A rare milestone: more than 40 years of service

Any way you look at it, a 40-year commitment to anything takes a lot of dedication. It’s certainly true when measured in terms of a military career.

It was April 19, 1972 in Regina, Sask., when an 18-year-old Russ Morphy enrolled to the Regular Force of the Canadian Forces as a supply technician. This was after already serving three years (1969 – 1972) as a reservist with 105th Artillery Battery in Yorkton, Sask. Although he also applied to the RCMP, Master Warrant Officer Morphy ended up deciding on a career with the CF.

“I was always interested in joining,” said MWO Morphy. “I was an air cadet from 1966 to 1969 – my [commanding officer] was a Second World War Lancaster pilot – then [I] applied to join the RCMP and the armed forces. The RCMP said that I had to wait up to one year and, of course, the military said ‘come on in’. With that, I planned to serve 20 years.”

MWO Morphy continued a long tradition of military service in his family.  “My grandfather was a First World War vet and was wounded in Vimy Ridge. My father served in the Second World War from 1939 to 1945.”

After his basic training and trades training, his first posting took him to 1 Service Battalion and the base supply section at Canadian Forces Base Calgary, Alta., until 1977. After postings sent him to Cold Lake, Alta., Ottawa, Portage La Prairie and Shilo, Man., he was posted to Edmonton, Alta., in 1996 where he was promoted to his current rank. He ended his Regular Force career in 2003, with a four-year posting to Cold Lake as the material control officer. He also had a six-month tour to the Golan Heights in 1976.

An illustrious career such as MWO Morphy’s does not come without its challenges.

“After being away from the Army environment since 1977, it was challenging to come back to it some 19 years later,” MWO Morphy pointed out. He was clearly up to the challenge, though, since he was soon promoted to master warrant officer.

MWO Morphy often reflects on his many years of service with some surprise.

“As I look back over my career, some days it feels like I just joined and it is hard to believe that 40 years have gone by.” But he said he has great memories of all his years of service.

“The people I have worked with over the years, and the various parts of Canada my family and I were privileged to enjoy, have made for the best memories. If I was asked, I’d do it all over again – no question.”

A member of the Air Reserve since 2003 at 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (based in Edmonton, Alta., but under the command of 1 Wing Kingston, Ont.) MWO Morphy is finishing his career serving as a full-time reservist. He plans to retire on his 60th birthday – June 3, 2013.