Master Corporal Bobby Bernard recently returned to PEI with his family: His partner, Sarah, and their two children, Austin and Jaylee.
Hello Bobby! Can you please tell me about your family.
I’ve been in the military since 2003. I got out a year and a half later, and then I got back in 2006. I’m with RCD and currently posted to PEIR. Both myself and my partner are Islanders so we’re thrilled to be posted back to the Island—we moved back to PEI in 2020. My partner (Sarah) and I have two kids, Austin is 15 and Jaylee is 13.
What does being a military family mean to you?
My kids are very proud of my military service, and our oldest is looking to join the military, as well. He wants to join the CAF when he’s old enough. We’re a patriotic family, and my children take Remembrance Day very seriously. It bothers us when people consider that day a “vacation.” The kids correct other kids using that phrasing.
Tell us about a few challenges about being a military family that either you’ve experienced now or you have in the past.
You would think that the answer would be postings and moving around but my kids love it. They’re already asking for the next posting.
I don’t know what the actual difficult part for us is. This is my first time ever with the reserves and so I’ve noticed differences between being reg force and reserves, wrt base offerings. We’re used to a certain level of support that doesn’t exist here, compared to a reg force base (e.g., healthcare, support).
Being on PEI, everything is spread out. We’re not on a base. Other MFRCs have rec centres and base culture…it’s just a bit different.
Tell us about some of the joys that come from being a military family.
Some of the perks that come from the military—sometimes I come home with random objects. And, I mentioned that we enjoy the postings.
When I first joined, it was a job away from the Island. I love it here, but I wanted a good paying career.
Can you speak to what the MFRC means to your family?
We haven’t really used the MFRC here yet. Maybe that might have to do wth the kids’ ages, now that they’re older. MFRC was a big part in Petawawa and Gagetown for us. It’s still nice to come in here though.