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22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay was recognized for its unique place in the Royal Canadian Air Force when United States Army General Charles Jacoby Jr., who is the commander of NORAD and U.S. Northern Command, visited the northern Ontario base last month.
“What makes 22 Wing unique is its power in having both the training and operation squadrons co-located,” General Jacoby told to the air defence community on Dec. 9, 2013.
22 Wing, also known as the Canadian Air Defence Sector (CADS), is home to 21 Aerospace Control & Warning Squadron, which is responsible for the surveillance, identification, warning and control of Canadian aerospace, and 51 Aerospace Control and Warning (Operational Training) Squadron, which provides training to military and civilian personnel in support of 22 Wing’s mission to defend Canadians and protect national sovereignty.
During the town hall meeting, which was held at the Sergeant David L. Pitcher Building, home of the Canadian Air Defence Sector, General Jacoby expressed his pride in being a part of NORAD, a bi-national command.
“We share more than a border; we share sovereign interests,” he said. “Canada and United States are the only two countries in the world that do that.”
22 Wing is the only wing in Canada where airwomen and airmen from both nations work together 24 hours a day, seven days a week with one no-fail mission: the defence of North American airspace. It is a military organization unlike almost every other military command in the world as it comprises people from two independent, sovereign nations: Canada and the United States.
NORAD’s gem in the north is critical to the NORAD mission; 22 Wing guards the things Canadians and Americans value most – our loved ones, our liberties and our peace of mind.
“Canada’s capability cannot be replaced or duplicated by any other country in the world,” said General Jacoby. “That is something for 22 Wing to be proud of.”
