CWO Keith Jones MMM, CD will retire from the Canadian Armed Forces on 10 Sept 2014 after over 40 years of dedicated service to the CAF and the CME Branch (please see bio attached). Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend the ceremonial depart with dignity, which will be held at the NDHQ WOs' & Sgts' / C & POs' Mess - 4 Queen Elizabeth Dr, on Thurs 4 Sept 2014 from 1130-1430 hrs. A lunch (sandwiches and salads) will be available to purchase at a cost of $18.00/per person. For planning purpose, please confirm your attendance (meal yes or no) by 22 August 2014. Congratulatory messages or anecdotes can be sent to CWO Garray Cotton, RSM 2 CDSG Eng Svcs at Garray.Cotton@forces.gc.ca
Originally, from Ottawa, Chief Warrant Officer Jones joined the CF in August 1974. Initially as an AD Tech, then as a gunner, deploying to Egypt 76-77 with UNEF II. Upon his return to Canada, CWO Jones re-badged as a Construction Engineering Technician, RCE.
In 1982, he was promoted to MCpl and posted to CFS Kamloops, BC as the Station Construction Engineering Officer. Following his TQ6A course in Chilliwack 1984, CWO Jones was promoted to Sgt and posted to 1 Construction Engineering unit (1 CEU) in Winnipeg, MB. While in this posting, he spent five summers in the high arctic working on the new Dew line project. During this posting, he also participated in a Soils Analysis Course in Fort Belvoir, Virginia with the U.S. Army.
Promoted to WO in 1988, CWO Jones was posted to CFB Trenton during which he completed a tour in Cyprus (1989-90) as the Engineer Troop Warrant Officer. In 1990, CWO Jones was promoted to MWO and posted to CFB Chatham as the Unit Warrant Officer and CE Production Officer. In 1993, he was posted back to 1 CEU Winnipeg during which time he deployed to Haiti. Upon his return to Canada, 1 CEU was in the process of moving the unit to Moncton, NB, where CWO Jones continued to serve with 1 CEU where he completed two tours and a number of Technical Assistant Visits.
In 1999, CWO Jones was posted to CFSU (Europe) Germany as the unit Warrant Officer as well as the Technical Service Officer. After 4 years in Europe, CWO Jones was promoted to his present rank and was posted once again back to 1 ESU Moncton, formerly 1 CEU, as the Engineering Squadron CWO. In 2004, he returned to Bosnia as the 2 I/C of the Engineer Support Unit in Velika Kladusa for an 8 month tour.
In July 2007, CWO Jones was appointed as the Base Chief Warrant Officer for CFB/ASU Edmonton. In Feb 2009, he was invested into the Order of Military Merit. And on 8 September 2010, he was appointed as the 13th Canadian Military Engineer Branch CWO. In 2012, CWO Jones, was posted to CFHA as their Senior Military Advisor.
CWO Jones has two additional appointments within the Canadian Armed Forces, in 2006, he was appointed as the Canadian Contingent Nijmegen Task Force RSM, and in 2010 was appointed as the Chief Warrant Officer CAF Champion for Persons with Disabilities. These appointments will be held until his retirement from the CAF in September 2014.
CWO Jones will retire with his wife, Patsy in Caissie Cape New Brunswick, on the shores of the Northumberland Straits, after 37 years with the Engineer Branch, and 40 years with the Canadian Armed Forces.