After more than 21 years of loyal and dedicated service to the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Military Engineers Branch, WO James Haché, CD, will retire today, 22 August 2022. Anecdotes and retirement wishes may be sent to MWO T.D. Scherger at Timothy.Scherger@forces.gc.ca.

Warrant Officer James Haché was born in Manitouwadge, ON, and raised in Timmins, ON. He completed Basic Training at CFLRS St Jean, QC, in 2001 and was then posted to CFB Gagetown. There, he was assigned to 4 ESR on OJT and then completed the Combat Engineer DP1 at CFSME in 2002. After DP1, he was posted to 5 RGC at CFB Val Cartier where he was employed in the Combat Engineer, High Risk Search, and EROC sections.

In 2004, WO Haché deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan, on OP ATHENA Roto 1 with 52ieme Esc de C, 5 RGC, in support of the Task Force Battle Group. His Troop was tasked with defensive infrastructure construction and improvement, demining operations, explosive ordinance disposal, and location, vehicle and personnel searches.

In 2005, James was promoted to Cpl and in 2006, he completed DP2 at CFSME in Gagetown, NB. In 2007, he deployed again on OP ATHENA as part of the Battle Group with Roto 3-07 in Kandahar. This time his Troop was heavily involved in routeclearance operations, combat engineer support to mounted and dismounted offensive operations, and the construction and improvement of multiple ANA/ANP strong points and CAF Forward Operating Bases.

In 2009, WO Haché completed PLQ in Petawawa, ON, and was promoted to MCpl upon returning to CFB Val Cartier. In 2012, he completed DP3A at CFSME and was again promoted upon returning to CFB Val Cartier; this time to Sgt.

In 2015, WO Haché was posted to CFJOSG HQ where he was employed as the Training Sgt, Formation Individual Training Coordinator, and as the HQ Sp Ops NCO. In 2017, he completed DP3B and was promoted to WO shortly afterwards. He completed ILP in 2018. While at CFJOSG HQ, WO Haché deployed twice; in 2016 to Resolute Bay, NU, on OP NUNALIVUT, and in 2018 on Ex RIMPAC.

In 2021, WO Haché completed a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He will retire from the CAF on 22 August 2022.