Corporal Caylen Dorrington joined the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in 2014, after her parents convinced her to take advantage of the military's paid education program.
She started her higher education at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro in the animal science program, with a minor in zoology. She was working three jobs to pay for school when her parents—both retired military—mentioned the CAF option.
After making the leap, Corporal Dorrington completed her Aviation Systems Technician (AVN) training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Borden, Ontario, in 2016. Posted to 12 Wing Shearwater, Nova Scotia, in 2017, she was among the first wave of apprentices on the new CH-148 Cyclone helicopter.
Corporal Dorrington worked as the lead for the maintenance crew at 12 Air Maintenance Squadron (12 AMS), and was responsible for assigning jobs, gathering parts, and developing new technicians. When asked about her role there, she says, “These jobs could range from filling up the tires with nitrogen to changing the helicopter engine. A majority of the time, I have new techs working for me, and I am responsible for their development. I really enjoy teaching them.” Subsequently, she was posted to 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron and earned her Level A Certification.
During her time in Shearwater, she has been involved in the infrared testing on the Cyclone at CFB Valcartier, Operation Generation, and the 600-hour inspection of the aircraft, which included the first…
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