Lt.-Col. Glenn Moriarity has come a long way with the Prince Edward Island Regiment.
Fresh out of high school, he and a friend decided to join the regiment as part of the summer youth employment program.
At first, his position in the regiment was only part-time, but after finishing the eight-week program and going through basic training, he started on what would become a lengthy career.
On Sunday, the Charlottetown resident will take over as commanding officer of the regiment in a change of command parade that begins at 1:30 p.m. The ceremony will take about an hour.
As long as the weather co-operates, the change of command will take place in the parking lot at the Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown. If it rains, the parade will be moved back into the Queen Charlotte Armouries just down the road.
Moriarity will be taking over command of the regiment from outgoing commanding officer Steven Wynne.
Running the regiment is a job Moriarity is familiar with.
“This is my second tour as CO,’’ Moriarity said, referring to his last stint between 2005-08. “It’s an honour.’’
After joining the reserves, Moriarity was promoted to lieutenant in 1987 and held many positions in the regiment, including command of two reconnaissance squadrons and he was regimental second-in-command.
In 2001, he was appointed aide-de-comp to the lieutenant-governor and he was awarded the vice-regal commendation and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal.
In 2005, he was appointed as commanding officer of P.E.I. Regiment and, in 2011, he served as a provincial liaison officer with the Canadian Forces Liaison Council, a position he will hold until he takes over as commanding officer on Sunday.
In a twist of irony, Wynne will take over Moriarity’s role as liaison officer.
“It’s the role I had been doing for the past six years,’’ Moriarity said.
In addition, in 2007, during the war in Afghanistan, Moriarity had 15 members of the regiment go off and serve. He was involved in selecting and identifying troops.
Guests attending Sunday’s change of command parade are asked to be seated by 1:15 p.m.