Mike enrolled in The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada in March 1970 and followed his basic courses, advanced trade courses and leadership courses at CFB Valcartier. He was promoted to Master Corporal in 1972, appointed Lance Sergeant in 1974, Sergeant in 1976, Warrant Officer in 1979 and Master Warrant Officer in 1984. Mike was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer and appointed as Regimental Sergeant Major of The Black Watch (RHR) of Canada in September 1987.

Following his term as RSM, Mike transferred to the Eastern Area Battle School at CFB Valcartier as the School CWO from September 1990, until December 1991. In January 1992 he was transferred to Quebec District Number 1 Headquarters and appointed the District Chief Warrant Officer, which he held until the new 34 Canadian Brigade Group was stood up in April 1997, where he was subsequently employed as the school/standards CWO for the 34 Canadian Brigade Group School.

In January 1998, Mike was transferred to NDHQ where he reported to BGen. Quinn, Reserve Advisor to the Chief of the Land Staff. In this appointment, he was responsible for NCM training and related projects. In September 1999 he was transferred to Land Forces Doctrine and Training System HQ in Kingston and was responsible for issues relating to reserve NCM Career progression, individual training and course content with particular attention to leadership courses for reserves.

Mike was appointed the first Army Reserve Chief Warrant Officer by the Chief of the Land Staff, LGen Leach on 1 July 2000, where he reported to BGen Herb Petras, Director General Land Reserve, regarding policies and related issues of concern for NCMs, in particular Class "A" reservists. Mike?s appointment as ARCWO saw him work on issues and concerns within Land Staff Headquarters in Ottawa as well as travelling across Canada to the four Land Force Areas. He was also a member of the Command Chief Warrant Officers group, which represents all formation CWO within the Canadian Army.

Mike answered the call to duty again and accepted an appointment as the Regimental Sergeant major of the Canadian Grenadier Guards in November 2004, serving until his retirement from the Canadian Forces in 2006.

Mike was married in Lahr Germany in 1976 to Patricia Houghton, and they have one child, Jamie Christopher Houghton Kelly.

In his spare time, Mike was involved with the Pointe Claire Amateur Soccer Association as a coach and manager for Jamie's house league team and the All-Star team. He also volunteered as a Scout Leader with the Valois United Group of Scouts Canada.

Tragically, Mike passed away on the morning of 16 August 2012 following a work-related accident.

Details to follow

We will miss our dear friend but will have some good memories. We remain always there for Pat and Jamie - as Mike would have wanted. RIP brother - you will not be forgotten!

Sympathies to the family and friends.. Allways had a ton of respect for him.. was a great mentor and senior NCO.. Will be missed by many..

JUST A SIMPLE SOLDIER

Author Unknown

He was getting old and paunchy and his hair was falling fast

And he sat around the Legion telling stories of the past,

Of a war that he had fought in and the deeds that he had done

In his exploits with his buddies; they were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors, his tales became a joke,

All his buddies listened, for they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, for old Jim has passed away

And the world's a little poorer, for a soldier died today.

No he won't be mourned by many, just his children and his wife,

For he lived an ordinary very quiet sort of life,

He held a job and raised a family, quietly going on his way;

And the world won't note his passing; 'tho a soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, their bodies lie in state,

While thousands note their passing and proclaim that they were great,

Papers tell of their life stories from the time that they were young,

But the passing of a soldier goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution to the welfare of our land

Some jerk who breaks his promise and cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow who in times of war and strife

Goes off to serve his Country and offers up his life?

The politician's stipend and the style in which he lives

Are sometimes disproportionate to the services he gives,

While the ordinary soldier, who offered up his all,

Is paid off with a medal, and perhaps a pension small.

It's so easy to forget them, for it was so long ago

That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's went to battle,

but we know It was not the politicians, with their compromise and ploys,

Who won for us the freedom that our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger with your enemies at hand,

Would you really want some cop-out with his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a soldier who has sworn to defend

His home, his kin, and country, and would fight until the end?

He was just a common soldier and his ranks are growing thin

But his presence should remind us, we may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict, then we find the soldier's part

Is to clean up all the troubles that the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor while he's here to hear the praise,

Then at least let's give him homage at the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline in the paper that might say:

OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY.