LCol Charles (Chuck) Armstrong will retire from the CF on 16 October 2011 after more than 37 years of Regular and Reserve Force service.

LCol Armstrong joined the CF in 1974 and graduated from CMR – St-Jean with a BSc in 1979. After completion Phase 4 training at CFSME in 1980 he was posted to 2 CER where he held several positions from Troop Commander to Adjt. Capt Armstrong was posted to CFB Greenwood as the Eng O in the CE Section in 1982. He went on to Hamilton Militia District HQ in 1983, as the SO Adm and Log, where he was responsible to plan the support to two 2000 soldier Militia Concentrations.

In July 1985 Capt Armstrong was posted to CFB Lahr as the Eng O and then as the Ops and Trg O. The tour was a great one; he met Sgt Élise Deschênes, a Dental Hygienist in 1 Dental Unit. They have now been married 25 years and have three children.

Upon returning to Canada in 1989 Capt Armstrong was an original member of LFCA HQ in Toronto, where he had a memorable task as Liaison Officer to the RCMP during Op AKWESASNE.

Capt Armstrong transferred to the P Res in 1991 and became the DCO of 3 FES in Ottawa, becoming the CO in 1992. While CO Maj Armstrong completed four summer concentrations and innumerable weekend exercises.

In 1996 LCol Armstrong was appointed as DS at CLFCSC, Kingston (Class A) where he would remain as a DS until 2007. During this time he was assigned the task as exchange instructor on the decentralized US Army Command and General Staff Officer Course from 2001 to 2003, instructing during weekends and summers at Fort Drum, NY, and Fort Dix, NJ. He also was tasked as an Army DS on the JRCSC, at CFC Toronto from 2004 to 2006. During this time LCol Armstrong also completed Class B and C time in ADM (IE), 33 CBG HQ, DCDS and DOL.

In 2008 LCol Armstrong was a Curriculum Developer and DS at CLFCSC, Kingston (Class B). In the fall of 2009 he was deployed for six months to Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the UN HQ Forward LO to the Forces armées de la Republic du Congo. Upon return to Canada in 2010 LCol Armstrong was again posted to NDHQ on the SJS.

A Depart with Dignity ceremony will take place at the Army Officers’ Mess located at 149 Somerset St. W, Ottawa, commencing at 1400 to 1630 hrs on Tuesday, 11 October 2011. The cost is $8 per person which includes hors d’oeuvres and small contribution to a retirement gift; please contact the OPI, Mr. John Linscott, 613-943-0378 (John.Linscott@forces.gc.ca) for reservations, information, congratulatory emails/messages or if you wish to make a contribution to his retirement gift.