Major Carol Sawatzky will retire on 7 August 2014 after more than 31 years of loyal and dedicated service with the Canadian Military Engineers Branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (1983-2014). Her last day at work will be the 20 March 2014. Carol’s service to her country began as an officer cadet in the regular officers training program while completing a Bachelor of Engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa.

In December 1987, Carol began her military career as a Construction Engineer Officer in CFB Ottawa after her military engineer training at CFB Chilliwack in 1986 and 1987.

As a Canadian Military Engineer, she served with the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Army and the National Defence Headquarters. She worked in joint, support and operational capacities across Canada or around the world. Carol will complete her career as J4 - Log in the new formation the Real Property Operations Group and participated in its establishment into the Canadian Armed Forces. Carol has been awarded in fall 2013 the Meritorious Service Medal for her deployment in Afghanistan.

Carol and her husband Rob will remain in the Ottawa area. They have two sons Mathew (25) and Tony (24) who is also a construction engineer just like mom. On retirement, her initial focus will be marching or snowshoeing in the forest and spending hours canoeing in Danford Lake at their cottage.

Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend the ceremonial start in dignity, which will be held at the Air RCAF Officers' Mess (Ottawa) on Thursday March 20 2014 from 13:30 to 15:00.

For planning purpose, noting that solicit $5.00 per person will be collected at the door, please confirm your attendance and/or send congratulatory messages or anecdotes to Captain Guillaume Hebert, RP Ops Gp at Guillaume.Hebert@forces.gc.ca before March 14, 2014.