Chief Warrant Officer Alain Guimond will retire on 4 September 2020, the first day of his 38th year of loyal and dedicated service to Canada and the Canadian Armed Forces.
CWO Alain Guimond joined the Canadian Forces on September 1983 in Rimouski, Quebec.
Throughout his career, CWO Guimond served at all ranks level from Sapper to CWO in Combat Engineer Regiments. He also served at Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) Chilliwack, BC and Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit as an instructor. In July 2004, CWO Guimond was posted to 5 Area Support Group as the Montreal Garrison Sergeant Major.
CWO Guimond completed all trade and leadership courses up to his current rank. As Combat Engineer, he acquired the special qualifications of Combat Diver and Basic Parachutist. In November 2005, he graduated from the first Chief Qualification Program. In 2008, CWO Guimond was selected to represent the Army on the Knowledge Acquisition Program (KAP) for one year at RMC Kingston. Throughout his career, he completed the OPME program and was awarded the certificate of completion. CWO Guimond was also appointed to the Order of Military Merit in 2008.
CWO Guimond was promoted to Sergeant in 1992 and posted to 5e Régiment du Génie de Combat in Valcartier. He was then deployed to Bosnia with the 2 RCR BG from October 1992 to May 1993. In November 1993, he deployed once again to Bosnia with 12 RBC BG, as a section commander, where he spent most of his tour in Srebrenica. Promoted to Warrant Officer in July 1996, CWO Guimond returned to Bosnia (ZGON) as the Squadron Ops Warrant Officer. In March 2002, he deployed for the fourth time to Bosnia as a Squadron Sergeant-Major with 2 R22R BG. In 2009, while serving with LFDTS HQ in Kingston, he deployed to Kandahar Afghanistan with Regional Command South as the Engineer Sergeant-Major as well as the RSM for Canadian Personnel HQ RC (S).
In 2006, CWO Guimond was appointed as the 20th Regimental Sergeant Major of 5e Régiment du Génie de Combat Valcartier. In July 2010, he became the 2 Area Support Group Formation Sergeant-Major in Petawawa, a post he held until June 2012, the date of his appointment to LFCA/JTFC Sergeant Major in Toronto. On the 26 April 2014, he became the first 4 Cdn Div Sergeant-Major since World War 2.
In June 2015, CWO Guimond started his journey as the 18th Canadian Army Sergeant-Major. CWO Alain Guimond is very honoured and proud to have been selected as the CFCWO.
CWO Guimond enjoys running, biking and being at the gym. He is a firm believer that physical training is critical and should be part of the daily routine for all CAF members. Fitness and mental toughness is the foundation for a CAF member.
He plans on taking a pause after his last year in uniform and will relocate to Quebec City.