MOOSE JAW – Air force officer Micheline Bertrand has been in Moose Jaw for a short while and, based on a volunteer opportunity, believes working here over the next three years will be a great experience.
Bertrand became the new chief warrant officer (CWO) at 2 Canadian Forces Flight Training School on July 19 during a change of appointment ceremony at 15 Wing headquarters. She is the school’s third CWO — and the first female to hold the six-year-old position — after taking over from CWO Erik Keur, who retires after 34 years in the military.
Bertrand originally joined the Royal Canadian Navy in 1996 and served until 1999. She took a few years off before returning in 2004 and joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
In early 2019, Bertrand, an aerospace control operator, was named one of the Top 20 women in the defence by Esprit de Corps Magazine, which recognized her leadership.
The 23-year military veteran told the Moose Jaw Express that she arrived in The Friendly City a month ago and volunteered with other personnel to help clean the drive-thru windows at a Tim Hortons during its Camp Day charity drive.
“We got to talk to everyone as they were coming through, and I got to say that that little hour I was sitting there made me very excited to be part of the Moose Jaw community,” Bertrand said.
“This small community seems to have a lot of value, and I’m looking forward to getting to know more about the community and becoming more involved in the community here as well.”
The RCAF officer is excited to become 15 Wing’s new CWO since it is a promotion, her first official appointment, and unfamiliar and uncharted territory. Furthermore, she hopes to build on the foundation that her two predecessors have laid, although she knows that not all staff and students are aware of the CWO position or what the chief can do.
“So I’m looking forward to that opportunity in showing them how important a chief is in the school,” Bertrand said.
As the CWO, Bertrand will be part of the base’s command team, which includes advising the base commandant, Lt.-Col. Philippe Turcotte. She will also attempt to foster military excellence, professional development, morale, and overall quality of life — which is her target goal.
While there are skilled trained instructors who teach students how to fly, the new CWO acknowledged that she is not a pilot and cannot teach pupils how to operate an aircraft or tell instructors how to teach. Instead, she believes that she can use her background to offer a different perspective on military life.
“I’d like to make them see that they are pilots, but they are also officers in the military. And … there’s a high standard of officership that embodies professionalism and leadership and community,” said Bertrand.
The RCAF officer also believes that her background can contribute to mutual respect for everyone on base — regardless of their rank or role — and ensure pilots are ready to fly.
Bertrand is posted to a new base every three years and has served in seven locations during the past three decades, so she knows that she can take those experiences and apply them to her next post. Moreover, she always attempts to operate outside of her comfort zone when learning new things or receiving complex training so she can grow and become more resilient.
The new CWO may not possess pilot skills, but she pointed out that she does have people skills that allow her to relate to others, work with different personalities and leadership approaches, and absorb the best leadership qualities.
“So I feel very confident that I bring a lot of this with me and I’m hoping to impart a lot of these skills and lessons learned … ,” Bertrand said. “We’re all on the same team (and) we’re all fighting the same fight.”
While 15 Wing is a smaller air force base than elsewhere, the RCAF officer knows it’s also a tight-knight community that is welcoming.
