This past week Captain Eric Depenau, Officer Commanding The Rocky Mountain Ranger’s unit in Prince George, was selected as one of a few Canadian delegates to attend a seminar in the Czech Republic.
The goal of the Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (ICRO), Young Reserve Officer seminar is to assist in integrating young leaders from allied nations in developing leadership skills, working with one another, and learning about the North America Treaty Organization (NATO).
The ICRO represents roughly 1 million reserve soldiers from 36 allied and partner nations making it the world’s largest reserve officer organization.
“I am immensely grateful to be able to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve and very thankful to have the support needed to balance the responsibilities of my civilian career [as a Chief Administrative Officer] and that of the Reserve. I want to thank my family and the team of people who I work with. I look forward to bringing these experiences back home and seeing how they can be applied,” said Depenau.
Depenau, an Infantry Officer in the Armed Forces Reserve, says this is the fourth time that his work has taken him to Europe on a variety of different assignments.
“I have been with the reserve force for nearly a decade. Over that time I am proud to have taken part in four named operations including a tour as a Diplomatic Administration Officer based in Kuwait on Operation IMPACT, support to the evacuation of Afghanistan during Operation AEGIS, a member of Operation DISTINCTION in France during The Battle of Vimy Ridges 100th anniversary, and as part of the domestic response to Covid-19 on Operation LASER here in BC.”
The Rocky Mountain Rangers celebrated their 115th birthday on the 1st of April and have a variety of activities planned over the week including a proclamation from City Hall, Flag Raising Ceremony and an open house on April 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the armouries at 687 Dornbierer Crescent.
