By Sgt Snow
When I took off my uniform I expected a crescendo or a thunderous BOOM or some sort of fanfare. In reality the silence was deafening. Absolutely nothing. I signed my name on the line for release. One second I’m Sgt Snow with 22 years of RCAF experience. The next second I’m Mr. Snow. After 5 years of retirement I’m now back in uniform. I would like to share with you my experiences.
I joined the Military in March 1997. There were little to no jobs/careers available in London Ontario in the mid 90’s. Being a Military brat fresh out of college with little to no work experience enlisting was the obvious choice. Basic at the “Megga” in St Jean, POET in Kingston, QL3 at CFSATE in Borden (where I met my future wife) then off to 435 Sqn in Winnipeg. There I started my career as an AVS tech, got married and started a family. Promotion to MCpl meant a posting to 413 Sqn in Greenwood NS. Promotion to Sgt lead me and my family back to the fondly familiar 435 Sqn servicing desk. In 2018 I found myself feeling tired, sort of long in the tooth. I asked my CWO about knowing when it’s time to “pull the pin.” He replied, “you’ll know when it’s time to retire. You’ll just feel it.” Later that year I discussed releasing with my wife. We agreed it was time and started the paperwork. After the CO’s approval I signed my release. 2 April 2019.
Almost immediately after release I was offered a “dream” job with a rail company. Very similar to what I was doing as a Sgt on the flightline. I would supervise train car mechanics. Train cars instead of aircraft. The rail yard instead of the flightline. How difficult could it be? I resigned after three weeks. I felt like a square peg being hammered into a round hole. Nothing fit for me. Even after such a short amount of time the anxiety of not fitting in felt like I was being crushed. Supervising 500 series techs at the Sqn and on deployment felt effortless and natural. The new job was an impossible task. I actually came home crying at the end of the second week. With my wife’s encouragement I toughed it out for a third week. Still no improvement. I submitted my resignation. Looking back, I still get anxious thinking about the railroad but now I understand how much an effect the Military had on me. How it molded me into the person I am today.
My next job was in security. There I felt more at ease. Many of my fellow security guards were retired from the Military, Police or Coast Guard. Having like minded people to share war stories with was fun. There I formed tight relationships. Similar friendships I made while in uniform. Some I will remember and respect for the rest of my life. I worked as a security guard for five years but I still wasn’t happy. “Oh well, at least I have good friends to work with.”
Very early 2024 a fellow veteran posted a link on social media to a message from the Canadian Armed Forces titled, “Re-enrollment, Wanted: Experienced former RCAF members for re-enrollment. The RCAF is actively seeking to re-enroll former members, who were fully trained in their RCAF occupation and who meet the suitability requirements, as skilled applicants.” I seen his post, read the message and after a brief conversation with my wife decided to submit my name to return to uniform. 27 years ago I walked into recruiting to join the Canadian Armed Forces. Dejavu as I started it all over again. After what seemed like an endless amount of paperwork 1 August 2024 I was sworn into the CAF again. My first day back to work was August 12th.
As I write this brief synopsis, I’m currently sitting at the 435 Sqn servicing desk, Sgt Snow, AVS Tech. I’ve gone full circle and could not be happier. Most times work is chaos. The frequent flux in OPS tempo, the constantly broken aircraft, the moody and stressed-out techs. Combined it creates the finest organization of the most professional personnel anyone could ever be a member of. When people ask how I’m doing I always say, “living the dream.” Not sarcastically. I really mean it. There’s an old cliché about the grass being greener on the other side of the fence. In my case the grass is perfect on my side of the fence right now.
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