The Canadian Army has its first Indigenous commander.
the lieutenant general. Jocelyn (Joe) Paul took office on Thursday, taking over from the general. Michel-Henri St-Louis, who is the highest-ranking soldier in office since last year.
Paul is a respected member of the army who served as one of the commanders of the country’s battle group during the Afghan war. He began his career with the Royal 22nd Regiment, but most recently served as Deputy Commander of the NATO Allied Joint Forces Command in Naples, Italy.
He has been the highest-ranking indigenous member of the army for several years. A member of the Huron-Wendat First Nation community in Wendake, Que., Paul has often talked about how his culture and personal history have shaped him as a soldier and as an individual.
But his rise to command of the army is a milestone.
“If I can be of any help, if I can inspire any young person who is hesitant to join a military career, and if I can have five, six, 10, 15 or 20 more Aboriginal soldiers, I guess I think I will have fulfilled with my duty, “Paul told reporters after the change of command.
He said he was “deeply grateful” for the opportunity to command the Canadian Army at a critical time in history, with a war erupting in Europe.
The outgoing commander of the Canadian Army, Major General Michel-Henri St-Louis, left, congratulates the incoming commander, Lieutenant General Jocelyn (Joe) Paul, at a change of command ceremony in Ottawa on Thursday 16 June 2022. (Patrick Doyle / The Canadian Press)
“From the Baltic to the Black Sea, our NATO allies recognize the tradition of excellence of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Army, and all this is only possible for those who wear the uniform. “Paul told the official Department. statement by National Defense.
Thursday’s command ceremony at the Cartier Square mock room in Ottawa was full of personal significance for Paul.
Andrée Levesque Sioui, who is also a Wendat from Paul’s hometown, performed a canoe song originally composed by one of Paul’s ancestors just over 100 years ago.
‘Respect, dignity and humility’
Paul said he expects everyone in the military to act with “respect, dignity and humility.” He recalled his days at the helm of combat troops in Kandahar where, he said, there was never talk of “sex, race, ethnicity, language and sexual orientation”.
“Because we were out there facing adversity, helping each other and protecting each other,” Paul said. “We were focused on the team.”
Paul takes command just as the army is going through a major leadership crisis.
The former officer who had been in line to become army commander, retired Lieutenant General Trevor Cadieu, was formally charged on Wednesday with two counts of sexual assault in connection with allegations dating back to the mid-1990s.
It was just the latest in a series of cases and allegations of sexual misconduct that have sidelined – or forced the resignation of – up to 11 senior military leaders.