WO Troy VanTassell will be retiring from the CAF on the 30 September 2021 after more than 21 years of loyal and dedicated service to Canada, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Canadian Military Engineers. Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend his Depart with Dignity function which will take place on 27 August 2021 at 1400hrs at the Edmonton garrison WO/SGT Mess. Forward attendance to the OPI. Anecdotes or retirement wishes may be sent to the OPI by e-mail. OPI:  Sgt A.G.E. Smith, email at Adam.Smith3@Forces.gc.ca or phone at 780-901-3469.

WO Troy VanTassell was born in Cold Lake, AB. In August 1983, his family moved from Leduc, AB, to Digby, NS. He joined the military on 28 March 2000 in Halifax, NS, as a 041 Field Engineer.

After Basic Training in St-Jean, QC, he continued his training with Field Engineering DP1 in Gagetown, NB. Upon completion of the course in March 2001, he remained in Gagetown with a posting to 4 Engineer Support Regiment.

Later that year, he deployed to Eritrea with the United Nations on OP ECLIPSE as part of the Task Force East Africa National Command Element. In 2003, he assisted with cleaning up Halifax, NS, after hurricane Juan. In 2005, he completed the Nijmegen march in the Netherlands and then deployed to Afghanistan as an ILDS operator on OP ARCHER. WO VanTassell returned to Afghanistan in 2007 with the Close Support Engineer Squadron on Task Force 1- 07.

As a Master Corporal, he was posted to the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering (CFSME) in Gagetown, NB in July 2009. While at the school, he instructed several courses but prominently the Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit (ROWPU), Boat, Bridge Erection, and DP1 courses.

In July 2013, he was posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment in Edmonton, AB as a Sargent. He was promoted to Warrant Officer on 1 July 2015 where he was employed as Troop Warrant of Armoured Troop and then as Squadron Quartermaster in 15 Squadron. By July 2018, he was posted to 39 Combat Engineer Regiment as 44 Engineer Squadron Operations Warrant Officer in Trail, BC, but returned to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment as Regimental Operations Warrant Officer two years later.

WO VanTassell is very grateful for the many friends and adventures during his Combat Engineer career. He would like to thank all those that mentored and guided him. He is very proud of his daughter, Madison, and son, Parker, who accepted and endured the difficult military lifestyle. Troy will return to the East Coast to retire in Digby NS.

Friends and colleagues are welcome to attend his Depart with Dignity function on 27 August 2021 at 1400 hrs at the WO/Sgt Mess in Edmonton. Dress will be dress of the day or civilian casual. Congratulatory messages and anecdotes can be sent to Sgt A.G.E. Smith at Adam.Smith3@forces.gc.ca.