District couple sign up as NATO peacekeepers

For Cpl. Christine Gellately and Bombadier Doug LeBlanc, travelling overseas has a different meaning than it would for most couples.
Gellately, of Devlin, and LeBlanc, from Watten, will be heading to Yugoslavia and Bosnia respectively as part of a NATO peacekeeping tour. She heads to Shilo, Man. to complete her training this Friday while he already left for the military base in Edmonton on Sunday.
LeBlanc is expected to head overseas in February, with Gellately departing around April. Both will be stationed there for about six months before coming home.
“[I’m going] for the life skills, I guess, for the experience,” LeBlanc said. “You’re going over to a different country and see what it’s like there so you appreciate more what you have here.”
“To be able to go and say I’ve been overseas on a peacekeeping mission–it’s the opportunity of a lifetime,” echoed Gellately.
“And they pay very well,” she chuckled.
Both are part of the same unit in the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserves. Gellately noted spots on peacekeeping tours are left open for reservists, and it was their brigade’s turn in the rotation to call up members.
LeBlanc was assigned a peacekeeping duty back in September as a driver with a rifle company of the 3rd Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. Gellately got the call just before Christmas although she doesn’t know what her duty will be until she completes her training.
“It is kind of a unique situation,” she said. “We’re both kind of local kids, both in the same unit, both dating, and both going overseas.”
“It’s a good go for us because we both wanted the tour and we both have it at the same time,” echoed LeBlanc. “We can both go together, and we come back, and that will be it.”
Still, the potential danger of serving in the Balkans hasn’t escaped them. Gellately said although she was very excited for LeBlanc when he got the call to go, she admitted part of her didn’t want him to go because of the safety issue.
The feeling was mutual for LeBlanc when Gellately received her call.
“There is a possibility of us getting hurt,” she admitted. “But when you weigh the benefits–mentally, physically, and financially–plus the experience, I think it’s worth it.”
“It’s the same as everything,” he agreed. “You can stay here and wonder what’s going on or you can go out and make things safe for everybody.
“It’s your choice.”