Retired? Retreaded!

Max posted his retirement message last week and he's getting out in August ... it's starting to become real to Max that he is leaving the CF.  As for me, I actually finished up this week.  Not only is it sinking in that I, to, am leaving the CF, it is now beginning to sink in that I have left!

Yesterday, my day's schedule was in my own hands for the first time since I was 18 -- it was liberating and scary all at once.  My sense is that this is a good introduction to what we will experience once we are cruising.  Since this isn't "real" retirement (rather an multi-year interlude of new focus and direction), and there are barely two months  until we need to have downsized from our house to our boat, I am mindful that our self-imposed to-do list is still very long.  As I have so often heard jokingly applied to other people leaving the military, I have not so much become retired as I have been retreaded!

In any case, I thought that for completeness, I would post the little dit (aka retirement message) that was distributed around the CF a few weeks before my departure.  I was absolutely blown away by the wonderful messages that were sent for my retirement party on 29 Mar, both in person and via email.  Thank you to one and all who had a part in it.

~Liz



SUBJ: RETIREMENT MAJOR ELIZABETH J. BROWN-SHAW, CD CELE (AIR) 

1. 11 APRIL 2012, MAJOR ELIZABETH BROWN-SHAW WILL RETIRE FROM THE CANADIAN FORCES, HAVING SERVED MORE THAN 22 YEARS OF LOYAL AND DEDICATED SERVICE TO HER COUNTRY, THE CF, AND THE COMMUNICATIONS AND ELECTRONICS BRANCH. 

2. MAJ BROWN-SHAW ENROLLED IN THE CANADIAN FORCES ON 28 JUN 1989 UNDER THE ROTP PROGRAM. FOLLOWING BOTC IN CHILLIWACK AND FOUR YEARS AT QUEEN S UNIVERSITY IN KINGSTON, SHE GRADUATED IN 1993 WITH A DEGREE IN ENGINEERING PHYSICS. SHE SUBSEQUENTLY HEADED TO CFSCE KINGSTON FOR HER CELE(AIR) PHASE TRAINING. POSTED TO CFB SHEARWATER AS TSO AND LATER WTISO/SO TELECOM, SHE QUICKLY GREW TO LOVE THE BUSY LIFE ON AN AIR BASE. DURING THIS PERIOD AT SHEARWATER, A CERTAIN YOUNG AERE OFFICER ALSO CAUGHT HER EYE, AND AFTER SHORT POSTINGS AT 72 COMM GROUP (SO TIS) AND CFB HALIFAX (D/FTELO), IN 1999 CAPT BROWN-SHAW HEADED TO CORNWALL, ENGLAND WITH HER NEW HUSBAND ON LWOP. RETURNING TO CANADA IN 2002, SHE WAS POSTED TO OTTAWA (DGAEPM (PMO R/SAOC)) AND TASKED WITH SITE ACTIVATION OF THE CIS SYSTEMS IN THE NEW AIR DEFENCE COMPLEX IN NORTH BAY. FOUR YEARS, TWO CHILDREN, AND A PROMOTION LATER, MAJ BROWN-SHAW WAS POSTED TO JTFP/MARPAC HQ IN VICTORIA, WHERE SHE DUSTED OFF HER CIS PLANNING NOTES (LAST SEEN CIRCA 1997) AND BEGAN DEVELOPING JOINT AND NAVY CIS PLANS FOR THE JTFP AOR. RETURNING TO MARLANT HQ HALIFAX IN 2008, SHE SPENT THREE YEARS AS N62 SSO TECHNICAL SERVICES AND ONE YEAR AS SSO N6 TRANSFORMATION. ALWAYS ONE TO START SENTENCES WITH WHAT IF WE ?
THIS LAST POSTING WAS REWARDING FOR THE SHEER VOLUME OF PEOPLE, CHANGES,
AND COMPLEXITIES IT INVOLVED.

3. NEVER ONE TO TURN DOWN AN ADVENTURE, MAJ BROWN-SHAW AND HER
HUSBAND (THAT SAME YOUNG AERE OFFICER, LCOL MAX SHAW) HAVE PURCHASED
A FAMILY-SIZED SAILBOAT (STEVENS 47), AND HAVE SET A PLAN IN PLACE
THAT WILL SEE THEM AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN MOVE ABOARD THIS SUMMER
AND CRUISE FROM WASHINGTON STATE TO MEXICO THIS FALL. THEY ARE
ULTIMATELY HOPING TO EXPLORE THE ISLANDS OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC BEFORE
THEIR YOUNG CREW HITS ITS TEENAGED YEARS. GIVEN WHAT THEY HAVE
HEARD ABOUT TEENAGERS FROM THEIR CO-WORKERS OVER THE YEARS, THEY MAY NOT RUSH BACK EVEN THEN.

4. A RETIREMENT FUNCTION AND OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IN CAMARADERIE WILL
BE HELD IN HONOUR OF MAJ BROWN-SHAW AT JUNO TOWERS BRIDGE, CFB HALIFAX ON 29 MAR 12, COMMENCING AT 1130 HRS. FRIENDS, COLLEAGUES AND WORK ASSOCIATES ARE INVITED TO COME AND WISH MAJ BROWN-SHAW FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWINGS SEAS. THOSE WISHING TO ATTEND ARE REQUESTED TO CONFIRM THEIR ATTENDANCE TO CAPT TONY SHIELDS BY EMAIL AT
ANTHONY.SHIELDS(AT)FORCES.GC.CA OR BY PHONE AT 902-427-6696 NLT 26 MAR 2012. A CASH BAR (SANDWICHES AND DRINKS) WILL BE AVALIABLE.

5. THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE ANECDOTES, PHOTOS, MESSAGES OF
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES MAY DO SO BY FORWARDING THEM BY
EMAIL TO CAPT SHIELDS BY NLT 27 MAR 2012.

6. ADDRESSEES ARE REQUESTED TO GIVE THIS MESSAGE THE WIDEST POSSIBLE DISTRIBUTION THROUGHOUT THEIR ORGANIZATION.
END OF ENGLISH TEXT/

I guess this message traffic really means we are getting out of the CF:

1.               AFTER 23 YEARS OF loyal and dedicated SERVICE, LCOL MAX SHAW will retire FROM THE CANADIAN FORCES IN AUG 2012

2.               A FARM BOY FROM THE INTERIOR OF BC, HE STARTED BASIC TRAINING SEVERAL DAYS AFTER FINISHING HIGH SCHOOL.  HE ATTENDED RMC, GRADUATING AS THE TOP MECH ENGINEERING STUDENT IN 1993.   APPARENTLY THE CF THOUGHT HE HAD NOT LEARNED ENOUGH AT RMC SO FOLLOWING A SHORT BUT ENTERTAINING SUMMER AT CFB SHEARWATER HE WAS SENT TO CRANFIELD UNIVERSITY IN THE UK AS AN ATHLONE VAINER FELLOW.  AT CRANFIELD HE STUDIED WHITE WATER KAYAKING AND ROCK CLIMBING PLUS SOME FLIGHT DYNAMICS

3.               RETURNING to CF training WAS A SHOCK to the system, but after SIX MONTHS IN BORDEN Max returned to Shearwater.  MAX enjoyed his introduction to the Maritime helicopter (MH) operations so much that he remained within this dynamic and rewarding community for most of his career.  AT SHEARWATER HE WAS EMPLOYED AS AN ENGINEERING PROJECTs OFFICER AT 12 AMS AND AS THE AIRCRAFT SERVICING OFFICER AT 423 (MH) squadron.  AS A BC BOY HE WAS always KEEN TO HEAD BACK WEST FOR A POSTING TO 443 (MH) squadron BUT when he BECAME RATHER DISTRACTED BY A CERTAIN YOUNG LADY CELE OFFICER ON THE BASE, he opted for A COVETED POSTING TO HMCS PROVIDER AND PRESERVER.  Here HE CONFUSED THE NAVY BY qualifying as an OFFICER OF THE DAY AND SERVING AS A SHIPS DIVING AND BOARDING PARTY OFFICER IN ADDITION TO HIS AIR MAINTENANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

4.               IN BETWEEN DEPLOYMENTS HE MARRIED ELIZABETH AND THEY HEADED OFF TO RNAS CULDROSE FOR A THREE YEAR EXCHANGE TOUR WITH THE ROYAL NAVY.  AS THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE GROUP OFFICER, MAX was PART OF THE EH101 MERLIN AND SEA KING MK7 ASAC INTRODUCTION TO SERVICE.  HE ALSO REPRESENTED THE NAVY IN KAYAKING, THE FLEET AIR ARM IN SKIING, AND HAD TEA WITH THE QUEEN.

5.               HAVING SO FAR AVOIDED NDHQ, A PROMOTION TO MAJOR EARNED MAX A POSTING AS THE FIRST PROJECT CONTROL OFFICEr AT THE MARITIME HELICOPTER PROJECT.  AFTER A QUICK EXIT FROM THE TRAILERS HE WAS SELECTED AS THE WEAPON SYSTEM MANAGER AND AIR ENGINEERING OFFICER FOR THE MIGHTY SEA KING FLEET.  AFTER THREE VERY BUSY YEARS AS WSM, THE ADDITION OF TWO CHILDREN TO THE MIX, and ten years after the possibility had first surfaced, Max HEADED WEST WHERE he BECAME THE SQUADRON MAINTENANCE AND ENGINEERING OFFICER FOR 443 (MH) SQuadroN AT PAT BAY.  THIS POSTING lasted only TWO SHORT YEARS, as in spite of his heartfelt protestations and whining, PROMOTION TO LCOL AND STAFF COLLEGE led the family East once again

6.               ON COMPLETION OF STAFF COLLEGE, MAX WAS HONOURED TO BE SELECTED TO COMMAND 12 AMS, THE SQUADRON WHERE his MAINTENANCE OPS SERVICE began, AND TO SERVE AS THE MH SENIOR AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AUTHORITY.  WORKING WITH An extraordinary TEAM, HIS FINAL POSTING IN THE MH COMMUNITY WAS EXTREMELY REWARDING.  FOR THE LAST YEAR MAX HAS BEEN THE G8 AT LFAA HQ.

7.               SINCE THE ROYAL NAVY POSTING, max and his FAMILY HAVE BEEN avid sailors.  MAX IS AN ADVANCED CRUISING INSTRUCTOR AND HOLDS An RYA YACHTMASTER OFFSHORE QUALIFICATION.  HE EXPECTS TO HAVE COMPLETED HIS MCA 200GT MASTER OF YACHTS (UNRESTRICTED) CERTIFICATION SHORTLY.  ON RELEASE, THE FAMILY WILL BE HEADING OFF SAILING SOMEWHERE SOUTH FOR A FEW YEARS.  They will write about their ADVENTURES AT sv-fluenta.blogspot.ca/

8.               a departure with dignity luncheon will be held for lcol shaw at the 12 wing officer’s mess at noon on friday 15 jun 2012.  congratulatory wishes, anecdotes  and tall tales should be sent to maj Jeff hall (Jeffrey.Hall_AT_forces.gc.ca) and capt mary-ann barnes (MARY-ANN.BARNES_at_forces.gc.ca).  In addition, copies of quote good unquote photos documenting the career of lcol shaw would be appreciated and should be sent to maj hall.  those wishing to attend the luncheon are requested to contact either capt barnes or maj hall.