For Stonewall’s Captain Carter Bateman, serving his country while continuing to learn, travel and grow alongside others drives his commitment to the Canadian Armed Forces.
The 23-year-old joined the Royal Winnipeg Rifles as a Primary Reserve infantry officer at 19, during his first year of university. What began as a way to support his education soon became a calling.
“I quickly fell in love with the work and opportunities I have been given since I started working full time with CAF,” Bateman said.
Since his initial training, he has continued to complete his Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) at the University of Manitoba, with a focus in biomedicine. In 2022, he completed a 13-month CAF officer training program in New Brunswick. He went on to assume duties as a platoon commander in 2023 and 2024.
Bateman preparing for long range control with his exercise, Arctic Bison, in Carcross, Yukon
Bateman has also been called to support several emergency response operations in rural Manitoba, including wildfire suppression and evacuation assistance under Operation LENTUS, CAF’s response to natural disasters. Those deployments, he said, taught him how to sustain himself and others in difficult environments.
He now serves as the Operations and Plans Officer for the Arctic Response Company Group (ARCG) within 38 Canadian Brigade Group, supporting unit- and brigade-level cold-weather planning for operations and exercises in the High Arctic. Most recently, he served as Land Task Forces Commander on Operation NANOOK-NANAKPUT.
“I do this for the enjoyment and satisfaction of learning, working, and growing with others,” he said. “Service is duty and pride — it means showing up for a cause bigger than me, wearing a uniform that stands for trust, and trying to meet the standard set by those who served before us.”
Bateman emphasized that the CAF provides significant personal, professional and practical support to those who commit.
“The CAF gives me a lot — world-class leadership and technical training, access to fitness facilities, sports and competitions, travel and joint training with allied forces overseas, and a strong professional network and mentorship,” he said.
He is currently on a renewable three-year full-time service contract and receives:
Comprehensive health and dental coverage
Paid leave, including parental leave
Pension contributions
Mission-specific allowances, such as field and deployment benefits and income tax exemptions on eligible overseas operations
Access to subsidized housing and family support services
“The flexibility to move between part-time and full-time periods without leaving the organization is a big plus as well,” he added.
Bateman rappels into outpost location in Bylot Island, Nunavut
Bateman credits much of his leadership and resilience to his years playing hockey in Stonewall.
“Hockey gave me teamwork and clear communication, leadership, fast decisions under pressure, discipline, resilience, and a strong fitness base,” he said. “Managing gear, travel and schedules translated directly to kit prep, inspections and timelines in the CAF.”
What makes the work meaningful, Bateman says, is seeing effort translate into real-world impact.
“Purpose matters. You see your effort count on a larger scale. Helping a community on a hard day or watching a young soldier grow into a leader makes it worth it. The best moments are often what we call ‘type-two fun’ — tough in the moment, unforgettable afterward.”
He acknowledges the challenges — time away, harsh climates, physical demands — but relies on his team, routine and sense of purpose.
He is set to graduate with his BHSc in December 2025, a program that he says pairs well with his military work.
“Understanding the human body like a machine is so interesting to me — the interdisciplinary health aspects of taking care of your body and sharing that knowledge with others,” he said.
After graduation, two possible paths await:
• Begin a Master of Business Administration (MBA), which he says would strengthen his leadership roles within CAF, or
• Deploy to Germany for seven months for overseas support.
Further down the road, he may pursue a medical doctorate, but for now, he is focused on growing his experience.
“I want to be a well-rounded person, and to me that means being adaptable and learning as much as I possibly can while enjoying the things I do.”
As Remembrance Day approaches, Bateman will take part in the Royal Winnipeg Rifles ceremonial parade at Vimy Ridge Park in Winnipeg on Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m.
“For me, Remembrance Day means living up to the standards of earlier generations and knowing we stand on their shoulders,” he said. “There have been a lot of sacrifices, and we must honour them and remember the members who served for our country.”
