MWO Fernand Desjardins, CD

MWO Fernand Desjardins, CD will be retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces on the 6th of September 2015 after 39+ years of dedicated service to the CAF and the CME Branch. He has kindly declined a departure with dignity event. Congratulatory messages can be sent to Capt Sharon Ong at Sharon.Ong@forces.gc.ca.

Adjum Fernand Desjardins, CD prendra sa retraite des FAC le 6 Septembre 2015 après plus que 39 années de services qu'il a consacré comme membre du CAF et de la branche du GMFC. Il a refusé avec humilité un départ avec dignité. Si vous avez des messages de félicitation vous pouvez les envoyer au Capt Sharon Ong à Sharon.Ong@forces.gc.ca.

MWO Fernand Desjardins’ military career started in 1976, when he joined the Reserves in Quebec City with 10 Field Engineer Squadron. He transferred to the Regular Force in 1986 and was posted to 5 Regiment du Genie de Combat (RGC) in Valcartier, Quebec. He occupied the entire job spectrum from Corporal to Sergeant in a Field troop during that stay. During that posting, in 1987, he went to Cyprus as a Field Section Second in Command where he then was promoted Sergeant at the end of the tour.

In 1990, he was posted to The Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at CFB Chilliwack as a Bridging and Watermanship instructor for three years. He was also employed as an instructor for the Basic Officer Training Course in the summer of 1993. After this, he was moved to Standards where he was promoted to Warrant Officer in 1994, and posted to 5 RGC as a Troop Warrant Officer that same year. During that posting he was deployed to Bosnia as the Engineer Squadron Operations Warrant Officer. In 1996, he was posted to 34 Field Engineer Regiment in Montreal Quebec as the Regular Force Support Staff. During that posting he deployed for a second time in Bosnia as part of the Regional Engineer Office in Multi National Sector South West. This deployment is so far the high-light of his career as it exposed him to a multitude of challenges.

In 2000, he was posted back to 5 RGC as a Warrant Officer, and in 2001, to Combat Training Centre (CTC) Gagetown, New-Brunswick as the Subject Matter Expert for the Infantry School Pioneer Cell. In 2002, he was moved to the Headquarters CTC as part of Army Individual Training Authority Engineer. He was very involved with Writing Boards for both Qualification Standards and Training Plan.

In 2006, he was posted to the Fort Garry Horse (FGH) in Winnipeg, Manitoba as the unit was designated to grow engineer capability within 38 Brigade. In June 2008, he retired from the Regular Force and stayed in Winnipeg with the FGH. Upon promotion to MWO in the November 2008, he was appointed Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM) of the FHG until November 2011. From November 2011 to April 2013 he occupied various staff positions overseeing the growth and stand-up of 38 Combat Engineer Regiment. When 38 CER officially stood up in April 2013 MWO Desjardins was appointed as the first RSM of the Regiment. Along with working in 38 CER he has held the camp RSM position at the Penhold Air Cadet Summer Training Centre in the summers of 2013, 2014 and lastly in the summer of 2015 before he retires in September 6, 2015.