Simon Mailloux
Encyclopedia
Captain
Simon Mailloux, B.A.(Hons), CMR
, Master of Science, MSc, University of Glasgow
(born 1983), is a serving officer in the Canadian Forces
. He was severely injured on 16 November 2007 in an IED
incident in Afghanistan
and, as a result, his left leg was amputated. In November 2009, Mailloux redeployed to Afghanistan becoming the first Canadian amputee to deploy to a war zone as a combatant.
, Quebec, he graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in 2006 with a Bachelor of Military and Strategic Studies
and from the University of Glasgow in 2011 with a Master of Science in Politics and International Replations. During the summer of 2005, he received an international exchange scholarship from the Canada Corps initiative launched by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) on behalf of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). His research took place at the École de Maintien de la Paix, of Kulikovo, and the Institut de Recherche sur le Développement, of Bamako in Mali. He conducted research on Post-Conflict Security during a period of four months and participated in peacekeeping staff training initiatives.
in Valcartier, Quebec and quickly joined the deploying formation as a platoon
commander. Mailloux was injured by an IED explosion on 16 November 2007 which killed two soldiers, an interpreter and wounded several others. Mailloux underwent several surgeries and months of rehabilitation. Following this, he was appointed Aide de Camp to the Governor General of Canada
at Rideau Hall in Ottawa and participated in the Presidential visit of Barack Obama
to Ottawa, the 2009 visit to Haïti
and the Emperor and Empress of Japan
visit to Canada. In 2009, he joined the Task Force Kandahar Headquarters as a Brigade
staff.
" and was on the cover of the February 2008 edition of the magazine "L'Actualité
".
, the Quebec show "Dumont 360
", the cover of Le Soleil
newspaper, CBC Newsworld
, LA Times and many others. Capt Mailloux is also quoted in General Rick Hillier's
book, A Soldier First, as a "young wounded lieutenant that asked if he could return with his comrades" and as an "example of the junior leadership of the CF". Recently, Capt Mailloux was heralded by a Winnipeg Free Press
editiorial as an example that a serious injury is not stopping a soldier from serving its country and that more place should be made for them.
awarded at Rideau Hall by the Governor General of Canada.
Captain (OF-2)
The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...
Simon Mailloux, B.A.(Hons), CMR
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada, RMC, or RMCC , is the military academy of the Canadian Forces, and is a degree-granting university. RMC was established in 1876. RMC is the only federal institution in Canada with degree granting powers...
, Master of Science, MSc, University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
(born 1983), is a serving officer in the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
. He was severely injured on 16 November 2007 in an IED
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
incident in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
and, as a result, his left leg was amputated. In November 2009, Mailloux redeployed to Afghanistan becoming the first Canadian amputee to deploy to a war zone as a combatant.
Early years
Born in 1983 and raised in Quebec CityQuebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Quebec, he graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in 2006 with a Bachelor of Military and Strategic Studies
Strategic studies
Strategic studies is an interdisciplinary academic field devoted to topics concerning the relationship between politics, geography and natural resources, economics, and military power, such as the role of intelligence, diplomacy and threats in the preparation and use of force...
and from the University of Glasgow in 2011 with a Master of Science in Politics and International Replations. During the summer of 2005, he received an international exchange scholarship from the Canada Corps initiative launched by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) on behalf of the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). His research took place at the École de Maintien de la Paix, of Kulikovo, and the Institut de Recherche sur le Développement, of Bamako in Mali. He conducted research on Post-Conflict Security during a period of four months and participated in peacekeeping staff training initiatives.
Military career
Upon graduation, he was posted to the 3rd Battalion Royal 22e RegimentRoyal 22e Régiment
The Royal 22nd Regiment is an infantry regiment and the most famous francophone organization of the Canadian Forces. The regiment comprises three Regular Force battalions, two Primary Reserve battalions, and a band, making it the largest regiment in the Canadian Army...
in Valcartier, Quebec and quickly joined the deploying formation as a platoon
Platoon
A platoon is a military unit typically composed of two to four sections or squads and containing 16 to 50 soldiers. Platoons are organized into a company, which typically consists of three, four or five platoons. A platoon is typically the smallest military unit led by a commissioned officer—the...
commander. Mailloux was injured by an IED explosion on 16 November 2007 which killed two soldiers, an interpreter and wounded several others. Mailloux underwent several surgeries and months of rehabilitation. Following this, he was appointed Aide de Camp to the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
at Rideau Hall in Ottawa and participated in the Presidential visit of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to Ottawa, the 2009 visit to Haïti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
and the Emperor and Empress of Japan
Emperor of Japan
The Emperor of Japan is, according to the 1947 Constitution of Japan, "the symbol of the state and of the unity of the people." He is a ceremonial figurehead under a form of constitutional monarchy and is head of the Japanese Imperial Family with functions as head of state. He is also the highest...
visit to Canada. In 2009, he joined the Task Force Kandahar Headquarters as a Brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
staff.
Injured Soldier
Since February 2008, Mailloux appeared in many provincial and national media outlets explaining his experience and promoting the support of the Canadian Forces veterans. He was one of the first francophone soldier to be injured and played a similar role as Mcpl Paul Franklin from Edmonton, who was injured in January 2006, in becoming a nationally known advocate for serving amputee soldiers. On 2 March 2008, he participated in the popular Quebec talk show "Tout le Monde en ParleTout le monde en parle (Quebec)
Tout le monde en parle is a Quebec talk show hosted and co-produced by Guy A. Lepage, broadcast on Radio-Canada since 2004. It has been adapted from the French show of the same name, created and hosted by Thierry Ardisson.- Concept :...
" and was on the cover of the February 2008 edition of the magazine "L'Actualité
L'actualité
L'actualité is a Canadian French-language news and general interest magazine published in Montreal by Les Éditions Rogers, which is owned by Rogers Communications. The magazine has over a million readers, according to Canada's Print Measurement Bureau, from its circulation which is mainly...
".
Return to Afghanistan
When his return to Afghanistan was announced in September 2009 Mailloux made an appearance on the talk show Canada AMCanada AM
Canada AM is a Canadian breakfast television news show, which has aired on the CTV Television Network since 1972. It is currently hosted by Beverly Thomson and Seamus O'Regan, with Marci Ien reporting from the headline news desk and Jeff Hutcheson presenting the weather forecast and sports...
, the Quebec show "Dumont 360
Dumont 360
Dumont is a Canadian television series, launched in fall 2009 on V. Airing weekdays at 5 p.m. with the title Dumont 360 in its first season, the program moved to 10:30 p.m. and adopted its current title in fall 2010, after the network cancelled its sports talk series L'Attaque à 5.Hosted by Mario...
", the cover of Le Soleil
Le Soleil
Le Soleil is a French-language daily newspaper in Quebec City, Quebec. It was founded on December 28, 1896 and is published in compact format since April 2006...
newspaper, CBC Newsworld
CBC Newsworld
CBC News Network is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and...
, LA Times and many others. Capt Mailloux is also quoted in General Rick Hillier's
Rick Hillier
General Rick Hillier, CMM, MSC, CD , is the former Chief of the Defence Staff of the Canadian Forces. He held this appointment from February 4, 2005 to July 1, 2008. He retired on July 1, 2008, and was replaced by former Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk...
book, A Soldier First, as a "young wounded lieutenant that asked if he could return with his comrades" and as an "example of the junior leadership of the CF". Recently, Capt Mailloux was heralded by a Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg Free Press
The Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
editiorial as an example that a serious injury is not stopping a soldier from serving its country and that more place should be made for them.
Social involvement
Mailloux is frequently seen running the annual Army Run taking place in Ottawa along with other Canadian war veterans. He is also involved with the Canadian Forces Soldier On program in raising funds to buy adaptative equipment for wounded soldiers across the country. Mailloux has visited many injured soldiers in hospitals and rehabilitation centers in Edmonton, Quebec City and Ottawa and takes a continuing interest in activities for wounded soldiers.Sacrifice medal
On 9 November 2009, Capt Mailloux was among the 46 first recipients of the sacrifice medalSacrifice Medal
The Sacrifice Medal is a decoration that was created in 2008 as a replacement for the Wound Stripe, being gifted by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council, to members of the Canadian Forces or allied forces who were wounded or killed in action.-Design:The Sacrifice...
awarded at Rideau Hall by the Governor General of Canada.