MWO Mike Pletsch will retire from the Canadian Armed Forces on 15 July 2020 after 34+ years of service.

MWO Mike Pletsch joined the CAF in June 1986 on the YTEP program. After recruit training was completed in Cornwallis it was off to Borden for his QL3. His first posting was to Cold Lake AB where he completed his OJT 4, QL5 and OSQ AB training and a rank change in 1990 to Cpl. In 1992 MWO Pletsch was posted to HMCS Halifax, for his first 3 years’ service with the RCN. In 1995 he was posted to the Valley at CFB Greenwood where he would be deployed to OP Kinetic in Kosovo 1999, was married to his lovely wife Wanda and welcomed his first son Brennan to the world in 2000. A promotion to MCpl and a posting back to Halifax to HMCS Charlottetown in 2000 became his second stint with the RCN. During that posting he deployed to OP Augmentation and OP Apollo, in 2002 he welcomed his second son Matthew. In Dec 2002 he was promoted to Sgt and posted back to HMCS Halifax as SnrFF.

APS 2003 sent MWO Pletsch and his family to CFFA in CFB Borden where he was the employed as the QL3 course director, then QL5 course director and finishing off as Lead Instructor. It was an extremely busy yet rewarding time at the CFFA, including a promotion to Warrant Officer in 2006. In 2007 MWO Pletsch was posted to 14 Wing Greenwood as a platoon chief and in 2009 was deployed to OP Athena as Task Force Fire Marshal. In 2011 MWO Pletsch was posted to 4 Wing Cold Lake as Deputy Fire Chief. The day he was promoted to MWO he deployed North to Inuvik for a one month tasking. Being Deputy Fire Chief in Cold Lake was extremely busy but super rewarding.

2015 brought his last posting, joining Sea Training Pacific for his final RCN posting. He is the last 00149 Fire Fighter to sail on our HMCS ships. Mentoring and evaluating RCN personnel was a pleasure and the best way to travel. Finishing with a career total of 940 sea days.

To all of his peers, subordinates, supervisors and friends over his 34+ years of service he would like to thank them all very much for all of their support. MWO Pletsch, his wife Wanda and maybe his two boys who are looking at employment with CAF will be retiring to the Eastern most Island of Canada on the 15th July. They will enjoy new opportunities, adventures and prime metal-detecting grounds around the St. John’s area.

There will not be a DWD but any anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to MWO Fabian Kenny. Fabian.Kenny@forces.gc.ca