MWO Richard (Andy) Anderson will be retiring on 30 August 2009 after 29+ years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Forces.

MWO Richard Anderson enrolled in the Canadian Forces (CF) in Kitchener, ON on 22 Sep 1980 and attended basic training, in Cornwallis, NS shortly thereafter. Upon graduating from Basic Training he proceeded to CFB Borden for his QL 3 firefighter training and after completing his course in Jun 81 he was posted to 19 Wing Comox, BC, which turned out to be first of three postings to this Wing.

MWO Anderson was posted to HMCS Provider in Esquimalt, BC in Dec 85. After sailing the beautiful Pacific Ocean for 2.5 years he managed get enough time in home port as his first son Richard was born in 86. In Jul 88 he and his family were fortunate enough to be posted to CFB Baden-Sollingen, Germany for five years. They enjoyed the land of beer and bratwurst and like most people who were posted there came back to Canada with either a Grand Father clock or another addition to the family and he was fortunate enough to have both with the arrival of his son Ryan in 92.

In Aug 93, MWO Anderson was posted to 19 Wing Comox, BC for his second tour at this location. In Jul 97 MWO Anderson was promoted to MCpl and was posted to HMCS Huron in Esquimalt, BC officially making him a sandy bottom sailor. In Jul 99 he was promoted to Sgt and was posted to HMCS Algonquin as the Senior firefighter. He remained on the west coast until Jul 00 when he was posted to 14 Wing Greenwood, NS.

While at 14 Wing Greenwood he filled the roles of Deputy Platoon Chief, Platoon Chief and Chief Fire Inspector.

In Jul 04, MWO Anderson was posted to 19 Wing Comox, BC for his third and final time. In Jun 05, he was promoted to Warrant Officer and from Feb – Sep 06 he was deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan as the Task Force Fire Marshal. In Jul 07 he was posted to the Canadian Forces Fire Academy as the QL 3 & 5 Senior Instructor. In Jan 08 he was promoted to MWO and held the position of School Master Warrant Officer ensuring the welfare, needs and morale of all instructors were looked after as well as ensuring all firefighting students from Apprentice level to Deputy Fire Chiefs met the required standards of training and development.

MWO Anderson has decided to take a position with the CFB Borden Fire Department as a Deputy Fire Chief.

A Depart with Dignity retirement function will be held in his honour on Friday, 11 Sep 09 from 1200 hrs to 1500 hrs at the Juno Beach Mess (Sgt’s and WO’s Mess), Dieppe Lounge, CFB Borden. If you are able to attend or want to send anecdotes please send them to CWO Blackburn via email (Blackburn CWO PJ@CFFA/CFNBCS@Borden) or phone to (705) 423-2355 or snail mail to: CFFA, Attention: CWO Blackburn, CFB Borden, PO BOX Stn Main 1000, Borden, ON, L0M 1C0