Feb. 4, 2004
By MWO Normand Marion, 16 Wing
On Monday 26 January, Lieutenant-General Ken Pennie, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), visited 16 Wing to get familiar with training facilities and, more importantly, to meet its personnel. The CAS spent the day being briefed and touring sections at Wing Headquarters, at the Canadian Forces School of Aerospace Technology and Engineering (CFSATE), and at the Air Command Professional Development and Training Centre (ACPDTC). He also took this opportunity to visit the Air Annex of the Base Borden Military Museum, which is located inside one of the base's historic hangars.
One of the highlights of the day was an all-ranks Town Hall meeting at the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants'/Chief and Petty Officers' Mess for the benefit of all members of the local Air Force community. LGen Pennie presented several medals and decorations during this event.
During the Town Hall meeting, the CAS answered questions from the troops and discussed current issues. He explained that the Canadian Forces have experienced a long period of cuts since the end of the Cold War, and that in fact, the Air Force has been cut in half. "And as you know well, our operational tempo has not diminished; on the contrary, it has gone up."
He stated that the Air Force could not have made it through that period without the professionalism and dedication of the men and women in uniform. He explained that this is why, at the end of the 1990s, when the Air Force went through the worse phase of these cuts, it was decided to begin by addressing the personnel's quality of life issues, like pay and benefits. "But now, it's time to tackle the operational quality."
LGen Pennie discussed other on-going issues and future programs such as the role of Air Reserves and some of the possible options in the acquisition of new strategic airlift capability. He stated that the problems with older aircraft and lack of spare parts would not be resolved quickly. "There is no simple solution," he concluded. "This will take time."
