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Jestin to trade in fatigues
MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com
Published Monday June 4th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
http://www.canadaeast.com/ce2/docroot/article.php?articleID=155059
The commander of Canadian Forces Base Gagetown is trading his army greens for a life in the civilian world.
Col. Ryan Jestin, who will be handing over command of the base to Col. Ken Chadder at a ceremony later this month, said three decades of military service is enough.
Jestin will be leaving his career in the Armed Forces to become manager of road maintenance with the City of Calgary.
He will be responsible for 12,000 kilometres of roads and bike paths and 700 employees. His department has a budget of $62 million.
"I wouldn't say that it's 100- per-cent equivalent to here, but it's certainly a large number of the same sort of challenges," he said.
"I am not sure I could ever have a better job than the one I have here at Gagetown. In terms of having an effect on a day-to-day, week-to-week or a month-to-month basis ... I could make a decision today and could start to see the effect on that tomorrow or the day after."
That wasn't going to happen if he remained in the Forces, said Jestin, who was destined for a position at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
"It's not that it's not important work," Jestin said. "It's just that I didn't see Ryan Jestin in that equation in Ottawa.
"It's not because I am disappointed; it's not because my career aspects weren't great. It was none of that stuff. I think the job here has been fantastic."
Jestin said he has focused his energy for many years on the Canadian Forces, but now feels it's time to steer that intensity in a different direction.
The bottom line is that it will give him more personal and family time, he said.
Jestin said he made the decision to leave the military the day before five soldiers from CFB Gagetown and a reservist from Halifax were killed in an Afghan bomb blast on Easter Sunday.
Three days later a pair of CFB Petawawa soldiers - one from Geary and another from Newcastle - died in a similar incident.
"I would argue that (Easter Sunday) was probably the toughest day of my career," said Jestin, who had to deal last week with the death of Master Cpl. Darrell Priede.
"It was absolutely heart-wrenching. Every time a soldier passes away a little bit of your heart goes with that person and family. That was certainly the way I felt on Easter Sunday."
Jestin referred to it as a "defining moment" in his life.
"You have to take that old advice 'doctor heal thyself.' It really did crystallize in my mind that I have been at this for a while and have seen some pretty awful stuff.
"Maybe, it's time to get a complaint that a road is not clear of snow at four in the morning. I can handle that pretty easy."
The commander said he has no concerns that his departure will contribute to a leadership void in the Forces.
He said he has always believed that if one person leaves, there are 100 other knowledgeable individuals ready to fill the position.
When it comes to leadership, he said, he has more confidence in the chain of command now than at any time during his career.
Jestin said his three years as Gagetown's top soldier has been anything but boring.
He has dealt with everything from housing and personnel issues, to herbicide spraying to Afghanistan.
The huge send-off of troops in January was one of the highlights, he said.
"I have absolutely no regrets (about leaving)," he concluded. "It's been a fantastic job here and a great experience."
He will begin his new duties July 1.
MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com
Published Monday June 4th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
http://www.canadaeast.com/ce2/docroot/article.php?articleID=155059
The commander of Canadian Forces Base Gagetown is trading his army greens for a life in the civilian world.
Col. Ryan Jestin, who will be handing over command of the base to Col. Ken Chadder at a ceremony later this month, said three decades of military service is enough.
Jestin will be leaving his career in the Armed Forces to become manager of road maintenance with the City of Calgary.
He will be responsible for 12,000 kilometres of roads and bike paths and 700 employees. His department has a budget of $62 million.
"I wouldn't say that it's 100- per-cent equivalent to here, but it's certainly a large number of the same sort of challenges," he said.
"I am not sure I could ever have a better job than the one I have here at Gagetown. In terms of having an effect on a day-to-day, week-to-week or a month-to-month basis ... I could make a decision today and could start to see the effect on that tomorrow or the day after."
That wasn't going to happen if he remained in the Forces, said Jestin, who was destined for a position at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa.
"It's not that it's not important work," Jestin said. "It's just that I didn't see Ryan Jestin in that equation in Ottawa.
"It's not because I am disappointed; it's not because my career aspects weren't great. It was none of that stuff. I think the job here has been fantastic."
Jestin said he has focused his energy for many years on the Canadian Forces, but now feels it's time to steer that intensity in a different direction.
The bottom line is that it will give him more personal and family time, he said.
Jestin said he made the decision to leave the military the day before five soldiers from CFB Gagetown and a reservist from Halifax were killed in an Afghan bomb blast on Easter Sunday.
Three days later a pair of CFB Petawawa soldiers - one from Geary and another from Newcastle - died in a similar incident.
"I would argue that (Easter Sunday) was probably the toughest day of my career," said Jestin, who had to deal last week with the death of Master Cpl. Darrell Priede.
"It was absolutely heart-wrenching. Every time a soldier passes away a little bit of your heart goes with that person and family. That was certainly the way I felt on Easter Sunday."
Jestin referred to it as a "defining moment" in his life.
"You have to take that old advice 'doctor heal thyself.' It really did crystallize in my mind that I have been at this for a while and have seen some pretty awful stuff.
"Maybe, it's time to get a complaint that a road is not clear of snow at four in the morning. I can handle that pretty easy."
The commander said he has no concerns that his departure will contribute to a leadership void in the Forces.
He said he has always believed that if one person leaves, there are 100 other knowledgeable individuals ready to fill the position.
When it comes to leadership, he said, he has more confidence in the chain of command now than at any time during his career.
Jestin said his three years as Gagetown's top soldier has been anything but boring.
He has dealt with everything from housing and personnel issues, to herbicide spraying to Afghanistan.
The huge send-off of troops in January was one of the highlights, he said.
"I have absolutely no regrets (about leaving)," he concluded. "It's been a fantastic job here and a great experience."
He will begin his new duties July 1.
