After more than 24 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the National Defence Fire Service (NDFS), MWO Marty Francis, CD will retire 24 Jun 2018.  An informal Fire Department (FD) BBQ  luncheon will be held in lieu of a Depart with Dignity (DWD) on 22 Jun 2018 at the 19 Wg FD, Comox BC.  Attendees are requested to advise the OPI of their planned attendance NLT 20 Jun 2018.  Anecdotes or retirement wishes may be sent to the OPI by email. OPI: MWO Ryan Lynch, email at Ryan.Lynch@forces.gc.ca or by phone at 250-702-7828.

MWO Francis joined the CF in March of 1994 in Corner Brook NL and was immediately shipped off to CFB Cornwallis for basic training. Upon Completion of basic trg, it was off to CFB Wainwright to attend the PPCLI Battle School followed by a posting to 2PPCLI in Winnipeg. He remained with 2 PPCLI where he completed 2 tours to Bosnia and various international trg exercises in places such as the swamps of Louisiana to the Mojave Desert until 2001 when he transferred to the Fire Trade. Upon completion of his QL3 in Borden, it was back to Winnipeg but this time to the Air Force world of 17 Wing. In the summer of 2006, he was promoted to MCpl and posted to HMCS Fredericton on Canada’s east coast. During his time there sailed on numerous trips ranging from the coast of NFLD to the coast of South America and deployed to Afghanistan where he was the Camp Fire Chief in Camp Nathan Smith. Upon return from Afghanistan in 2009, he was promoted to Sgt and posted to HMCS Montreal as the Snr FFTR and later posted to HMCS Iroquois in the same capacity. In July of 2010, Sgt Francis was posted to 12 Wing Shearwater where he was employed as a Platoon Chief. 2013 would bring a promotion to WO and a posting to 19 Wing Comox and subsequent promotion to MWO. MWO Francis will be retiring from the CF on June 14th and will remain in the Comox area where he will dedicate his time to raising his Son Cayden and enjoying what Vancouver Island has to offer.