Families Welcomed at Fall Fair
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Volume 67, Issue 15 17 Wing Winnipeg / 17e Escadre Winnipeg 12 September 2018 The 17 Wing Community news source since 1952 Families Welcomed at Fall Fair Deanne Bennett, 17 Wing Personnel Support Programs Health Promotion Spe- cialist, quizzes Isabelle about her knowledge of 17 Wing PSP programs at the 17 Wing Fall Fair on Saturday, September 8. For our article and more photos please see page 7. Photo by Candace Maxymowich, Health Promotion Administrative Assistant. New 2 CAD New Canadians 17 MSS TEME: Around the Wing: After the War; Chaplain’s Corner: Commander Take Oath at Keeping the Photos from the Surviving PTSD The Most Potent Ready to Take 1 CAD/CANR Wing Moving Toonie Walk/Run, and Changing Prayer On Leadership Headquarters Forward 402 Sqn at Air Mental Health Role Show Culture Page 2 Page 4 Page 6 Page 8 Page 10 Page 15 THEVOXAIR.CA FACEBOOK.COM/THEVOXAIR FREE 2 VOXAIR 17 Wing Winnipeg 12 September 2018 2 CAD Commander Ready to Tell it Like it Is Upon completion of his Air Combat Sys- in June 2014 where he was the Commander of the tems Officer course in 1989, BGen Leblanc was Canadian Task Force Port-au-Prince and the Chief of posted to 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron in Staff for the military component of the United Nations Greenwood, Nova-Scotia. He completed his tour Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTHA). After 13 at 405 Squadron in 1994 and was then posted months deployed, he returned to Canada in July 2015 to the Canadian Forces Air Navigation School and was appointed as the Canadian Joint Operations in Winnipeg where he became an instructor for Command (CJOC) J5 Plans Officer. the Basic / Staff Air Navigator Course, as well Promoted in 2016 to his current rank, BGen Leb- as Standards Officer. lanc was appointed Deputy J3 U.S Pacific Command, In 1998, he proceeded to the Canadian Forc- in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he served for two years es School of Aerospace Studies to attend the until appointed as Commander, 2 Canadian Air Divi- Aerospace Systems Course. Upon graduation in sion. 1999 he was promoted to the rank of Major and He is also a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air War was posted to Ottawa to work within two proj- College in Maxwell, Alabama. ect offices; firstly, for the Project Management BGen Leblanc noted that he didn’t come from a mili- Office for Quality of Life, and in 2000 he moved tary family, except for a great uncle, from his mother’s on to the Project Management Office Aurora side, who was in the Second World War but he wanted where he was the manager for the Aurora main to be both an engineer and pilot from an early age. avionics systems components upgrade. “When the military recruiter came to our school, I He left Ottawa in 2003 to return to flying intercepted him on his way out in the parking lot as his Incoming 2 CAD Commander, BGen Mario Leblanc & Tina Leblanc dur- duties with 407 Squadron in Comox for three car was pulling away,” said BGen Leblanc. “He saw me. ing the 2 Canadian Air Division Change of Command from BGen David years. Upon completing his second flying tour That was a turning point in my life. My family wasn’t Cochrane to BGen Mario Leblanc on August 9, 2018 at 17 Wing. Photo: MCpl Justin Ancelin, 17 Wing Imaging in 2006 as the Squadron Deputy Commanding too impressed. I was 17 years old at the time. They Officer, he was selected to attend the Advanced actually tried to convince me to do otherwise.” by Martin Zeilig, Voxair Photojournalist Command and Staff College course in the But, that all changed when they saw the graduation Being in a leadership role suits Brigadier-General United Kingdom, where he obtained a Master of Arts parades and the kind of career he could have, he added. Mario Leblanc, who was appointed the Commander 2 with Merit in Defence Studies and was promoted to “They became very supportive,” BGen Leblanc said. Canadian Air Division in August 2018, just fine. Lieutenant-Colonel. He returned to Canada in the sum- He calls 2 CAD a young organization. He says making those tough decisions in a fair man- mer of 2007 and was employed for one year at NDHQ “It’s just about to turn ten years old,” BGen Leblanc, ner are part of the job as your career advances in the within the directorate of Air Force Readiness for the who emphasized that traveling to different parts of the Canadian Armed Forces. Chief of the Air Staff. world as a member of the CAF has been a career high- “I always tell folks it gets a little harder as you go In 2008, BGen Leblanc returned to Comox to take light too, said. “My goal is to continue what has been up in rank, it becomes a bit lonelier,” BGen Leblanc, command of 407 Long Range Patrol Squadron where achieved already; and to grow it, as well as the impor- who was born in Vanier, Ontario, said during an inter- he oversaw the Squadron’s preparations, training and tance of 2 CAD. It’s about training. My goal is to make view in his second floor office at 2 CAD in late August. flying operations in support of security for the Vancou- sure that this is well understood-- that people continue “I always tell people, I will always be honest. I don’t ver 2010 Olympics. In the summer of 2010, he moved to to see 2CAD as the core training establishment for the want to cause rumors. They cause too much instability. Colorado Springs where he was employed for one year RCAF. I’m looking forward to the challenges and the I will try my very best to be present and try to commu- in the Plans, Policy and Strategy Division of NORAD opportunities.” nicate. You will always have honesty from me. I won’t HQ. Promoted Colonel in 2011, BGen Leblanc was BGen Leblanc also appreciates living in Winnipeg, a sugarcoat things. I will say it like it is. I’ll be acces- appointed the Combined Aerospace Operations Centre city with, in his words, so much to offer. Along with his sible.” director at the 1 Canadian Air Division headquarters in wife, Tina, he has three daughters, one granddaughter BGen Leblanc joined the Canadian Armed Forces Winnipeg. and two miniature schnauzers. in 1983 under the Regular Officer Training Plan and In July 2012, BGen Leblanc arrived in Cold Lake “The prairies are unique,” he offered. I love the big graduated in 1988 from the Royal Military College of and took over command of the Aerospace Engineering old trees. I met my wife here. The city has a lot culture, Canada, Kingston with a Bachelor degree in Mechani- Test Establishment (AETE) and was nominated the a lot of various food. A lot of entertainment, ballet, sym- cal Engineering, notes his biography. Flight Test Authority for the RCAF. After 22 months as phony, skating on the river.” the Commanding Officer of AETE, he went on to Haiti Grizzlies Take the Gonzo to Air Show Atlantic by 2Lt Becky Major, 17 Wing Public Affairs tinct protruding nose. “This isn’t like any Dash-8 I’ve seems that using a John Deere tractor to tow aircraft is From August 24 – 26, a crew from 402 “City of Win- ever flown in!” was a comment heard from many spec- a regular procedure for the islanders. In fact, the same nipeg” Squadron attended the Air Show Atlantic in Sum- tators. Although the aircraft is known by the nickname tractor was used to tow the much larger United States merside, Prince Edward Island with the CT-142 Dash-8. “Gonzo”, it seemed the younger crowds had a different Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker the next day. But, for the Audiences were lining up down the tarmac to see inside idea, “It’s like Pinnochio!” they said. 402 Squadron technicians, it was something to remem- of the aircraft, and were especially curious about its dis- The Air Show Atlantic draws crowds from across ber. Canada and rotates between Prince Edward Island, For all members of the team, the trip to Prince Ed- THE VOXAIR New Brunswick and Nova Scotia every summer to offer ward Island was a great experience highlighted by kind a top notch show for audiences of all ages. Along with people and delicious seafood. Captain Jen Finateri, one OFFICE HOURS CONtact the Dash-8, there were displays from other Royal Ca- of the pilots, said it best – “I think my favourite part was Monday to Friday Ad Sales/Main Office Submissions/Reporter nadian Air Force (RCAF) aircraft including the highly probably all the people. Everyone was just so friendly!” 0800 -1500 hrs (204) 833-2500 ext 4120 (204) 833-2500 ext 6976 anticipated CH-148 Cyclone from 12 Wing Shearwater, [email protected] Accounting +VOXAIR@PersSvcs@Winnipeg a CH-146 Griffon from 14 Wing Greenwood and a CC- (204) 833-2500 ext 4121 150 Polaris from 8 Wing Trenton. There were also per- VOXAIR Staff formances from the Skyhawks, the Snowbirds, and the LCol Brian Quick Martin Zeilig Broose Tulloch CF-18 Demo Team. Dep Wing Commander Photojournalist Layout/Ad Design (204) 833-2500 ext 5281 (204) 833-2500 ext 6976 The air show ran through Saturday and Sunday, but Misra Yakut Rick Harris Maureen Walls Accounting Saturday’s show was followed by a special tasking for Managing Editor Sales Coordinator 402 Squadron.