Member Highlights: Sgt Postans

We recently had the opportunity to interview one of our members. Today we highlight Sgt Postans.

Why did you join the CAF?

I had some family and friends already in the CAF, and the stories they’d tell of their jobs and the training they did made me curious and want to try it for myself.

Why did you choose the Black Watch?

A few things made me choose the Black Watch over other units, such as the proximity to my school and the easy metro access, but the main reason I chose it were the history related to the Unit and its ties to the Scottish culture.

What do you do in your civilian life?

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve been mostly working full time for the CAF, and really enjoying the opportunities it has given me. Before that, I studied at both McGill and Concordia in various programs, trying to find a career path that I enjoyed. I do think I will eventually take up my studies again, seeing as I enjoyed what I was studying, but for now I’m also really enjoying the work I’ve been doing with the CAF.

Sgt Postans (second from the left) takes part in breaching drills as part of the Advanced Assault Pioneer course in Gagetown, NB.

What do you like about being in the infantry?

The camaraderie in the infantry is like nothing I’ve encountered anywhere else. The job can present very challenging situations, types of situations that are never seen in the civilian world. These difficult challenges, when overcome as a group, are very rewarding and solidify the ties between the group members like nothing else can.

Have you ever been deployed, either domestically or overseas?

I have been deployed both domestically and overseas. Domestically, I was into the long term care homes at the beginning of the pandemic. International operations, I was deployed to Jordan on Op Impact to mentor the Jordanian Armed Forces’ all-female platoon, the Female Engagement Team.

Sgt Postans mentoring a Jordanian soldier during Op Impact.

What would you say to someone who is considering employment in the CAF?

There is something for everyone in the CAF, whether you are looking for full-time or part-time employment, and so many trades to choose from. There is everything from infantry soldiers, to information systems technicians, to dentists and so much more, so why not challenge yourself to joining the CAF in a domain that interests you?

What is the hardest thing you’ve had to accomplish/overcome in the CAF?

I’m not sure there is a single thing that was the hardest to overcome. However, anything that was physically, or mentally very taxing, would usually be accompanied by negative self-talk that would make the situation even more difficult to overcome. After you get through these types of situations, you realise that you are capable of much more than you think, and it helps make the future situations slightly less taxing.