Unit Appointments - Regimental Sergeant Major
15th Field Artillery Regiment, RCA
Chief Warrant Officer R.G. Wishnicki, CD

Chief Warrant Officer Wishnicki was born on 23 August 1963, in Winnipeg, Manitoba and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. He enrolled in the Canadian Forces Reserves on 2 April 1987.

After completing General Military Training in Vancouver and Summer Youth Employment Program in Camp Vernon, he was posted to Camp Nanaimo where he completed his Trade Qualification 3, Casualty Aide course. He subsequently completed his Casualty Aide Conversion course which made him a Qualified Medic in the Canadian Forces. He was then posted to 31 Battery, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, where he completed his Trade Qualification 1 Gunnery course and was promoted to the rank of Bombardier on 2 April 1989 after serving the guns for more than 3 years. He was then sent to Camp Vernon where he completed his Junior and Combat Leadership Course in March of 1991 and given the appointment of Master Bombardier on 9 May 1991. After returning to 31 Battery and serving as a Gun Detachment 2IC, he completed a Canadian Forces Communications and Artillery Communications Course. CWO Wishnicki then served overseas as a section 2IC with the United Nations Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP).

Upon his return to 15th Field Artillery Regiment, he was appointed Detachment Commander to serve in the newly opened 68 Battery in the Fraser Valley Detachment and completed his Observation Post Technician Course. He completed his Qualification Level 6A Detachment Commanders Course in the summer of 1993 and was promoted that same year to the rank of Sergeant and posted to 31 Battery as a Gun Detachment Commander. In 1995, he was posted to Canadian Forces Base Dundurn in Saskatchewan with 3 PPCLI and trained for deployment with UN forces in the former republic of Yugoslavia (OP HARMONY). During this time he completed his Regular Force Machine Gunners Course. When the tour was cancelled, CWO Wishnicki was transferred to A Battery, 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA), followed shortly thereafter by a transfer to the Royal Canadian Artillery School in Canadian Forces Base Shilo, representing 1 RCHA. He taught 3 Regular Force Gunnery Courses and completed his Senior Leadership Course in 1996.

Chief Warrant Officer Wishnicki then returned to 15th Field Artillery Regiment and was assigned the position of Regimental Signals NCO and completed his Qualification Level 6B parts 1, 2 and 3 in the summer of 1997, being promoted to the Rank of Warrant Officer on 13 September 1997. He assumed the position of Gunline and Recce Troop Sergeant Major until the year 2000, at which time he was posted to 68 Battery and assumed the appointment of Battery Sergeant Major. In 2001, he was awarded the Queens Golden Jubilee Medal from the Right Honorable Herb Dhaliwal. In March 2003, he was promoted to the rank of Master Warrant Officer and was transferred to 31 Battery to assume the appointment of Battery Sergeant Major. In October of 2004, he was appointed Acting/Regimental Sergeant-Major while assuming the position as Battery Sergeant Major 31 Battery until his present appointment to Regimental Sergeant Major on 19 December 2005. CWO Wishnicki was appointed Exercise Regimental Sergeant Major for 39 Canadian Brigade Group’s Exercise Cougar Salvo held in Comox BC in March 2007. He has completed the Regional Liaison Officer’s Course, Observer Controller’s course, Assisting Officer’s course and Chief Warrant Officer’s course. CWO Wishnicki has also been awarded the UNFICYP Medal in 1992, his Canadian Decoration on 2 April 1999 and his Canadian Peace Service Medal in 2000.

In his civilian career, Chief Warrant Officer Wishnicki is employed as a full-time Corrections Officer and Firearms Instructor with Corrections Canada.