Captain (Capt.) Francesca Ferguson

Captain Francesca Ferguson first joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) when she was 16 years old. Her father was a pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force, and encouraged her to join because he believed it would be a great experience. She joined the Army Reserve, which helped her pay for both her undergraduate degree and law degree at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She enjoyed being in the Forces so much that she decided to transfer to the Regular Force as a Legal Officer after law school.

As a reservist, her undergraduate degree was subsidized by approximately $2,000 per year in addition to collecting a salary. She funded her law degree, but with the transition to the Regular Force, she was able to find full-time employment in her field immediately.

Prior to joining the Army Reserve, Captain Ferguson was not sure what to expect. The thought of having to use weapons, do drills and conduct patrols seemed daunting. Once she joined, she discovered that these activities were actually challenging and exciting skills to acquire. She also realized these activities would not be part of her regular duties as a Legal Officer.

I felt a great sense of pride in serving my country – not to mention the excitement that comes with seeing new places!

Capt. Ferguson seriously considered the commitments that come with joining the Regular Force. She was initially concerned about having to deploy or relocate due to a posting – as a reservist she could work close to home and decide if she wanted to deploy. A higher calling and a life of adventure motivated her to serve. “I felt a great sense of pride in serving my country – not to mention the excitement that comes with seeing new places! I’ve been posted twice, first to Ottawa, and my current post at Canadian Force Base Borden, both in Ontario. I’ve enjoyed both positions immensely.”

One of Capt. Ferguson’s best memories from her time in the Forces, thus far, is from her years as a reservist when she was 18 years old. She was sent on Adventure Training in London, England with 10 other Canadians Reservists. They spent a month learning trade-specific skills in addition to sea kayaking, hiking and repelling into caves. They trained with British forces, and made friends that she still keeps in touch with today. It was an opportunity to learn both work-related skills and to see different regions of the world. She also worked alongside allied forces, an experience she can draw upon for future international deployments or while working in a coalition environment.

Capt. Ferguson believes that “the CAF provides endless opportunities for professional development. The career satisfaction, benefits and adventure easily outweigh the challenges, as long as you are open to new experiences.”