CFB North Bay welcomes their first female Chief Warrant Officer

Chief Warrant Officer Daphne Germain's daughters are delighted to change their mother's rank epplets from Master Warrant Officer to Chief Warrant Officer during the change of command ceremony Thursday.

The folks of 22 wing at CFB North Bay said goodbye to Chief Warrant Officer Gilles Laroche and at the same time welcomed new wing Chief Warrant Officer Daphne Germain during a change of command ceremony Thursday.

Germain is the first female CWO at CFB North Bay and says this post is another first in her journey and welcomes the challenge.

“For me it has been another first because I have had a few firsts along the way, I think back to being one of the first females to be posted after the trials for the army. I was one of the first females to be posted to the Service Battalion.”

“There have been a few first along the way and this is another good one. It's just another challenge (I make sure that) I want to be that role model, yes for the gender, but also I want to be that role model for everyone.”

The Wing Chief Warrant Officer is the highest ranking non-commissioned member (NCM) on the base, who directly advises the Wing Commander on all issues pertaining to NCMs. In addition, the Wing CWO spearheads 22 Wing’s Operation CONNECTION efforts, the Canadian Forces public awareness program launched in 2006 with a view to informing Canadians about their military’s role, responsibilities and capabilities.

Germain says taking over the post for her feels like just before the gun to goes off at a marathon she is a bit nervous and has butterflies in her stomach. She says she is acutely aware of the special trust that has been placed in her and also knows that the past 30 years has been spent preparing her for the post.

“I'd like to think every day is a different day for me and I won't know what tomorrow's agenda is until I get in the office, so how I react to that challenge at that particular moment is going to be part and parcel to the leadership training I've had my whole career.”

“No, I'm sure it will be a wonderful opportunity and I look forward to the next couple of years.”

Germain says her first introduction to North Bay was when she brought her daughter to get settled at Nipissing University last year and looks forward to learning more about her new community.