Words of wisdom from recent graduates
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A/SLt (25636) Sully Heraud, 11 Squadron, Class of 2014
I am Acting Sub Lieutenant Sully Heraud 25636. I graduated in 2014 and was CSL 11 Sqn as well as on the men’s soccer team. Now approaching one year after grad, I have just finished my MARS training phase and am posted to HMCS Halifax.
Reflecting back on my time at RMC, I can say that after grad (but really after exams) things start to go really fast. One day I was living in Haldimand worrying about timings for a parade practice, the next I was standing in the middle of an empty kitchen in a brand new apartment trying to figure out how to make dinner with a half empty bottle of Captain, a box of premium plus crackers and no utensils and the next I was standing on the bridge of an ORCA class vessel doing close quarter maneuvers.
If I could give the class of 2015 an advice, it is this: be ready to hit the ground running because nobody will be there to take your hand. Be ready for your phase training and for you move into a house/apartment. Also (and this is true for everyone not just the 4th years), don’t see RMC as simply an obstacle between you and your future job. It really is a great training establishment.
On that note, good luck to all of you in your future careers! YEA RED!!!
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Lt (25820) Jenny Allan, 1 Squadron
I’m Lt Jenny Allan and I am an Aeronautical Engineer in the RCAF. I graduated from the RMC Mechanical Engineering Department in May 2013.
I am currently posted as the Air Maintenance Control and Records Officer (AMCRO) at 12 Air Maintenance Squadron (12 AMS) in Shearwater, NS. 12 Wing Shearwater operates the CH 124 Seaking Helicopter;12 AMS is responsible for the repair and maintenance of the Seaking fleet from both coasts.
As AMCRO, a big part of my job is planning and forecasting when, where and what maintenance should be conducted on each aircraft to try and keep as many available for operations as possible. It’s like a big puzzle, there are many different ways to put it all together but it’s all about trying to figure out the best way. I work with a great team of technicians and officers of all ranks and experiences, which keeps the challenge fun!
As a lieutenant in Shearwater, every day something new pops up that I don’t understand (yet!) and this definitely keeps me on my toes. Whether it’s preparing and loading a helicopter into the back of a C17 or towing one by road in the dark of the night (see photo above), I’m always learning and have yet to reach a comfort zone. This is where my RMC experience comes into play. It’s safe to say that while I was at RMC I pushed my limits – I packed so much into every single day that my comfort zone was not having a comfort zone (this has been serving me well!). I have very few regrets looking back at my RMC experience; every time I look back I think “Wow…that was a lot of work!” and I’m proud of my class for pushing through. It’s true that the nitty-gritty details from engineering classes do fade a bit, but the work ethic that I learned whilst at RMC is something that I tap into every day.
So my advice to anyone running the gauntlet of RMC right now is this: if you find yourself sitting back on your haunches watching the fray, it’s time to leap into it. RMC has a lot to offer if you jump in head first, but if you skirt around the edges and get mad at it, I promise that you’re missing out. Lastly, right now you’re in Kingston, ON with a ton of your really good friends. That proximity doesn’t last when you all get scattered around the country, so enjoy it while you’re there! Grad is coming, you’ll get there, for 4th years now it’s time to make sure you cram as much fun as you can into the last few months!!
Enjoy!