Leadership

     The position of Honorary Colonel (HCol) is a tradition that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) inherited from the British military.  For anyone unfamiliar with military ranks, colonels come in just below generals, which means that technically, HCols are sometimes the most senior member of a unit (not that it makes much difference to the teenagers in my household).

     HCols may themselves be former Commanding Officers, or more frequently, distinguished civilians who are selected for their connections to the broader community and the unique perspectives which they bring.

     HCols are full members of the CAF, but we don’t have to pass Basic Military Qualification (BMQ) or learn how to fire a weapon. Most of our training consists of lessons in how to wear a beret properly (which isn’t as easy as it looks), and how to lay a wreath on Remembrance Day. Our dress uniforms are almost identical to regular colonels, but we’re usually easy to spot because: 1) our berets are crooked, 2) our shoelaces stick out, and 3) when we salute, we tend to poke out an eye. We can’t issue any orders or get involved in operations; we don’t get paid; it’s the best job in the world!

     I’m a retired neurosurgeon and 25 Field Ambulance (25FdAmb) is the only primary reserve medical unit in Toronto. I obviously enjoy the medical atmosphere, but I love being around our people even more! Previously, I had only a vague idea of what it means to be a reservist. Today, I tell everyone that reservists are among the most interesting people I’ve ever met.

     Each reservist has a fascinating ‘back story’, and not everyone in our unit comes from a healthcare background. As Winston Churchill famously said, “reservists are twice the citizen” (to which I might add that medical reservists are three times the citizen because they’re soldiers, healers, and whatever else they do in their day job).

     Our unit showcases the wonderful diversity of the Greater Toronto Area. This is the CAF at its best: a motivated and professional organization that strives continuously to be inclusive and representative of all of Canada. I am so proud to be a member of the CAF and to lend whatever talents and resources I have to 25FdAmb. I have never been part of a team with better morale!