Lt Rebecca Garand is a Public Affairs Officer for the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre (CADTC) and the Canadian Armed Forces Parachute Team, the SkyHawks. She joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 2016, inspired by her father who also served in the military. Her first posting as a PAO coincidentally happened to be where her father, Chief Warrant Officer Terry Garand, retired in 2021.
“When I told my father about my decision to join the Canadian Armed Forces, he advised me to consider other trades instead of infantry. As a result, I chose to become an armoured soldier.”
When she was younger, she remembers that her dad was often deployed. During his career, CWO Garand (ret) was deployed on a U.N. mission in Haiti in 1996. He also went to Drvar, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2002, in 2004 to Kabul, Afghanistan with the Para Coy and Afghanistan in 2007 and 2009.
“I don’t remember missing my dad that much. I think it is because when he was at home, he was always super present for my sister and me. Now that I am older, I also know that it is also because my mother was a real warrior and just incredible. She was so good at keeping us busy and keeping our lives together.”
Lt Garand remembers fondly the positive sides of being a military child. For example, the fact that they got to travel when her dad came home and the Christmas parties that were organized at the Galeries de la Capitale. This was because she and her sister got to ride all sorts of rides for free. CWO Garand was also the Sergeant Major of the 2 Division/Task Force East from 2016 to 2018 when they had a chance to meet during the 2018 G7 Summit (OP CADENCE).
“When the commander of the 2 Division and he visited the main vehicle control station, I was the only one who was excited to meet them. While everyone else tried to hide, I asked if we could hug even though we were both in CADPAT. At the time, I didn’t fully understand ranks.”
Rebecca said that when her father was home, he would integrate the CAF values into the way that he raised her and her sister. This led to her having an easier time during her Basic Military Qualification.
“When we had to go somewhere, if we weren’t in the car 15 minutes before we had to leave, we were late.”
Rebecca is presently in her 6th year in the CAF and hopes to have a long and successful career like her dad.