CFB Suffield changes command
Outgoing Lt. Col. Scott speaks of the changing times he oversaw, welcomes in new leader, Lt. Col. Mike Onieu
CFB Suffield carried out its bi-yearly change of command ceremony Wednesday with its usual pomp and circumstance, symbolic statements and military decorum.
A ritual now witnessed 20 times in the past 45 years through 21 different base commanders, faces in the crowd have changed but the essence of the ceremony has not.
On Wednesday, Lt. Col. John Scott formally signed over command to his successor Lt. Col. Mike Onieu. Scott will return to Ottawa to resume his former specialty as a logistics officer, or as he puts it, “providing socks, beans and bullets to Canadian Armed Forces operations.”
Scott had an eventful term at CFB Suffield, driving home the military’s new comprehensive harassment policy, modernizing the workplace safety features of many of the base’s older structures, supporting the working relationship with BATUS, while engineering two generally successful elk hunts.
Scott said he did not become base commander to maintain the status quo, but to make necessary changes to improve the operational efficiency and workplace environment at CFB Suffield. He felt he had taken great strides in that direction, while admitting he might have stepped on a few toes along the way.
“To affect change, and to make a difference, is not easy ... Doing the right thing around here is difficult at times. When you are doing something for a certain period of time, and it works according the local context, but it’s not in accordance with policy, or it’s giving up Canadian sovereign rights. You’ve got to enforce that while at the same time supporting (DRDC) research and (BATUS) training. It’s been a great balance, and a great experience, and something we (in my family) will never forget.”
Scott thanked his team at CFB Suffield for its effort, and also expressed his support for incoming base commander Lt. Col. Mike Onieu, whom he has known since the two of them were in officer training together 20 years ago.
“As hard as it is to leave, it is much easier when you have a like-minded person coming in behind you,” he said.
Lt. Col. Onieu said he appreciated all the effort Scott had put in the past two years, and hoped to maintain the same standard while also putting his own stamp on command.
“My focus here is going to be on community relations, and the diverse group of challenges here. We’ve got a good team to work with, and we are going to work on building our stature in the community and helping the community. We will also be looking for support from our neighbours as well.”
The affable Onieu is an armoured officer and former tank commander who has served in Kosovo, Afghanistan and the Congo. Onieu was raised in Regina, and is a staunch Roughriders fan. He is married to wife Carolyn and has two children in their twenties, Aurora and Edan. He said he was thrilled to be returning to southern Alberta and the Medicine Hat area, where he once served as regimental support staff officer for the South Alberta Light Horse.