Defence Team student testimonial: Raymond Calder

August 27, 2024 – Defence Stories

My name is Raymond and I am from Fort Frances. I am a student currently working for the Department of National Defence (DND) and I’m entering my 4th year at Western University where I am pursuing a degree in Structural Engineering. During the school year, I work with various student-lead organizations, including Western Engineering’s Steel Bridge Team. In my spare time I enjoy golfing, fishing, and weightlifting.  

I got my job at DND through the Indigenous Engineering Student Program (IESP). This program provides opportunities for Indigenous students to get involved with DND across Canada. I work for ADM(MAT) and am stationed remotely with the 1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Winnipeg. This summer I had the opportunity to join a project with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Digital Hub (RDH) to work on the new Manual of Aerospace Procedures (MAP) site on Microsoft PowerApps.

I am impressed by the department’s ability to connect people from across the country. In a typical day, I can talk, work with, and learn from members coast-to-coast and from all walks of life. I’m extroverted and thrive meeting new people, so this is an aspect I particularly enjoy about the DND.

This summer, my goal has been to learn as much information as possible. This is my first government job, so I have been learning lots. The support from management and collaborative environment at DND has made my time here truly rewarding. While working on my project with the RDH, I’ve been able to engage with many talented employees, and I know the skills I’m learning this summer will support me   in the future.

Related links

Call-out for Defence team student testimonials

Contact

If you are a student and want to submit a testimonial, please send an email to hrciv_communications_rhciv@forces.gc.ca

Hiring managers, if you need support finding a student for your team, contact the National Student Hiring Team at CIV.DND.NationalStudentHiring-EmbaucheNationaleEtudiants.MDN@forces.gc.ca