Master Warrant Officer B.E. Holmes

Technical Quartermaster Sergeant

Master Warrant Officer Holmes was born 6 April 1978 in Welland, Ontario. He enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces on the 10th of July 1998. After completing recruit training at CFLRS Saint-Jean and QL3 at CFB Wainwright, he was posted to Edmonton Alberta, and was assigned to the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) on the 19^th November of 1998.

During his 24 plus years of service, MWO Holmes has served in every Squadron except B Sqn within Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), 3^rd Canadian Division Training Centre/Land Forces Western Area Training Centre (3^rd CDTC/LFWA TC), Reserve Support Staff at The South Alberta Light Horse (SALH) and Sergeant-Major of Transition Centre Edmonton.

MWO Holmes has deployed on four operational deployments overseas. In 2000, he deployed to Bosnia on Op PALLADIUM, as a Coyote Driver with A Sqn. In 2003, again deployed to Bosnia, on Op PALLADIUM as a Tp Leader’s Driver and also a Coyote Gunner/Surv Op within C Sqn. In 2007, MWO Holmes deployed to Afghanistan on Op ARCHER Task Force 3-07, as a Troop Leaders Loader within C Sqn. He deployed to Latvia in 2020, on Op REASSURANCE, as Company Sergeant-Major - Combat Support Company.

MWO Holmes has three domestic Operations. In 2002 he deployed to Resolute Bay, Nunavut in support of Sovereignty Operations. In 2013, he deployed on Op LENTUS to southern Alberta in support of flood relief measures as a Coyote Tp WO. In 2014, he once again deployed to Nunavut this time to Iqaluit on Op NANOOK as Acting Sergeant Major Recce Sqn.

Throughout his career, he has been employed in many positions to include, All Coyote position up to and including Crew Commander, Patrol Commander and Troop Warrant, Leopard C2 Gunner and Loader, Leopard 2A6M Loader, LFWA TC SQ/PLQ Instructor, Sqn Admin Sgt, Sqn Ops WO, and Sqn Quartermaster, Regimental Transport WO and RSS Regimental Ops WO SALH, Recce Sqn SM, HQ Sqn SM, TC Edmonton SM.

MWO Holmes was promoted to his current rank in July 2019 and assumed the roles of Recce SSM, Cbt Sp Coy SM in Latvia, followed by HQ SSM, during which time the Sqn was honoured with the Prince of Wales Trophy as top Sqn. Prior to tasking on his current role of TQMS, he was the Transition Centre Edmonton Sergeant-Major which oversees casualty support and transition services to CAF members and their families.

In 2014 MWO Holmes met his beautiful wife Amanda and they have been happily married since 2016. They have five very active children, an amazing son Jake and four wonderful daughters Jada, Preston, Rory, and Aydea.