Master Warrant Officer J. Hamilton

Squadron Sergeant Major B Squadron

Master Warrant Officer (MWO) James Hamilton joined the Primary Reserve in January 1999 as an Infantry Soldier. In 2001, he deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina with 3RCR BG and, in 2005, deployed to the Middle East as part of the Force Protection Platoon on Operation Athena with 1RCR BG. He also deployed on NATO Exercise Co-Operative Best Effort in the Republic of Georgia in 2002 and in 2004 was fortunate enough to take part in the 60^th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings in Normandy, France.

In January 2006, MWO Hamilton completed his occupational transfer to the Regular Force and joined the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians). In 2006, he deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan with B-Sqn on TF 3-06 and, in 2008, with TF 1-08. In 2019, MWO Hamilton deployed as part of OP UNIFIER to Ukraine as the Armoured Advisor Team 2I/C. He has also deployed on multiple domestic operations that include the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, the 2011 Winnipeg floods, the 2013 Southern Alberta floods, and the 2018 British Colombia Forest Fires. He has completed many courses throughout his career with the LdSH(RC) to include Tank Driver, Tank Gunner, Tank Loader, and Tank Commander. MWO Hamilton also travelled to Germany on three separate occasions in order to complete courses on the Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank.

In 2013, MWO Hamilton was posted to the Language School for second language training, and subsequently posted to CFLRS St-Jean, Quebec. As an instructor he was responsible for teaching and mentoring new recruits in the CAF. In 2018, MWO Hamilton was posted back to the LdSH(RC) as a Tank Troop Warrant Officer with A-Sqn. He was employed as the Recce Sqn SQMS from 2020-2021 and the Regimental Transport Warrant Officer from 2021-2022.

MWO Hamilton is happily married to his wife Jillian, an issues and public affairs manager with the University of Alberta. They have two active young children, Calvin and Anouk.