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Members of 103 Search and Rescue Squadron from 9 Wing Gander, Newfoundland, are returning home after training with the Icelandic Coast Guard and local search and rescue teams from Feb. 9 to 12.
“We are proud of the men and women who serve fearlessly to make Canada a world leader in Arctic search and rescue,” said BGen David Lowthian, Deputy Commander, Force Generation, 1 Canadian Air Division. “The North Atlantic is a very challenging search and rescue environment, which makes it crucial to deepen our relationships with partners like Iceland in this region. This collaboration augments our interoperability, which strengthens our existing alliance.”
Nine Royal Canadian Air Force personnel along with a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter took part in multiple exercise scenarios, including training with the Icelandic Coast Guard vessel Thor. There were also inland and glacier search and rescue joint exercises with volunteers from local Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue teams.
“The Canadian Armed Forces is equipped with a great fleet of CH-149 helicopters and a highly trained group of airmen and airwomen,” said LGen Michael Hood, Commander, Royal Canadian Air Force. “The RCAF SAR force is something Canadians take pride in. Working alongside other Arctic countries active in SAR reminds us that we might wear different uniforms but we are all driven by the same motto ‘that others may live’. This invaluable training and partnership ensures we are better integrated if we were called upon to cooperate in the future.”
“This exercise has allowed the Icelandic Coast Guard and ICE-SAR to share with our Canadian partners our methods and experiences in overcoming the most challenging environment; the Arctic. We have greatly benefited from this joint exercise and have in our Canadian neighbours a strong partner in executing Arctic search and rescue,” said Cdr Senior Grade, Audunn Kristinsson, Deputy Chief of operations, Icelandic Coast Guard. “This training truly demonstrates the tenant of cooperation essential to our profession. We might be separated by thousands of kilometres, but we are joined in our desire to save lives.”
