Dover AFB reservists work to form Canadian sister squadron program

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Dover Air Force Base reservists spent Aug. 22-24 with Canadian Air Force members at the 8 Wing Canadian Forces Base Trenton as part of an effort to initiate a sister squadron program. 

The purpose of the first 512th Airlift Wing visit was to forge a partnership and identify training opportunities for flying, aerial port, airlift control and maintenance operations. 

A C-17 Globemaster III filled with 10 members from the 326th Airlift Squadron, 46th Aerial Port Squadron, 512th Airlift Control Flight and 712th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron flew to the Canadian base, two miles northeast of Trenton, Ontario, to meet with active-duty members of the 429 Transport Squadron and 2 Air Movements Squadron. 

The program was the brain child of 326th AS Commander Lt. Col. Craig LaFave. He said he developed the idea of pairing up with the Canadians while working as the 512th AW program integration officer transitioning the 326th AS to the C-17 in 2007 and 2008. However, a series of inspections in 2008 and early 2009 put the idea on the back burner until this summer, he said. 

Much like the 326th AS, the 429 TS has been flying the C-17 since the summer of 2007. 

The 429 TS is part of the 8 Wing, which is the heart of Canada's air mobility forces and is one of the largest Air Force bases in Canada. In addition to the C-17, 8 Wing also flies the CC-130 Hercules, CC-150 Polaris, the CH-149 Cormorant tactical transport search and rescue helicopter and the CC-144 Challenger, which transports VIPs, according to the unit's Web site. 

During the three-day venture, 326th AS Aircraft Commander Capt. Steve Churchill and his crew received a flight briefing Aug. 22 about air space protocols and procedures. The next day, the 326th AS aircrew flew a training mission consisting of low-level navigation, assault landing zone operations, tactical arrivals and departures in Canadian military airspace. 

"It's great for low-level flying," said Captain Churchill. "We benefited from this training, because we were able to fly procedures we can't typically conduct on the East Coast due to heavier air traffic." 

Future plans are to fly with 429 TS aircrews, said the captain. 

"The program will allow our crews and unit personnel to exchange unclassified tactics, techniques and procedures while building camaraderie with our Canadian allies," said Colonel LaFave. 

Members of the 46th APS and 512th ALCF met with 2 Air Movements Squadron members Aug. 24 and received a tour of their facilities. On average, the Canadian squadron processes 23 million pounds of freight and 42,000 passengers annually, according to the unit's Web site. 

"Anytime we can get together and train it will enhance our mutual operations, which are not all that different," said Maj. Aaron Spott, 2 AMS commanding officer. "We deploy to the same areas and share the same ramp space, so the more we know about each other's systems, the better we can work together." 

Senior Master Sgt. Dan Schultz, NCO in charge of the 46th APS ramp section, said he is looking forward to working with the Canadians. 

"We like this idea, because it's an excellent opportunity to jointly train together, which is beneficial for us, especially with an Operational Readiness Exercise next year and the Operational Readiness Inspection in 2011," said Sergeant Schultz. 

But this isn't the first time 512th AW reservists have trained with the Canadians.
 
"The Canadians have been down here this summer using our C-17 simulator, and my special projects office has sat down with them during the planning for these missions," said Colonel LaFave. 

The 512th ALCF and reservists from throughout 22nd Air Force participated in Maple Flag Exercise 42, held at Cold Lake Air Base, Alberta, Canada, from May 29 - June 14. 

The 512th AW's next trip to Canada is planned for Sept 12-14. 

"We hope we can continue a regular exchange, probably quarterly or semi-annually," said Colonel LaFave.