The 3 Canadian Forces Flying Training School's change of command parade took place yesterday at Southport, as Lieutenant-Colonel Scott Mutton handed command to Lieutenant-Colonel Marc-Antoine Fecteau. 

Marc-Antoine Fecteau, incoming Commandant

Fecteau shares how he feels about the new position.

"It's a very good feeling. The stress now is gone. It's more the excitement of the new job. Because there's always a little bit of stress when we have to do a parade in front of everybody, especially when the centre of the attention is you. I like challenges. The school has its own challenge because it's all officers. We have a lot of new trainees that come through. The training system is always something that changes all the time. I'm going to enjoy flying also, because I haven't flown in three years."

Scott Mutton, former Commandant

He notes it's a return for him to Southport.

"I came here for training. I got my wings here as a helicopter pilot, and I was in Maritime Helicopter. I flew Sea Kings on both coasts. I started on the west coast. I did a little bit of time in Ottawa as a staff officer, and then went back on the east coast again as a detachment commander, and went to sea quite a bit. And afterwards I was chosen -- one of the few -- to do staff college outside of Canada. And I was chosen to go to Germany."

After having earned his wings here, and now positioned as commandant, he says it's something he didn't predict at the beginning.

"From the start of my career I've always said that life is too short to be unhappy. If something doesn't make you happy, you shouldn't do it. I knew I was going to be happy in the military, but I never thought I would have a full career in the military. You get in, and you say, 'Okay, I'll do my mandatory service.' Then you say, 'Hmm, 20 years doesn't look so far.' Then you go 20 years. Now I have 24 years of service, and there are so many different avenues in the forces that you can actually have a nice career."