Major Phil Hernen will be retiring from the Canadian Forces after more than 30 years of dedicated and loyal service to Canada.

Major Hernen joined the CF in June 1981. He graduated from RMC in Kingston in 1985 with a BEng (Civil), and upon completion of phase training was posted to Lahr, Germany where he served with 4 CER and 3 ADR Sqn (EOC Tp). He returned to Canada in 1990 as an instructor at CFSME, and in 1993 entered the Survey Graduate Diploma Program at UNB in Fredericton. In 1995 Maj Hernen and his family were posted to Ottawa, where he deployed for a year with UNPF (Croatia) and IFOR (BiH). He and his family returned to the Fredericton area in 1998 for his first assignment as DCO at 4 ESR, and deployed again to the Balkans as OC 42 Composite Engr Sqn. Following his deployment Maj Hernen held numerous instructor and staff positions at CFB Gagetown before returning to 4 ESR for his second posting as DCO. In 2007 Maj Hernan deployed to Kabul and occupied a position in the American Combined Security and Transition CommandAfghanistan HQ, where his efforts were recognized with the award of a Bronze Star. In 2008 he rejoined his family and moved to Brunssum where Maj Hernen took up a position at NATO Joint Force Command HQ. He returned quarterly to Afghanistan where he served as NATO’s Project Manager for Infrastructure Construction and Maintenance, where he was once again recognized with an award of the NATO Commander’s Commendation. In 2011, Maj Hernen returned to Canada and took a position within the J7 Staff of 1st Cdn Div HQ.

After more than 30 years of service to the CF, the Canadian Army, and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, and with their two children Alexander and Melissa attending StFX and UNB respectively, Phil and Linda Hernen will be leaving the service and taking up a position at NATO Maintenance and Supply Agency in Luxembourg. This will allow him to take on new challenges in his professional career while drawing on his extensive military training and experience, and allow his family more opportunities to pursue their shared interests.

A Depart with Dignity retirement event will occur at the ANA 337 Martello Unit, 317 Gore Road, Kingston, at 1400hrs on 09 Dec 11. Dress will be dress of the day or civilian casual. Confirmation of attendance and anecdotes can be sent to Maj Andrew Duncan, Andrew.Duncan@forces.gc.ca.