After more than 44 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineer nBranch, MWO D.R. Mitchell, CD, (00307) will retire on 28 Feb 2025. Anecdotes and well wishes may be sent to WO J.J.A. Desrosiers at: Jonathan.Desrosiers@forces.gc.ca.

Master Warrant Officer David Mitchell joined Forces in 1981 after basic training at CFRS Cornwallis and trades training was posted to D Battery 2 RCHA Attended EX ALLOY EXPRESS in Norway and EX ARDENT GROUND in England, EX RENDEZVOUS 83 Promoted to MBdr. In 1984 decided to change from Field Artillery to Air Defence Artillery. Attended exercises in Germany, England, and Spain in 1985 was involved with the stand-up of Canadian Low Level Air Defence unit in Chatham New Brunswick and the formation of 119 AD Battery.

1986 decided to release from CAF and try a new adventure, from 1986 to 1989 worked as an Environmental Protection / Enforcement Officer with the provincial government of Newfoundland.

Missing the lifestyle of the forces re-enrolled 1989 Field Artillery in Shilo MB, attended exercises with the guns, assisted with the Winnipeg Floods in 1997. Highlighted by being nominated as soldier of the year in 1992 for 1CMBG, and being promoted to MBdr

1997 Posted to 2 RCHA Petawawa F battery assisted with the ICE STORM in Quebec, deployed to Bosnia OP PALLADIUM roto 3 with 3 RCR BG as the FSCC IC (Fire Support Command Center), and CAS (Close Air Support IC) 

1999 VOT to Construction Tech, 2000 after TQ3 posted to CFB Shilo MB CE section. Best career move ever.

2004 Promoted to MCpl Posted to 81 AEF Trenton as section 2IC and Section IC.

2005 Posted to 17 Wing Winnipeg, as Contracts Inspector, deployed to Dubai in 2006, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2007 with PRT.
2007 Promoted to Sgt Posted to 2 CER as Construction Cell Supervisor, participated on many unit and brigade exercise. Assisting with the work up training for TF 3-08 in Texas.

2010 Return to Afghanistan as ESU FOB detachment commander for Sperwan Ghar and Masun Ghar.

2011 Posted to 1 ESU Moncton 2 SET Construction Tech. in 2012 Promoted to WO and assumed the position of training WO later the position as projects coordinator in the operations cell. 2013 Posted to Kingston ON with move of unit from Moncton, NB to Kingston ON. While at 1 ESU, 

deployed to Israel, Japan, Jamaica, Belize, Latvia and Kuwait. Attended training in the field of CIMIC at NATO School Oberammergau, Germany and the CCOE for CIMIC at The Hague, Netherlands.

2017 Posted to Real Property Operations Unit (West) Detachment Shilo as the Contracts officer and in 2018 promoted to current rank as assumed the duties of the Detachment Sargent- Major.

2019 deployed to OP REASSURANCE Latvia from October 2019 to June 2020 as the unit Sargent Major for the Construction Engineering squadron upon return from deployed received posting instructions to relocate to CFB Greenwood and worked for RP Ops detachment Greenwood as the Sergeant Major until his retirement this year.

Dave and his wife Diane are retiring to Newfoundland.

Master Warrant Officer Mitchell is married to Diane Mitchell (Davis), they have 2 sons James and Brandon. They are also the proud grandparents of Victoria.