Aircrew at 19 Wing Comox gain experience in major exercise
Training is to the military as Ron MacLean is to Don Cherry on Coaches Corner; one doesn’t come without the other.
Launching missiles, evading torpedoes, communicating with allied vessels and aircraft; these are not the types of things you make up as you go along. That is why 19 Wing Comox was among the diverse list of participants in the Canadian-led Exercise Trident Fury, the largest integrated air, land and sea training exercise ever seen on B.C.’s West Coast, from May 8 to 19, 2006.
Approximately 20 aircraft operated out of 19 Wing Comox, including CF-18 Hornets from 416 Squadron in Cold Lake, CP-140 Auroras from 407 (MP) Squadron at 19 Wing Comox, and a NATO AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control Force) from Squadron 2 E3A Component, Geilenkirchen, Germany.
“19 Wing Comox played a vital role in Exercise Trident Fury,” said Wing Commander, Colonel Jon Ambler. “We are the only air force base on Canada’s west coast which makes us a major staging area for military aircraft and aircrews.”
For two weeks these aircrews supported the war scenario being played out in the air, land and waters of the Canadian west coast. Vancouver Island was split into three countries. In the north was Orange country, the bad guys, a communist nation which threatened neighbouring nations with its massive military capabilities. To the south, the countries Green and Brown, republic nations that believed in democracy. Green and Brown, along with other surrounding simulated countries, appealed to the United Nations to apply political pressure on Orange. For training purposes, it didn’t take long before war broke out.
Aircrews from the CF-18s, Auroras and the NATO AWACS played roles on both sides of the war throughout the exercise. The CF-18s conducted missions such as Combat Air Patrol in which they simulated the protection of ships and territory as both friendly and enemy forces. In addition, the fighter crews simulated attack formations while working with allied air forces and simulated attacks on the navy off the West coast of the island. They also worked with army units in the mountains simulating attacks on enemy ground forces.
The experience gained by the fighter pilots was invaluable. “We draw lessons out of each mission so that we can analyse our tactics and continuously improve our results in all of the operations that we are involved in,” said CF-18 pilot Capt. Jonathan Totti. “The benefits of this type of exercise for us are to gain exposure to working with the navy command and control network as well as improving our joint operations capability.”
The Auroras participated in Trident Fury as a surface and sub-surface warfare asset. “Five crews and three Auroras were fully committed throughout the ten-day exercise to maximize training in large scale fleet operations,” said Major Joe Cecic, Deputy Commanding Officer of 407 Squadron. “Exposure to coordinated operations provided our crews with the vital experience necessary to allow them to operate effectively in the defence of Canada and in coalition with allied forces worldwide.”
The NATO AWACS provided strategic air surveillance and fighter control in support of air and maritime operations. Their participation in the multinational exercise allowed the diverse crew to train together while working with allied forces. The 17-person AWACS crew is drawn from 12 of NATO’s 26 nations. Canadian airman, Major Steve Ellis was posted from 19 Wing to the squadron in February 2006. “I’m a new arrival to the NATO AWACS so I’m still undergoing training for the Tactical Director position,” Major Ellis remarked. His exposure to Exercise Trident Fury has been of great benefit to this training.
In all, some 2,000 personnel were involved in the exercise including naval, air and land forces from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, NATO and Australia.
As in the past, Canadian men and women in uniform train so that when called upon, they can secure the freedom of this country and offer peace-support to other nations. The Canadian Forces asserts that its soldiers, sailors, airmen and women are among the highest trained in the world. It is exercises such as Trident Fury that adds credibility to our military professionals.
