After more than 21 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Canadian Military Engineer Branch, MCpl Kirk Bradbury, CD will retire 10 May 2017.  A Depart with Dignity Ceremony will take place at the Annapolis Mess C Lounge at 1400hrs, 5 May 2017.  Attendees are requested to advise the OPI of their planned attendance NLT 30 Apr 2017.  Anecdotes or retirement wishes may be sent to MCpl Dan Wade or by phone at 902-678-2167.

Kirk Bradbury joined the CAF in Nov 1995 after completing his academic career and his modeling career not getting off the ground. He was asked the usual questions about camping, hunting and fishing which of course like a fish was hooked immediately. So he began his career after being given the options of infantry with the RCRs, RCRs or RCRs. On completion of BMQ and Battle School he posted to 2^nd Battalion RCR as a rifleman in Hotel Coy. 1997 after deploying to Quebec for the Ice Storms, he met a girl while home for his sisters high school graduation and two weeks later they were engaged. 4 Sep 1998 Kirks day began with a 15km march, then tossed 4 grenades. He then piled into a jeep after receiving well wishes from Hotel Coy, put on his suit and married his beautiful wife Jodi. Three months later Kirk was deployed for a 7 month tour to Bosnia. He deployed again in 2001 to Ethiopia and Eritrea for another six month stint. His most important job began in 2002 with the birth of his son Noah. After being promoted to MCpl in 2003 he was moved to India Coy where he assumed the section 2 I/C position.

With the birth of Noah, he began to think of life after the military and realizing that there wasn’t much demand for retired recce patrolman. He decided it was time to submit his request for an Occupational Transfer to CE as a Construction Technician. His application was approved and went to CFSME in 2005 to attend his QL3 course. His extracurricular studies proved too fruitful, and just before graduation in 2006 his second son Isaac was born. Kirk feels that he is the luckiest man alive to have 2 beautiful sons and a beautiful wife in his life. Upon completion of his QL3 Course, Kirk was posted to 14 Wing Greenwood as a member of 141 AEF, where he would remain until 2012. During his time with the unit he completed his QL5 Course, 2 tours to Dubia and one tour to Kuwait. His next posting brought him to CFB Edmonton as the IC of the Construction Techs at 1 CER. While in Edmonton he completed his QL6As and deployed once again to High River Alberta for flood relief. 2014 would bring Kirk back to his family in Greenwood and was sent to work as the 2 I/C of CE Det Aldershot and later as the IC.

Having completed 22 years in CAF, Kirk will retire on 10 May 2017 and plans to remain in the Greenwood area. Jodi has reminded him that he has been gone a collective 12 years in the time they have been together, and he is not allowed to go anywhere anymore unless it involves her and a beach. Kirk plans to spend as much time as possible with his sons doing archery, 4 wheeling and fishing, and squeeze in some travelling with Jodi. He plans to go to school in September at Dalhousie University and take the Home Inspectors Course and fulfill his dreams of running his own renovation business.