETING THIS FALL AT THE 2007 CISM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA.
4. . MAJ JENSEN AND HIS WIFE CORINNE WILL CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE WEST COAST ISLAND LIFESTYLE AND CONSIDERING FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE THE CF AND THE ENGINEERS AS A RESERVIST. AN INTIMATE GATHERING WILL BE HELD AT THEIR ADOPTED NEIGHBOUHOOD PUB IN VICTORIA 12 OCT 07 TO CELEBRATE MAJ JENSEN’S CAREER. PERS WISHING TO ATTEND THIS FUNCTION ARE MORE THAN WELCOME AND CAN USE THE CONTACT INFORMATION BELOW FOR FURTHER INFO.
5. CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES, E-MAILS, ANECDOTES, WELL WISHES OR PICTURES FOR MAJ JENSEN ARE ENCOURAGED AND SHOULD BE SENT ATT: LCOL JON BURBEE, CFB ESQUIMALT, PO BOX 17000 STN FORCES VICTORIA, BC V9A 7N2 OR BY EMAIL AT BURBEE.JR@FORCES.GC.CA TELEPHONE QUERIES MAY BE DIRECTED TO LCOL BURBEE AT CSN 333-2738 OR COMM (250) 363-2738.