Page 46 - Biz X Magazine - June, 2014 Issue

HONOURING OUR SOLDIERS Asked if he made the right choice by going Board of Inquiry Persons) including the Commander Canadian to war, Moncur replies, “Due to my injury – AISC 13-008 Army, Commander CEFCOM, Chief of Defence and the current state of my pension issues, I (located in Kingston, Staf, Minister of National Defence and the would have to say, no. I will always deal with Ontario). Lafreniere Canadian Ambassador to Afghanistan. the demons that Afghanistan has lef me with. joined the Canadian In addition to these duties, Lafreniere was I will, however, maintain to my dying day Army and Te the Ofcer Commanding Technical Assistance that my PTSD can be attributed equally to my Windsor Regiment Visits for the theatre of operations and was also time in Afghanistan and the poor treatment I (RCAC) in 1982, was responsible for all in-theatre training for Op received when I came back injured. Te mental commissioned from Athena Roto 11, as well as providing support illness and the brain injury play of each other the rank of Sergeant to Other Government Departments. While in in a symbiotic way. I fatigue therefore my PTSD in 1991 and in 1994, theatre, he received a Task Force Commanders’ comes out. In dealing with PTSD, my family appointed Adjutant Commendation. support was key to my recovery. I would have of Te Windsor During his frst week of pre-deployment no idea how I would have dealt with my demons Regiment. David Lafreniere – Commanding training, Lafreniere was told by his without them.” Trough Te Ofcer of The Windsor Regiment Commanding General and the Task Force (RCAC). In defence of how family is instrumental Windsor Regiment’s Deputy Commander that the soldiers, sailors to recovery, Moncur is adamant: “Embrace Change of Command, he was appointed Te and aircrew under his command had the only your family. You have to take responsibility and Windsor Regiment’s Commanding Ofcer on no-fail mission of the task force. As such, they swallow your pride if you recognize a problem – September 28, 2013. were expected to deliver 100% of the time. and don’t be afraid to get help.” Lafreniere explains that, “Tere are many In the end, the mission was achieved. Moncur acknowledges that, “One of most ways to describe what a Commanding Ofcer is In doing so, there was an emotional and disturbing of challenges soldiers are battling or does. I see my role principally as inculcating psychological cost to several under Lafreniere’s in their communities is to understand and the principles of dignity for the individual, command, as well as himself. overcome the stigma that they face from mental service above self, and adherence to the rule Lafreniere adds. “When I returned from illness. Te other is our constant struggle trying of law, while instilling the values of loyalty, Afghanistan, I had some difculty with family to get a pension we deserve for our military integrity, courage, and duty that refect the reintegration. I returned to the seminary and service to Canada.” Army’s role in a wider Canadian society. Duty is experienced a crisis of faith that made me realize With the realization the “system” is letting an action, guided by values and it is primarily a that humanity and not God should be the central our soldiers down with regards to the delivery duty of care, stewardship and excellence. I have a focus. In the months following my return home of “post military service” resources, Moncur duty to train resilient soldiers who excel in their I had great anger, anxiety and noticed that on started up the Afghanistan Veterans Association given trade and understand the responsibility we occasions I would have outbursts of anger and of Canada, working with MP Joe Comartin have to each other, our regiment and ultimately had to take extra care to keep aggression inside.” (NDP – Windsor-Tecumseh). Moncur stands our nation. Te duty is not only to prepare those He admits that this behaviour was not part strong on the fact that, “On every level in every in my charge for the stress of confict, but to help of his normal personality or disposition. He way Veterans Afairs Canada is a fawed system them recover when injured.” experienced disturbed sleep with nightmares that needs a complete overhaul. Diligence is Prior to his deployment, Lafreniere was and became restless and at one point, hadn’t paramount – to hold those elected to task for dedicated to a life of ministry with a church slept for days. Even though these struggles their failures.” in metro Detroit. He provided a variety of life- compromised his quality of life and pushed In returning to civilian life and re-entering enriching community outreach programs for him to withdraw, Lafreniere forced himself to the workforce, Moncur’s employers have given children, the homeless, and prisoners. While connect with others. him nothing but support. Moncur served on his “ordination track,” it became very clear “I struggled from my return from 10 years with the CAF and admits that, “Te to him that he would only succeed in becoming Afghanistan for three months until I ended up in most positive outcome of my military service ordained if he gave up the military. the hospital afer going two weeks with as little would be the kindred spirit that soldiers develop Lafreniere’s service in Afghanistan, in 2011, as two hours of sleep a night,” he recalls. “Tis in war zones.” included joint operational experience as the was a wake-up call that I needed to focus on a Lieutenant Colonel David Lafreniere is Bureau Chief – Joint Visits Bureau (JVB) Joint return to healthy state of mental ftness. None Commanding Ofcer of Te Windsor Regiment Task Force Afghanistan. As Chief JVB, he was of this impacted any work I was doing and afer (RCAC; WindsorRegiment.ca), an Armoured responsible for the planning and execution of fve months I had demonstrated to myself that I Reconnaissance unit of the Canadian Army. deliberate operations designed to meet theatre did have the capacity to recover quickly, resist, He also holds the position of President of the objectives of VVIPs (Very, Very Important and even thrive in the face of traumatic events. Pre-plan today, for peace of mind tomorrow... 519-969-4836 Pre-Plan with Heavenly Rest Heavenly Rest, St. Alphonsus, Assumption, Our Lady of the Lake (Windsor); Sacred Heart (LaSalle); Rose Hill, St. John the Baptist (Amherstburg) 5005 Howard Avenue www.CatholicCemeteries.on.ca 46 BIZ X MAGAZINE • JUNE 2014 BizX2014June52.indd 46 2014-05-27 9:44 PM