It’s all in the planning for Sgt Geddes

Sgt Allison Geddes hugs TV personality Rick Mercer in Afghanistan where she was part of the Mission Closure Unit. Photo submitted

The hustle and bustle of travel and changing surroundings has always been a central theme to Allison Geddes’ life.

The 36-year-old Sergeant grew up in a military family that made many moves, and that continued when she joined the Canadian Army in 2001 as a reservist with the Canadian Scottish Regiment in Victoria, B.C. A year later she switched to 741 Communications Squadron and while attach posted to 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Headquarters and Singal Squadron she completed a tour to Afghanistan in 2006 before joining the Regular Forces as a Traffic Technician in 2007.

In 2019, she moved back to Victoria from CFB Petawawa to take on a new position as J4 Movements Supervisor with the Regional Cadet Support Unit (Pacific).

Traffic Technician’s plan, execute, and manage movement of Canadian Armed Forces equipment and personnel. They use all modes of transport from any local, regional, national, or international location in support of Canadian Armed Forces exercises and operations.

Her current job as J4 Movements Supervisor with the RSCU(P) had her creating intricate travel itineraries for cadets and military personnel, that is until COVID-19 halted all travel.

“What I learned from a young age about travel, logistics, and planning is that in order to make a smooth transition from one place to another, you need to have a plan.”

Working for the cadets is like going back to where her career started.

She was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets for four years while her family lived in Kingston, ON – joining at the encouragement of her mother, MCpl (Retired) Joanne Geddes.

Before the pandemic hit, her days were filled booking travel for B.C. cadets  locally and across Canada for summer and weekend training at cadet training centres and various athletic competitions. Now, she is preparing for the eventual return to normal.

“Being proactive, we have been able to solidify Standard Operating Procedures for movements as well as brainstorm solutions we may encounter moving forward in the post-COVID working atmosphere,” she said.

Early on in her posting she got a first-hand look at the importance of her work. That’s when she travelled to Vernon, B.C., for a cadet graduation ceremony and saw their parade.

“I hadn’t seen a parade of that scale in a long time and that’s when I truly realized how important this program is for the CAF. When I got on the bus with the cadets for their trip home, I got to see the impact my work has on their experience and that was a really proud moment for me.”

However, her opportunity to see something like that again is ending. She recently received word she will be transferring to a new job this summer, a move she is already planning.

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