Military Engineers Colonel Commandant pays visit to RPOU(W)
July 24, 2024 - Capt Kyle Ho, RPOU(W) HQ Operations Officer
Major‑General (Retired) Daniel Benjamin, Colonel Commandant of the Canadian Military Engineers, visited Real Property Operations Unit (West) (RPOU(W)) headquarters on May 23.
The Colonel Commandant role is an honorary appointment bestowed on a retired senior officer who has served with distinction. MGen (Ret.) Benjamin served in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for more than 35 years and retired in 2011. He was appointed Officer of the Order of Military Merit in 2004 and promoted to Commander of the Order of Military Merit in 2008, and named Colonel Commandant of the Canadian Military Engineers in 2021.
This visit not only marked a significant moment for the unit, but also highlighted MGen (Ret.) Benjamin’s exemplary career and leadership during his time in the Engineer Service Branch before the 2016 RPOU Transformation. During his recent visit to RPOU(W), MGen (Ret.) Benjamin took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the men and women serving in the unit and recognized their vital role in supporting military infrastructure and operations.
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(L-R) Chief Warrant Officer Darrel Jones; Major‑General (Retired) Daniel Benjamin, Colonel Commandant of the Canadian Military Engineers; and CWO Eric Barney, Real Property Operations Unit (West) Regimental Sergeant‑Major, during MGen (Ret.) Benjamin’s visit to Edmonton on May 23.
Photo supplied
As the visit continued, he shared insights from his experiences and offered words of encouragement. He spoke about the applications of warfare, and how it changed during his time in the CAF.
Based on current events, the modern battlefield has evolved again and will continue to require the professionalism that is continuously displayed by CAF members who repeatedly answer the call of duty. MGen (Ret.) Benjamin’s presence served as a source of motivation for the troops, reinforcing the critical nature of their work and reminding them of the importance of infrastructure and its relevance to achieving operational imperatives.
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Major‑General (Retired) Daniel Benjamin, Colonel Commandant of the Canadian Military Engineers, hosted a town hall with the Real Property Operations Detachment Edmonton members during his visit on May 23.
Photo by Sgt Robert Genereux, Real Property Operations Detachment Edmonton
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Key leaders from Real Property Operations Unit (West) and Section Edmonton welcomed Major‑General (Retired) Daniel Benjamin, Colonel Commandant of the Canadian Military Engineers, to Edmonton during his visit on May 23.
Photo by Sgt Robert Genereux, Real Property Operations Detachment Edmonton