COS Land Reserves: Army Reserves Lessons Learned

Colonel Patrick Kelly joined the Army Cadets in 1977 with the 3 Field Engineer Cadet Corps in Montreal. In 1980 he transferred to The Black Watch Cadet Corps where he remained until 1982. While a Cadet Colonel Kelly capped off his Cadet experiences by attending the Banff National Army Cadet Camp in 1981 followed up by a summer as an instructor on the Arctic Indoctrination Course. He joined the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada in 1982 as a rifleman and progressed quickly to the rank of Master Corporal by 1986 having completed the Regular Force Infantry Section Commanders Course. In 1988 he commissioned and was transferred to The Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR) where he served until 1994. During this time he held various positions including Rifle Platoon Commander, Company 2 i/c, Adjutant and Rifle Company Commander. Colonel Kelly was promoted to Lieutenant in 1988 and to Captain in 1990 while at the RMR. In 1994 he transferred back to the Black Watch to assume the position of Operations Officer. In 1995 he assumed the position of Rifle Company Commander that he held until July 1997. During this period Colonel Kelly completed the Canadian Land Force Command and Staff Course as the lone Reserve candidate and was promoted to Major in May 1996. In 1997 he was posted to the Land Staff in Ottawa to assume the duties of Alternative Service Delivery Staff Officer. While on the Land Staff, Colonel Kelly completed Phase I of the USMC MAGTF Course in Quantico Virginia in 1998. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in September 2000 and assumed command of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa in March 2001 while employed fulltime on the Land Staff as a section head. In spring 2004 Colonel Kelly completed a three year tour as CO of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa and subsequently participated in the National Security Studies Seminar at CFC. In June 2006 Colonel Kelly transferred to CEFCOM as J3 Land Operations and Plans. While at CEFCOM, Colonel Kelly completed the Joint Reserve Command and Staff Program as well as the Advanced Military Studies Programme. More recently he has completed the Senior Component Officers Course at the US Army War College in February 2010. In October 2008 Colonel Kelly was promoted to his present rank and was appointed as Director Land Reserve on the Land Staff.