Commanding Officer 48th Highlanders of Canada 1989 – 1992
Deputy Commanding General Combined Security Transition Command (Security Reform) 2006 – 2007
Commander 32 Canadian Brigade Group 1997 – 2000
Commander Land Forces Central Area – 2005
BGen Greg Young joined the the 48th Highlanders of Canada under the Student Militia Training Programme in 1964. In 1969 Sgt Young was attached to 2 PPCLI and deployed to West Germany as the Assault Pioneer Platoon Sergeant in Combat Support Company. He served in every sub-unit of the Regiment and completed sixteen years as an NCO serving as Company Sergeant Major “C” Coy. In 1980 he was commissioned to the rank of Captain and appointed OC “C” Coy and given responsibility for introducing the Armoured Vehicle General Purpose (AVGP) Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and mechanized infantry operations into The Regiment. As OC “C” Coy expanded the Regiment’s successful training exchange with the 107th Armoured Cavalry Regiment USANG deploying a fully mechanized Combat Team to support their operations in 1985. For his work with the National Guard, he was awarded the Army National Guard Commendation Medal. Promoted to the rank of Major in 1984 he was appointed Unit Operations Officer in 1986. From 1987 to 1988 he was attached to Toronto District Headquarters and tasked to create the District Battle School, which he subsequently commanded. He returned to his Regiment in 1988 as Deputy Commanding Officer (DCO). One year later he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer. As Commanding Officer, BGen Young commanded an Armoured Battle Group during the first Total Force FTX, Exercise On Guard 90 in that same year. During his tenure as CO, he led the Regiment through its 100th Anniversary celebrations culminating with a trooping of new Colours in 1991.
He relinquished command of his Regiment. In 1992 he was transferred to Land Forces Central Area (LFCA) HQ, as Senior Staff Officer (SSO) Land Force Restructure and principal planner for the 10/90 Infantry Battalion project. On completion of this tour, BGen Young returned to Toronto District HQ and served as G1 (Personnel), Deputy Chief of Staff (DCOS) Support, Ops and as Deputy Commander. He was promoted to Colonel and assumed command of the newly formed 32 Canadian Brigade Group in June of 1997. He commanded Task Force Central Area during Op Abacus in 1999. Upon completion of his tour as Commander of 32 Brigade in 2000 he was appointed Assistant Chief of Staff (ACOS) of LFCA HQ. Subsequently in 2001, he was promoted to Brigadier-General and appointed Deputy Commander of LFCA. In January 2005, BGen Young assumed Command of LFCA, only the second Reservist in LFCA to do so. Upon relinquishing command of LFCA in Oct 2005, he was appointed the first Doomed Land Forces Doctrine and Training Systems (LFDTS) in Kingston. In Nov 2006 BGen Young deployed to Afghanistan as the Deputy Commanding General of the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (DCG CSTC-A) a formation of US Central Command (CENTCOM) . As DCG (Security Sector/Police Reform), he was responsible for the manning, training, equipping and coordinating allied support to all Police Forces within the Afghan National Security Forces. For his service in Afghanistan BGen Young was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM). He was also appointed an Officer of the United States Legion of Merit and the The Baryaal Darajaah Dow Medal (2nd Grade). He retired from the Canadian Army Reserve on his return from Afghanistan in Fall 2007.
In civilian life, BGen Young retired from the Toronto District School Board after 35 years as a teacher and Department Head of History. He is the founder and Chair of the 15th Battalion Memorial project which has created 10 monuments to the Regiment’s First World War service and continues to chronicle and archive their achievements.
