Former Sniper pens book – coming to Chapters

Meet Canadian elite sniper, Ottawa city Councillor and finalist in 2013’s Amazing Race Canada, Jody Mitic, as he signs his memoir Unflinching, that reveals his personal journey into the Canadian military and what happened after he returned home.

Rachel Lallouz, Staff Writer ~

Journaling after a devastating injury has transformed a former Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) sniper into a successful author.

Jody Mitic, a retired Master Corporal, and current city counsellor in Ottawa, lost both legs in a landmine accident while fighting in Afghanistan in 2007.

“I, like most military guys, never imagined writing a book about myself,” says Mitic.

“It started more as self-therapy, just getting my thoughts out, but it slowly morphed into a full book.”

Last September, those thoughts became Unflinching: The Making of A Canadian Sniper, published by Simon and Shuster.

The book’s paperback edition was released May 3, and Mitic is now embarked on a tour across Canada to promote his work.

He will be at Chapters in Victoria May 14 from 2 to 4 p.m.

His story begins much like most soldiers in the CAF.

He joined the army reserves in Ontario in 1994 when he was 17. Shortly after, in 1997, he joined the Royal Canadian Regiment in Petawawa, where he received his sniper qualifications.

“It felt amazing to be trained as a sniper. It ended up being the best job. I loved serving my country in uniform, and I miss it every day,” he says.

His life took a dramatic turn on Jan. 11, 2007. While acting as the team leader of CAF snipers in the Tangi Valley, Afghanistan, Mitic stepped on an anti-personnel landmine with a mortar bomb underneath it. He lost both his legs. He retired in June 2014.

“Writing about your own experiences is difficult,” he says. “I challenge anyone to do it. I didn’t want to write a book where I’m the hero in every situation. I’m far from perfect and I lay it all out there.”

With the help of an editor from Simon and Schuster, and a co-writer, Mitic completed final edits on the book in 2015.

“The book highlights every notable moment in my life,” says Mitic. “From my sniper training to combat, to several gunfights I’ve been in. But to get a full understanding of my story, a person needs to open it up for themselves.”

Unflinching has sold over 20,000 copies worldwide.

“At the end of the day, the book tells the story of not forgetting who you are. Even while I was in the army, in the land of complete conformity, I could still be an individual and be myself, and do a great job.”  

As part of his physical rehabilitation, he ran in an Achilles Canada five kilometer run with prosthetic legs.

In 2013, he and his brother Cory competed in The Amazing Race Canada, finishing in second place.

Following his appearance on the Amazing Race, he became a motivational speaker and an advocate for wounded veterans and people with disabilities.

And he married Alannah Gilmore, one of the medics who treated him after his injury in Afghanistan. They have two daughters.

Though Mitic’s term as a City Councillor extends until December 2018, he still says his future is unknown.

“I’ve never been afraid to take chances, so who knows where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing.”