Master Corporal (Ret’d) Bettina Fuchs

Bettina Fuchs joined the military in 1985 to get her life in order and gain some financial stability. Her love of driving and the outdoors led her to a career as a Mobile Support Equipment Operator (MSEO). “It’s such a huge trade, there’s so many things you can do. (…) We drive everything from tractor trailers to buses – anything that has a job. Heavy equipment, VIP, troop carrying vehicles, air drone vehicles.”  Her chosen trade would take her around the world and make her a pioneer.

“At first, the boys didn’t want us there but we gained a lot of their respect. Our sister/brotherhood took off like wildfire.”

She was one of the first women drivers in the field platoons at CFB Petawawa in 1989. “At first, the boys didn’t want us there but we gained a lot of their respect. Our sister/brotherhood took off like wildfire.”

The next year, following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to the region. They joined the largest assembled international coalition of military forces since the Second World War. It would be the first conflict where Canadian women served in combat roles. Bettina Fuchs was one of them.

It was her first deployment and the experience changed her forever. She was stationed in Saudi Arabia where it was illegal for women to drive at the time. “We ended up not being able to do our jobs for the first week we were there, until the governments talked and decided that we weren’t women—we were soldiers.” Fuchs and her unit went to work and delivered water and aid to the people of Kuwait city. There, she witnessed the devastating consequences of war on the country’s most vulnerable populations. “To witness what another human being is capable of doing to another human being, especially their own people, it was pretty heartbreaking, to say the least.”

Not one to stand idly by, she went above and beyond her call of duty to help the locals, giving anything she could spare including food and clothes.

“To witness what another human being is capable of doing to another human being, especially their own people, it was pretty heartbreaking, to say the least.”

Fuchs was called upon to go overseas again during her military career. First to Cambodia in 1992 and then to Bosnia several times in the early 2000s. In both countries, she once again witnessed violence, poverty and sadness. Despite this and remaining true to herself, she dedicated her off-duty hours to helping the locals. In Bosnia, along with her comrades, she raised enough funds to provide a milking cow and chickens to a widow and her family, as well as send a young girl to school. She was awarded a Command Commendation in recognition for her dedication and deeds beyond the demand of normal duty.

Fuchs was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2006  and medically released from the CAF in 2009 after almost 25 years of service.

Little did she know that her biggest challenge still lay ahead. In 2012, she was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer in both breasts—and suffered a heart attack during chemotherapy. Despite these overwhelming obstacles, Fuchs came back stronger than ever and has been in remission since 2015. While most people would choose to relax and enjoy life after such hardship, Fuchs decided to face another challenge when she competed as part of Team Canada in the 2017 Invictus Games.

“The 2017 Invictus Games came along at a perfect time.” Rowing and archery—which she found meditative and therapeutic—got her back in shape to compete in the Games in Toronto. “It felt so good to be part of the family again. When you get out of the military, it’s very devastating.” Fuchs put on a solid performance for Team Canada. While her team ranked fifth at the finals for the team event, she took home the bronze medal in the individual women’s event for compound bow.

Fuchs is a woman pioneer in the Canadian Armed Forces and a true example of tremendous resilience—in uniform and as a civilian.

With courage, integrity and loyalty, Bettina Fuchs has left her mark. She is one of our Canadian Veterans. Discover more stories.