Veterans Recognition Awards Recipients 2016 – Short Bios LCdr Rob Alain In 1985, LCdr Rob Alain enrolled in the Regular Force of the Royal Canadian Navy as a Supply Technician. Following basic training at HMCS Cornwallis, NS, and trade training at CFB Borden, ON, he was posted to CFB Halifax, NS. Posted aboard HMCS PRESERVER from 1987 until 1990, he also served at CFB Greenwood, NS, (1990-1994), CFB Gagetown, NB, (1994-2000), and CFB Cold Lake, AB, (2000-2004). Promoted to Petty Officer, 1st Class in 2003, he was reassigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force and posted back to CFB Greenwood. In 2006 he was promoted to Master Warrant Officer and served at 12 Air Maintenance Squadron (AMS), 12 Wing Shearwater, NS as the Supply Administration Officer. In 2007, he transferred to the Air Reserve and was commissioned to the rank of Captain, serving as the Logistics Officer at 12 AMS Shearwater. In 2008, he moved to Prince Edward Island, and in 2010 transferred to the Canadian Forces Maritime Command Primary Reserve List (MARCOM PRL) and was attach posted to HMCS QUEEN CHARLOTTE as the Ship’s Logistics Officer. Appointed Executive Officer (XO) in July 2013, in February 2014, he transferred from the RCN PRL to the Naval Reserve (NAVRES). In July 2015, he was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Queen Charlotte. LCdr Alain has also completed two UN tours to the Golan Heights, and currently serves as Honorary Aide-de-Camp for the Lieutenant-Governor of PEI. Major Jeff Barrett Major Jeff Barrett joined the Canadian Armed Forces as a Regular Force Signal Officer in 2001. Upon completion of a Bachelor of Science degree from the Royal Military College of Canada he spent a year with 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Signal Squadron while awaiting completion of training. He was then posted to the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics in Kingston, Ontario where he served as the Information System Troop Commander, Technical Services Officer, Captain Adjutant, and Specialist Communications Training Troop Commander. In 2010, Major Barrett transferred to the Reserve Force and served as a Troop Commander with 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment. In 2012, he deployed to Afghanistan, spending 9 months mentoring the Afghan Signals School, Chief Doctrine and Standards Officer and his staff. Following his return from Afghanistan, he relocated to PEI where he began working as the Operations Officer and Second in Command at 1 Squadron, 36 Signal Regiment in Charlottetown. Since coming to PEI he has participated in exercises in Canada and internationally including: CFB Gagetown, NB; Ottawa, ON; Whitehorse, YK; and Santiago, Chile. In 2015, he was promoted to his current rank and took over the position of Officer Commanding 1 Squadron, Charlottetown. In his civilian life Major Barrett works as a Public Safety Officer in the PEI Emergency Measures Organization and enjoys volunteering his time serving as an Aide de Camp for the Honorable H. Frank Lewis, Lieutenant-Governor of Prince Edward Island and as Team Lead for the Canadian Red Cross Disaster Management Team in PEI. Major Barrett’s tour in Afghanistan gave him a tremendous respect for the Afghan people. As he worked closely with Afghan military officers and NCMs, and daily drove throughout the city of Kabul, he was amazed at the resiliency of the Afghan people and the pride they had for their communities and for each other despite decades of war. His tour also reminded him how essential it is that countries like ours make themselves available to help in other nations without the same basic standard of living that is so easily taken for granted in Canada. Getting to know the country, the culture, and the military from such a human perspective made him appreciate how lucky he was to have been born in Canada and motivates him every day to give of himself to those around him wherever he can.In addition to his Canada Decoration, he wears the General Campaign Star and NATO Non-Article 5 medal, both for Afghanistan. Sgt Gene Dowling In June 1981, Sgt Gene Dowling enrolled in 721 Communications Regiment, Charlottetown. Between 1984 and 1986 he served with Communications at Camp Debert, NS. Then in 1986 he served his first tour in the Golan Heights. Posted to a small outpost in Syria, he was only one of four Canadians and served as a radio operator. Upon returning to Canada he continued to serve at Camp Debert. From 1990 to 1992 he was posted to 724 Communications Squadron at CFB Gagetown, NB. Between 1995 to 1998 he served at the Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics in Kingston, Ontario. In 1998, he was again overseas on tour to Bosnia where he also worked as a radio operator. When he returned to Canada, he was posted to 70 Communications Group at CFB Trenton, ON, and then served back at CFB Kingston. He was medically released in 2002. For the past several years he has given his time to reach out to veterans dealing with PTSD and OSI issues, through his volunteer work with Operational Stress Injury Support System or OSISS. As he looks back over the years, he believes that it was an honour to serve his country. Sgt Gene Dowling wears the Canada Decoration, United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) medal, and the NATO medal for the former Yugoslavia. MWO John David Ling MWO John David Ling joined 721 Communications Regiment on June 23, 1980. During 36 years of service with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals he was a career Reservist with Charlottetown’s 721 Communications Regiment. This was all the more remarkable considering that many of those years were spent away from PEI. Where other Reservists might be inclined to join the unit where they lived, MWO Ling’s heart was always with 721 so he chose to be attach posted when he served with units off-Island. In the early 1980s his attach postings included: 726 Communications Squadron, CFB Halifax, and 724 Squadron CFB Gagetown where he worked as a lineman. Throughout the 1990s he had four attach postings at CFB Kingston including: 1 Canadian Signals Regiment as a radio operator; Canadian Forces School of Communications and Electronics as a Communications Instructor; 1 Canadian Headquarters and Signals Regiment where he worked radio relay; and 1 Canadian Divisional Headquarters and Signals Regiment where he was employed as the Access Section Sergeant. In 1981, he also served as a radio operator at Canadian Forces Station Alert as part of Project Hurricane. Throughout those years away, MWO Ling’s ultimate goal as a Non-Commissioned Officer was to eventually become Regimental Sergeant Major of 721 Communications Regiment. When he returned to PEI in 1997 he rejoined 721 and worked as Radio Squadron Warrant before becoming Chief Communications Operator. In 2009 a dream came true when he was appointed RSM of 721 -- an appointment he diligently and proudly held until 2013. Later that year he rebadged to 5 Division’s Influence Activities Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) and served as the first Company Sergeant Major for 36 Brigade IA Company. Throughout his years in the Military, MWO Ling has always been an advocate for supporting the troops under his care and in the greater Canadian Armed Forces. In 2012, he and his wife were two of the founding members which helped to establish the first official Military Family Resource Center (MFRC) on PEI. MWO Ling continues to serve on the PEI MFRC Board of Directors. MWO Ling’s dedication to soldiers was recognized when his term as RSM ended. Speaking for the others in his unit Sgt Adam Gilmore said, “MWO Ling was not just our unit RSM, but has been an exemplary soldier within our squadron who has, by merit of his own example, passed on many of his mastered leadership, military traits and experiences to us, the troops.” MWO John David Ling proudly wears the Canada Decoration, with clasp, and is awaiting presentation of a second clasp. He was also awarded the Canada 125 Medal, and the Queens Jubilee medal. MWO Ling and his wife Dian have two boys Matthew and Jody (both of whom served in 721 Comms Regt) as well as a daughter Jessica and eight grandchildren. LCol Glenn Moriarity LCol M. Glenn Moriarity was born in St. John’s, Newfoundland, and raised in Charlottetown. At the age of 17, he enrolled in the Prince Edward Island Regiment. Since then, for the past 32 years his military service to his country, to the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps, and most of all to his beloved PEI Regiment has been unique, if not unprecedented, in its scope and dedication. Within one year of joining, Trooper Moriarity had not only completed his basic training, but also his crewman and support troop training and was promoted to Corporal. A year later he was selected for the Reserve Entry Scheme Officer (RESO) program. In 1987 he was commissioned and promoted to Lieutenant and was employed as a reconnaissance troop leader. Over the next 18 years he was promoted accordingly and held a number of successive positions within the Regiment, including: command of two Reconnaissance Squadrons and Regimental Second-in- Command. He was promoted to his present rank in May 2005 and appointed as the Commanding Officer of the Prince Edward Island Regiment (RCAC) from May 2005 to October 2008. LCol Moriarity’s military career has included service beyond the PEI Regiment. From October 2008 to October 2014, he served as a senior staff officer at 36 Canadian Brigade Group Headquarters in Halifax, primarily responsible for contingency planning for domestic operations.