Major V Kirstein

Officer Commanding HQ Squadron

Maj Kirstein joined the CF in 1995, where he attended The Royal Military College and graduated in 1999 with a degree in Business Administration.  Following completion of his phase training he was posted to 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada where he served as a tank Troop Leader until 2001.

In 2001, Maj Kirstein rebadged to the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) and posted to CFB Wainwright, where he worked as the Armour Observer Controller Team Leader at the Milita Training Support Centre for two years, and then moved over to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre as the Observer Controller Instructor until 2005. 

Posted to the Strathcona’s in 2005 as a Captain, Maj Kirstein was employed as Battle Captain for A Squadron, Battle Captain and Second in Command for Recce Squadron, Second in Command C Squadron where he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Task Force 3-07 with 3 R22eR and upon return was appointed Second in Command Headquarters Squadron. 

In 2009, Maj Kirstein was promoted to his current rank and posted back to the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright.  There he was the Lead Planner for Exercise Maple Guardian in the fall of 2010. 

Maj Kirstein returned to the Strathcona’s in the summer of 2011 where he assumed his current position as Officer Commanding Headquarters Squadron.

He and his wife Penny have two young boys, Nathan and Andrew.  In his spare time he enjoys travelling with his family, curling and carpentry.