Features

Aside from being an aviation technician at 19 Wing Comox, Corporal Tom Girardin is also a world-class Taekwondo referee, or at least he will be when he travels to Italy in November to upgrade his referee status. This week, we salute Cpl Girardin and other Air Force athletes who push themselves to achieve their personal best.

NAME: Tom Girardin

RANK: Corporal

OCCUPATION: Aviation Technician

UNIT: 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron, 19 Wing Comox

YEARS IN THE CF: 19 years

ANY PREVIOUS OCCUPATIONS IN THE CIVILIAN WORLD: Operations Tech for Cominco Ltd. in Trail, B.C.

PREVIOUS POSTINGS: Comox, Shearwater, HMCS Iroquois.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR JOB, AND HAVE YOU HAD ANY RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT OTHER MEMBERS WOULD FIND INTERESTING?
Currently employed as research officer for 442 Squadron. The job employs me in a wide variety of aircraft-related areas and enables me to co-ordinate with many members of our squadron. Also as a member of CISM (Conseil international du sport militaire) Taekwondo officiating staff, I have been selected to go to Rome, Italy in November of this year to upgrade my referee status to an international level. The World Taekwondo Federation of Canada has provided this opportunity with support from the CF.

IS YOU JOB A SOURCE OF PRIDE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, AND IF SO, WHY?
As a member of 442 Search and Rescue Squadron, I find playing a part in the operations of SAR one of the most rewarding jobs in the Canadian Forces—every one of us has a contribution. It is these values of a CF career that have been passed on to two of my sons who are presently serving aboard HMC Ships Montréal and Vancouver. I am very proud of them for choosing this path and wish them “fair winds”.

Bravo Cpl Girardin!