Saskatchewan soldier receives national recognition

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A military paratrooper with northern Saskatchewan roots has been named as the first-ever Canadian Airborne Soldier of the Year.

Master-Corporal Travis Hegland received the award July 2 at the Petawawa, Ont. army base, moments after static line parachuting 1,200 feet from the bowels of a Hercules aircraft. As his father Rodney watched from a seat near the back door of the plane, Travis landed on the grass, ran toward the crowd and was immediately tackled by some of Canada's pioneering paratroopers. A large bronze trophy in a glass case was pulled out of the grass and presented to Travis, as his stepmother Eleanor caught the scene on video.

It was an overwhelming moment for both Travis, who grew up in the La Ronge area, and his father Rodney, a former Lac La Ronge Indian Band councillor. "I can't even describe the feeling,"

Rodney said, just hours after witnessing both the jump and, far below, the award presentation, which were part of the 100th anniversary celebrations at Petawawa. The event was organized as a reunion of airborne soldiers from across Canada, including those who had served as far back as the Second World War.

"I'm extremely proud, and grateful and thankful to my son, not only for his willingness to pursue it or his abilities, but just for turning out to be the man he is," Rodney said. "He's turning out to be a son every father could be proud of."

That assessment was shared by Allan Peterson, chair of the airborne forces reunion. "He certainly is an example of what one would hope every airborne soldier would look like and act like,"

Peterson said. "I was very impressed by him."

Travis, a nine-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, is currently based out of Edmonton as a member of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) 3rd battalion. In 2002, he served a tour of duty in Afghanistan, where his unit suffered four casualties after being hit in a mistaken bombing attack by a U.S. pilot. Travis was just a few feet away from the impact zone when the bomb killed his comrades.

Three years later, Travis' spirits were far higher than on that desperate day, as he celebrated his selection by the Canadian Airborne Forces Association (CAFA) as Airborne Soldier of the Year.

In order to be chosen as the inaugural award recipient, Travis had to beat out four other top applicants. Each of Canada's three military parachute companies, the reserve company based in Toronto, and the Canadian Parachute Centre in Trenton, Ont., where Travis is currently completing his military freefall course, named their top candidates, and then the candidates were ranked by a committee in 10 categories for a maximum total of 200 points. Major categories included physical fitness, aggressiveness, leadership, field work, and airborne (parachuting) skills.

"I'm quite ecstatic," Travis said. "It's the first time this award's been given out and it's very prestigious, so for me to get it, it's an honour ... (I'm) just a little small town boy, and I'm on top of the world right now."

After the weekend ceremonies, Travis returned to his studies at the Canadian Parachute Centre, where his trophy will be on permanent display. He is currently a parachuting instructor, which allows him to train jumpmasters-those who supervise and assist other paratroopers before a jump. During the reunion, he played the role of jumpmaster for the jump from the Hercules, and also participated in a freefall demonstration.

"It was very exciting," said Eleanor. "They've got a lot of skilled people in the army, and the money they spend on training them really showed up there."

"It was my first time ever seeing him jump out of a plane, so that was really exciting," said Candice Mineau, Travis' fiancee, who also attended the celebrations in Petawawa. "He really deserves this award, because he does good with his job-he's awesome with his job ... I know it really means a lot to him, and I'm proud of him."

While Travis work has taken him away from La Ronge, Eleanor feels that he can still be a strong role model for young northerners.

"Everybody (at the celebrations) was very excited, and they're really proud of him," she said. "It's nice to know that (even if) you come from a small town, that you can achieve big things ... You can leave home and follow your dreams."