Young, full of hope, and on his way to a career in the Canadian Navy, Whistler’s own Blain Vernon-Jarvis left home Saturday, July 7 th to train with the Canadian Forces.
“Blain is the first guy recruited from Whistler that I am aware of, and we are glad to have him aboard,” said Terry Senft, Royal Military College (RMC) Liaison Officer – Western Region.
Vernon-Jarvis is one of 560 Canadian’s recruited this year. His enrolment ceremony into the Canadian Forces was held in Vancouver in May.
He will begin his training by attending Basic Officer Training in St. Jean, Quebec this summer and then moving south this fall to RMC in Kingston, Ontario.
“I have always wanted to go,” said Vernon-Jarvis of his decision.
“The level of education I can receive at the Royal Military College is higher than the level of education I can receive at a civilian university,” he said.
He added that he hopes to one day be a Marine Surface and Subsurface Officer.
Born in London, England, Vernon-Jarvis moved with his family to British Columbia in 1988. He is the second child in his family to sign up for the military, with his brother currently serving in the Canadian Air Force.
“My parents are happy for me. They are really proud,” said Vernon-Jarvis.
Vernon-Jarvis graduated from Whistler Secondary School in 2006 and has spent the past year at the University of Victoria.
RMC is the military academy of the Canadian forces, attended by 1,100 undergraduates and hundreds of post-graduate students. For most students, education is free and a monthly salary is paid which meets incidentals.
Vernon-Jarvis will be sponsored under the Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP), which covers the full cost of the university degree program.
