Squadron Sergeant Major
C Squadron
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
Warrant Officer Mark Riley was born in Halifax NS on 14 May 1964, he enrolled in the Canadian Forces in March 1984. Upon completion of basic training he was posted to Petawawa Ont were he joined Recce Sqn of the 8th Canadian Hussars (Princess Louise’s) (8CH). While in Petawawa he completed the Recce Crewmen Crse as well as the Basic Para Crse.
WO Riley, along with the entire Recce Sqn from Petawawa was posted to Lahr West Germany in Aug 1985, at this time he re-badged to Royal Canadian Dragoon (RCD). In the summer of 1987 the RCD returned to Canada and were replaced by the 8CH (PL), once again he re-badged and remained in Germany until the summer of 1990. While posted in Germany he completed both Leo D&M, Leo Gnry, Basic German Para and the Combat Leaders Crse. WO Riley was promoted to MCpl in 1989.
The summer of 1990 he was posted to Calgary where he joined the LdSH(RC). During the next four years he completed Cougar Gnry and Advance Comms. In the summer of 1994 he was posted to the Armour School, while in Gagetown he completed Advance D&M as well as the QL6A. While at the School he filled the jobs as an instructor in D&M Sqn, Tp Sgt in TSS and wrapping up as Mayor in Petersville. WO Riley was promoted to Sgt in 1996 and post back to the Regt the summer of 1997, although this time to Edmonton.
Upon return to the Regt WO Riley was re-united with the Tanks and employed as a Tp Sgt in B Sqn, he remained in the tanks early 2000 when the Sqn was re-rolled as a Recce Sqn in preparation for a deployment to Bosnia later that year. Upon return from Bosnia he remained in Coyotes until he was posted to the South Alberta Light Horse as their Regt Training Sgt. After only a year away and a promotion to WO he was once again posted back to the Regt, although this time to Recce Sqn. After the Sqn returned from the BC fires they started training for the eventual deployment to Kabul Afghanistan in the summer of 2004. Once back from Afghanistan he remained in Recce Sqn as the Sqn Ops WO then the SQ. In the summer of 2006 WO Riley was posted to 408THS as their Ops WO, while with the Sqn he completed the QL7 (DP4), ALQ and the Tactical Avation Mission Specialist Crse. He also completed his second tour to Afghanistan as the Ops WO for the newly formed Canadian Helicopter Force (Afghanistan). WO Riley was posted back to the Regt in the Spring of 2010 and appointed as the SSM of C Sqn.
WO Riley and his wife Lisa have 2 children, Mitchell (15) and Alayna (9). They all enjoy the outdoors and spend their summer weekends at the lake.
