Article By: Capt Kyle Ho, RPOU(W) Operations Officer 2
Major (Maj) Jaemok Lee’s journey in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is a testament to discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Born in Korea, his values shaped early in his life growing up in a small town in Vancouver Island, B.C. From a young age, Jaemok displayed exceptional athletic ability, particularly in soccer and rugby. These formative years in sport would become the foundation for his leadership style, fostering teamwork, perseverance, and mental toughness. Leading by example and from the front qualities that would define his career.
In 2009, Jaemok was accepted into the Regular Officer Training Plan (ROTP) at the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC), where he pursued a degree in Civil Engineering. Throughout his four years at RMC, he remained highly engaged in sports, further developing the leadership, teamwork, and physical resilience that would support his military career. Upon graduating in 2013, Jaemok completed both the Basic Engineer Officer Course Phase 3 and Phase 4 as the top candidate, setting a strong foundation for his professional career. He was subsequently posted to 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER) at CFB Edmonton, where he served as a Troop Commander in 11 Field Squadron in 2014.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Jaemok pursued Combat Diver qualification in 2014. After successfully completing the demanding selection process, he was selected as the officer candidate from 1 CER and, following 12 weeks of intense training, earned Combat Diver Number 670, an achievement attained by only a select few. This was followed by a deployment on Operation UNIFIER in Ukraine, where he contributed to international training efforts.
Upon returning to Canada, Maj Lee served for two years as the Executive Assistant to the Commander of 3rd Canadian Division, continuing to demonstrate exceptional professionalism and initiative. In 2018, he successfully completed Special Operations Assaulter Selection and was offered an employment opportunity with the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). At a pivotal crossroads in his career, Jaemok chose to remain within the Canadian Army, prioritizing continued service in the conventional operational environment, which he believes is his true calling, while maintaining balance between his professional and personal life.
That same year, Jaemok represented Canada in the Aumangea Programme in New Zealand. It is an elite resilience and self-leadership program designed to push soldiers to their physical, mental, and emotional limits in austere and unpredictable environments. Embodying the very meaning of “Aumangea,” strength, courage, determination, resilience, and perseverance. Jaemok distinguished himself as the top candidate and was awarded the prestigious Les Ball Memorial Cup. Voted on by peers, the award recognizes the individual who best reflects the core warrior values of the program.
In 2019, Jaemok was posted to Vancouver as the Operations Officer for 39 Canadian Brigade Group (39 CBG), where his leadership continued to flourish. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key leadership role in Operation LASER, earning a Canadian Joint Operations Command (CJOC) Commander’s Commendation for his contributions. Promoted to his current rank in 2021, Jaemok returned to 1 CER as the Officer Commanding (OC) of 17 Armoured Engineer Squadron. Transitioning from a primarily dismounted background to an armoured role, he once again stepped outside his comfort zone. As Squadron OC, he led meaningful cultural and operational changes within the armoured engineer community and helped set the conditions for the deployments of armoured engineer capabilities to every rotations in Latvia in support of the multinational battle group on Operation REASSURANCE led by Canada. That same year, he deployed on Operation LENTUS during the British Columbia floods, earning a Joint Task Force West (JTF-W) Commendation for his leadership under demanding domestic conditions.
Jaemok’s personal drive extends well beyond his professional duties. In 2022, he decided to compete in the Exercise Mountain Man endurance event only a few days prior to the race to lead by an example and represent 1 CER. Jaemok completed the 50+ km race without prior preparation and finishing 4th overall, one of the best results in 1 CER history. Another reflection of his exceptional mental resilience and physical conditioning is completed the CAF Force Test and achieved platinum standard (Top 0.1%) multiple years in a row. In 2022, Jaemok took command of 12 Field Squadron before deployed to Latvia on Operation REASSURANCE, where he led engineering teams delivering critical infrastructure projects. His outstanding leadership earned him the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Commendation. Following his return, he served as an OC in 18 Administrative Squadron, where he tackled complex logistical and administrative challenges and again demonstrating his adaptability and commitment to mission success.
In 2023, Jaemok was selected as the Aide-de-Camp to the Deputy Commander of the United Nations Command in South Korea. While serving in a demanding staff role, he continued to pursue personal excellence linked back to his proud Korean heritage. He completed a 100 km endurance event in 14 hours and 48 minutes, finishing 17th overall, and consistently participated in marathons and half-marathons to maintain elite physical readiness. In late 2025, he achieved another milestone by completing the Basic Parachutist Course, further strengthening his qualifications for continued service in the operational stream.
“Jaemok is a humble warrior, and his relentless pursuit of excellence will inspire many like-minded individuals to follow him. I believe there are many Sapper Stories out there that deserve to be told, and I am grateful to have had the opportunity to share his. It was a privilege to serve alongside Jaemok and to witness firsthand the kind of leadership that is forged only through adversity.” This sentiment is shared by the author, who served as the 17 Armoured Squadron Sergeant-Major alongside Maj Jaemok Lee as part of the command team.Athlete, Warrior, Leader – The Sapper Story of Major Jaemok Lee (Asian Heritage Month Edition)