Darla Oja
Lieutenant-Colonel Darla Oja is a Canadian Canadian Armed Forces officer based in Thunder Bay, Ontario, who rose from private to Lieutenant-Colonel over a career spanning more than 27 years.
Career
Oja enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces in 1992 as a private, working as a Mobile Support Equipment Operator with 16 (Saskatchewan) Service Battalion. She transferred to 18 (Thunder Bay) Service Battalion in 1996, rising to Master Corporal as a Dispatcher.
Promoted to Sergeant in 2003, she transferred to 736 Communication Squadron as Training NCO until 2009. In 2006 she deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as Operations NCO on Operation Althea. Receiving her Lieutenant's commission in 2009, she served as Adjutant of 736 Communication Squadron until 2013.
From 2013 to 2015 she served as Area Reserve Standards Officer for the Western Area Training Centre, covering 38 Canadian Brigade Group. In 2015 she became Officer Commanding 18 Service Company and was promoted Major. She served as National Command Element J1 for RIMPAC 16 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was appointed Deputy Commanding Officer of 38 Service Battalion in 2017. That same year she deployed as Joint Task Force Deputy Commanding Officer for Operation Nanook-Nunalivat in Rankin Inlet.
Oja was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in June 2019 and appointed Commanding Officer of 38 Service Battalion.
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Enrolled Canadian Armed Forces 1992 as private, working as Mobile Support Equipment Operator in 16 (Saskatchewan) Service Battalion. Served across Canada from Dundurn, Wainwright, and Vernon Cadet Training Centre in British Columbia fighting forest fires in Penticton. Transferred to 18 (Thunder Bay) Service Battalion (1996), rising to Master Corporal as Dispatcher. Promoted to Sergeant (2003), transferred to 736 Communication Squadron as Training NCO until 2009. Deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as Operations NCO on Operation Althea (2006). Received Lieutenant's commission (2009), served as Adjutant 736 Communication Squadron until 2013. Area Reserve Standards Officer 2013-2015 for Western Area Training Centre covering 38 Canadian Brigade Group. Returned to Service Battalion 2015 as Officer Commanding 18 Service Company, promoted Major 2015. Served as National Command Element J1 for RIMPAC 16 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Assumed Deputy Commanding Officer 38 Service Battalion (2017). Deployed as Joint Task Force Deputy Commanding Officer for Operation Nanook-Nunalivat in Rankin Inlet, Inuit (2017). Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel June 2019, appointed Commanding Officer 38 Service Battalion.