Major Cote enrolled in the Canadian Forces on 13 April 1977 in the city of Montreal, Quebec as a Construction Engineering Tech (CE Tech).
After completing basic and language training in St-Jean, Quebec, he was posted to Chilliwack, BC to attend the QL 3 course in January 1978. Upon completion, he was posted to CFB North Bay, ON where he was promoted to Corporal and subsequently posted to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment in April 1981 as the unit Design and Surveyor. While in Petawawa, ON, he completed his basic parachutist course and enjoyed many “good jumps” with the regiment, participated in several exercises including RV 81 and RV 83, and undertook many construction projects.
He was promoted to Master Corporal in June 1983 and returned to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering as an instructor in the CE Tech Cell where he instructed in all aspects of the trade including survey, drafting and design. He attended the QL 6A course in 1985 and was promoted to Sergeant the same year. In July 1986, he was posted to Lahr, Germany, attended QL 6B in 1988, and was promoted to Warrant Officer in 1989. While in Lahr, he occupied various positions within the Construction Engineering Section including Drafting Office Supervisor, Design Officer, IC PMQ Service Centre and Engineer Liaison Officer within the Wing Ops Centre. He deployed to Qatar in October 1990 as part of Op SCIMITAR to survey and layout both Canadian camps.
In 1992 he was promoted to Master Warrant Officer and returned to Canada as the Planning Officer within the Wing Construction Engineering Section at 19 Wing Comox. While in Comox he was involved with the formation of 191 Airfield Engineer Flight (AEF), and the deployment of this unit to various US bases. He deployed to Haiti (UNMIH) from August 1995 to April 1996 as the Canadian Airfield Engineer Squadron Sergeant-Major.
He was promoted to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer in October 1997 and subsequently posted to CTC Gagetown as the Construction Engineering Branch Chief Warrant Officer, where he was employed in the capacity of Contracts and Engineering Officer. He was then appointed as School Chief Warrant Officer of the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering on 21 July 2000 and served in that capacity until his appointment as the 1 Area Support Group Chief Warrant Officer in July 2003. On 26 April 2006, Chief Warrant Officer Cote was appointed as Area Sergeant-Major for Land Force Western Area and served in that capacity until February 2009. Chief Warrant Officer Cote was awarded the Order of Military Merit in October 2001.
He commissioned to the rank of Major under the SRCP in July 2009 and continued training with Op ATHENA, Task Force 3-09 until he deployed to Afghanistan in October 2009 where he was employed as the Engineer Support Unit 2i/c. On his return from Afghanistan in May 2010, Major Cote returned to Land Force Western Area HQ as the Engineer Ops desk officer and occupied this position until his appointment as the OC Engineer Services Company for ASU Edmonton in October 2011. Major Cote will retire from the Canadian Forces on 6 May 2012 after serving 35 years as an Engineer.
Major Cote, his wife Belinda, daughter Samantha and son Tyler will all remain in the Edmonton area for the foreseeable future. Major Cote will pursue other employment opportunities as long as it does not interfere with his passion for mountain biking, running and the great outdoors!!