“My father was in the reserves, Queen’s York Rangers First American Regiment,” he said. “My grandfather was in World War II, with the tank regiment.”
It’s not surprising that St. John’s ambitions have centred around carrying on that tradition. “I’ve always been interested in the military,” he said.
St. John spend seven years in Army Cadets, but didn’t finish all of his high school credits, something that prevented him from achieving his goal, which was to serve in the same unit as his father.
But he persevered, going back to complete the needed credits, and enlisting in the Queen’s York Rangers at the age of 27.
Now 32 and a corporal, he has served in the reserves for five years, and said he hoped it is just the start of a long military career of service.
“I hope to stay in as long as I can with the armoured corps, and maybe some day do a tour overseas,” St. John said.
Right now, his service is only part-time. The Queens York Rangers First American Regiment is described as a “Canadian Army Primary Reserve Royal Canadian Armoured Corps regiment,” part of the 4th Canadian Division’s 32 Canadian Brigade Group.
“We train every Wednesday night, and several weekends a month, unless we’re on courses,” said St. John.
“We stand down in summer,” unless 'tasked' to special duty, he added.
For the past two summers, he’s been tasked to assist at Cadet Camp Blackdown.
It’s a duty that reflects his own experience and his roots, and he has solid advice for young cadets, interested in a military career: “Follow your goal – that’s what I did. Never stop doing what you want to do.”
In a way, the father of two is a mentor for the cadets – which is also appropriate, based on his own path. “I’ve always had lots of mentors in the army,” St. John said at this year’s Remembrance Dinner at the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 521.
“I still look up to them.”
