International Women’s Day: Corporal Cailun Tanney

International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. IWD has occurred for well over a century, and IWD is not country, group or organization specific. It is also a good time to pause, reflect and learn more about the distinguished service of women who have served or continue to serve in The Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR). In honour of IWD, the RMR Foundation is publishing profiles of service of some of the women who have served (and continue to serve) in our ranks.

Westmount, Quebec – 08 March 2022: “Joining the reserves was one of the best decisions I’ve made, I’m grateful for the opportunities it’s given me.” Powerful words from Corporal Cailun Tanney who was raised in Borden/Belleville, Ontario. She is currently serving in the RMR’s Battalion Orderly Room as a Human Resource Administrator (HRA), providing administrative and general human resources support to all military activities.

When not in uniform she is a MSc student at McGill University, studying novel methods to optimize cannabis development, definitely an industry that has a lot of potential in the future!

Corporal Tanney originally joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2017, serving with the PWOR in Kingston until she transferred to the RMR in 2020. Upon reflecting on her Reserve Army career, she shared that “I wish I would’ve known all my options in terms of NCM vs. officer.” and she advises new recruits to get as much information as they can about the various options open to them. She also reflected that “Being one of the C9 gunners on my land course despite being one of the smallest in the group.” was probably one of the coolest things she has done so far in her Reserve military career.

She has only experienced life with the RMR during the pandemic, transferring in after the initial lockdowns had begun, but her favourite memory so far in serving with the RMR was getting to spend time with everyone at the Christmas dinner, which this correspondent has to agree has been the closest to a ‘normal’ RMR social function and gives hope for the future.

Welcome to the Regiment, Corporal Tanney – best of luck with your studies and be sure to make the most of your time with us!