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725 Communication Squadron
Active	1987 - present
Country	Canada
Branch	Canadian Forces
Type	Army Reserves
Size	Squadron
Garrison/HQ	Glace Bay Armouries
Motto(s)	DEFERO PER PERSERVERANTIA (Communications through Persistence)

725 (Glace Bay) Communication Squadron

725 (Glace Bay) Communication Squadron specializes in tactical and strategic communication, employing voice, electronic and telecommunication systems. Our mandate is to provide individual and collective support to Canadian Forces operations, both domestic and international. Many of our members have served in various UN and NATO peacekeeping missions around the world. This unit also provides communication support to the Army Reserve. Some units in the Communication Reserve also provide manning support to the Navy Transportable Tactical Command Centres.

Training is a year-round activity and soldiers are expected to attend one evening training a week and up to two weekend training activities per month. Evening training is conducted at 76 Sterling Road Glace Bay NS. Once fully trained, soldiers can apply for various full-time and part-time employment opportunities available throughout the year.

Role

The role of 725 Communication Squadron is to provide combat-capable information technology management services to the Canadian Forces. We are outfitted and train with modern equipment such as digital radios, ground satellite terminals, fibre optics and computers. We specialize in tactical and strategic communication, employing voice, electronic and telecommunication systems. Our mandate is to provide individual and collective support to Canadian Forces operations, both domestic and international.

Heraldic Badge

The crest of 725 Communication Squadron was chosen for its historical significance to communications world and the role that Glace Bay and Guglielmo Marconi played in the first official radio message to Poldhu, Cornwall, England, in 1905. The towers and building were located in Table Head, Glace Bay, which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean. A public service began between the stations on October 15, 1907, with ten thousand words being exchanged on the first day.

Motto

DEFERO PER PERSERVERANTIA

(Communications through Persistence)

History

In 1987 a detachment of 721 Communication Regiment was established in Glace Bay to provide communication support to the Militia units in the Cape Breton Area. It was through the hard work of LCol J. Addicott that the unit was established. It initially consisted of Sgt A. Mullowney, Class B, Training NCO and three Privates who transferred from B Coy 2nd Bn Nova Scotia Highlanders on the 15 June 1987. The accommodations consisted of a small office and a supply room. A recruiting drive was started in the fall of 1987. In April 1988, Sgt R.L. Morrison was enrolled as a Class A reservist and worked in the position of NCO IC of the unit. Recruiting was a priority and the numbers quickly grew to 15 members. In October 1989, the unit hired on its first Class B members, Pte D.N. Skalaa (Adm Clk) and Pte C. Barrett (Supply). During this time the unit received more space at the Glace Bay Armouries…. A message center and classroom facilities.

The unit started training with PRC25’s set borrowed from the Militia units in the area and a CP loaned to the unit from MTC Aldershot. In 1988 this CP was called back to MTC for summer training and didn’t return to the unit. During the 72 Communication Group Planning and Training session held at CFS Debert 26 March 1998, it was decided that 721 Comm Tp Det (Sydney) required an officer. In the spring of 1989, Sgt RL Morrison was commissioned from the ranks to the rank of Lieutenant and therefore became the first Officer Commanding of the unit, during this phase of the Units strength increased to 30 members.

On the 18 March 1990, Sgt A. Mullowney retired from the unit and MCpl J. Denny was appointed as the Training NCO. In the fall of 1990 while on the annual rifle shoot in Prince Edward Island the unit acquired a line Iltis to complete our establishment of vehicles to date. A Finance Clerk, Cpl Wilson, joined the unit as a Class B reservist in January 1991. In the spring of the same year the unit received our first Regular Force Staff member, Sgt Presnail. It was also deemed necessary that the unit required a full time officer. Lt R.L. Morrison became a Class B, Officer Commanding in June 1991, he also filled the role of Admin Officer. The unit also received authority to hire our first Vehicle Tech, Pte D. Crane in the fall of 1991.

The unit’s establishment at this time peaked at 43 personnel. An ATCO trailer arrived in the spring of 1993 to house our QM and the area vacated by supply was turned into the HF Radio room, Training office and RFTS office. During the summer of 1993, Sgt Presnail was replaced by WO Macnutt to take the position of the senior RFTS in the unit. Capt Fulmes arrived to become the new Regular Force Officer Commanding and PO2 Garbutt arrived to fill the position of RFAA.

In August of 1993, 721 Communication Troop Glace Bay took over command of CommFac Sydney and on the 19 October 1993 the was made independent of 721 Comm Regiment and came directly under 72 Communication Group Halifax.

In 1993, CF Communication Command (CFCC) recognized that the demands on the Detachment required an increase in its establishment to unit size and indicated its intention to reorganize it as 725 (Glace Bay) Communications Squadron. It also directed that the Det be placed under Comd of 72 Communication Group in Halifax until the unit could be formally established. Unfortunately, the proposed changes were not accepted due to budget cuts and the unit remained under command of 721 Communication Regiment.

In July 1997, a change of Command took place, Captain N.J. McKenna replaced Captain Fulmes as Officer Commanding 721 Communication Troop and 2 years later May 15, 1999 Captain McKenna held a formal Change of Command Parade for the incoming OC Lieutenant A.G. Matlock. The Regular Force Officer Commanding Position was changed and is now manned by a Reservist.

721 Communication Troop remained the only Troop in the Communication Reserve, until the concept of making the unit into a Squadron was revived. On the 18 January 2005 an Aide-Memoire on the unit’s establishment was written and sent up the Chain of Command. General R.J. Hillier signed off on 19th May 2005 and a Ministerial Organization Order was forwarded to The Honourable Bill graham for his approval.

On the 20th September, 2005 Ministerial Organization Order 2005013 was approved by Bill Graham, Minister of National Defence directing 725 Communication Squadron to organize as a unit of the Canadian Forces; directing the unit to be embodied in the Reserve Force; and that the new entity be allocated to 72 Communication Group. On the 10th December 2005, 725 Communication Squadron held an Official Stand-Up Parade for the unit where Maj D. O'Hanley signed his Commanding Officer responsibilities of 725 Comm Sqn over to Capt A. Matlock. In October of 2009 Major Andrew G. Morrison assumed the role of Commanding Officer from Capt A.G. Matlock.

Biographies

Commanding Officer

Major A.G. Morrison

Major Andrew Morrison originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, immigrated to Canada in 1974 and grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He became a Canadian citizen five years later. In 1990, he joined the Army Reserve as an Intelligence Operator in the Atlantic Militia Area Intelligence Section and then was commissioned in 1992. He completed basic training as an Intelligence Officer in 1993. Concurrently, he attended the University of King’s College, Halifax, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree (Biology) in 1995.

During the following years, he occupied various positions within the evolving 3 Intelligence Company in Halifax. In 1997, he was selected for a tour in Bosnia with NATO’s Allied Military Intelligence Battalion, trained with the British Army and then completed a nine-month tour as a human intelligence section commander. Returning from Bosnia in 1998, Major Morrison transferred to the Supplementary Reserve to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin.

Returning to Canada and the Army Reserve in 2004, Major Morrison resumed duty with 3 Intelligence Company holding positions of Operations Officer, and Deputy Commanding Officer. In July 2006, he completed the Army Operations Course at the CLFCSC. In July 2007, he was appointed Officer Commanding, LFAA Psychological Operations Company. In Oct 2009, he assumed command of 725 (Glace Bay) Communication Squadron. He is qualified in Psychological Operations (PSYOPS), Information Operations and Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC).

Major Morrison is currently employed as a veterinarian with the St. Margaret’s Bay Animal Hospital in Tantallon, Nova Scotia, and lives in Halifax with his wife, Jennifer. He enjoys sailing, gardening, DIY and coin collecting.

Sergeant Major

Warrant Officer William Herbert Reddick CD

Warrant Officer Reddick enrolled in the Canadian Forces in Jan of 1977 in Sydney, Nova Scotia. After his basic training in at Canadian Forces Recruit School Cornwallis, and his trades training in Borden Ontario, he was posted to Canadian Forces Base Shearwater, Nova Scotia. Warrant Officer Reddick was then posted to 2 Service Battalion, Special Service Force in Petawawa, Ontario, working at Supply Company’s Repair Parts Platoon in May of 1980. While in 2 SVC BN, Warrant Officer Reddick deployed on many Exercise including Rendezvous 81,83 and 85.Warrant Officer Reddick then went to Canadian Forces Base Edmonton in Jun 1985 working in Aircraft Supply, Construction Engineering Supply and Technical Stores, while there he also deployed to Alert and Golan Heights.

In Dec of 1989, Warrant Officer was posted to 447 Tactical Transport Helicopter Squadron, in Edmonton where he served as Squadron Quartermaster. After two years, he was in charge of returning all Squadron equipment and closing out the Unit. In Aug of 1991, Warrant Officer Reddick was posted to Canadian Forces Base Chatham, New Brunswick, where he worked in Base Supply receiving equipment from 119 Battery and 4 Air Defense Regiment returning from Germany. In 1995, he took charge of Base Supply and completed the close of Canadian Forces Base Chatham in Mar of 1996.

Warrant Officer Reddick did a short stint at Canadian Forces Base Halifax from Mar 1996 until Oct 1996 before being posted back to the Army in Oct 1996 to Canadian Forces Joint Signals Regiment. While serving with CFJSR Warrant Officer Reddick deployed with the Canadian Combined Joint Task Forces Headquarters to Africa in Nov of 1996 and also on Op Abacus in Dec 0f 1999. Warrant Officer Reddick was then posted back to Edmonton in Jul 2001 to 1 General Service Battalion, while serving with 1 GS BN he deployed with Task Force South West Asia in Feb of 2002. On return, Warrant Officer Reddick was then appointed to be the Regimental Quartermaster for 1 GS BN.

In Jul of 2003, Warrant officer Reddick was posted to 1 Field Ambulance in Edmonton as Company Sergeant Major for Service Support Company. Nov 2004, Warrant Officer Reddick was posted to 73 Communication Reserve Headquarters where he was promoted to Master Warrant Officer before retiring in Jul of 2007 with 30 plus years of regular Force service. Warrant officer Reddick transferred to the Primary Reserves in Jun of 2008 as Support Troop Warrant for 725 (Glace Bay) Communication Squadron. In Oct 2009 Warrant Officer Reddick was appointed to the position of Squadron Sergeant Major for 725 (Glace Bay) Communication Squadron.

Warrant Officer is married to Tammy (Matchett) and they are the adopted parents Whitney Burridge. They currently reside in Albert Bridge, Nova Scotia. Their interests include boating, fishing and reading.

725 Communication Squadron. "Article about the Standup Parade of 725 Communication Squadron"