A message from the 17 Wing Commander
Colonel Jody Hanson, CD, US LOM
Dear Members of 17 Wing and CFB Winnipeg,
It is incredible that it is almost the end of March already. I know many of us are feeling the squeeze right now during the Fiscal Year- end “silly season.” In an effort to be grateful for the small things, I highlight that it is the unofficial start of above zero temps and Spring is on the horizon. Time to dust off those RCAF baseball caps and store our parkas!
The last quarter has seen incredible efforts and accomplishments from all of you across the Wing/Base. In case you weren’t aware, our Defence Advisory Groups (DAGs) have been instrumental in fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, earning 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg a reputation as a leader in DAG efforts. This was expressed multiple times during their annual National Conference. Please join me in thanking them for all that they do to make our workplace feel welcoming and respectful to all members.
In January, the Wing and Integral Unit Command Teams discussed several important topics at the Wing Commander's Strategic Retreat, and I am excited to announce the development of an annual Wing Professional Development (PD) program. More details to follow, but it will incorporate monthly events covering a wide variety of topics, and all will be invited to attend. We have updated the Wing/Base’s Mission, Vision and Priority statements, which you can find on the 17 Wing DWAN website. We also discussed a number of base infrastructure issues and are working on assessments and advocacy products to communicate needs and impacts to higher headquarters. We will continue to send that message up the chain to be your voice.
We are thrilled that over 40 Wing/Base members were recognised with the King Charles III Coronation Medal. The CAF demands a lot from you – multiple roles and responsibilities, time away from your family and friends, and more – and yet you continue to show relentless dedication and loyalty to the service of your country. Congratulations again. Please pat yourselves on the back for this; you should all be very proud of yourselves.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to attend the 3-day Character Application Transformation (CAT) Course delivered by Barker College, I encourage you to do so. This course is gaining momentum and attention across the RCAF Divisions and even the Canadian Defence Academy as well. BRAVO ZULU to the members of Barker College for developing this course from scratch and delivering it; they are leading the way with respect to Character Based Leadership development. Yet another example of excellence at 17 Wing/ CFB Winnipeg!
Finally, I will sign off by mentioning the CFB Winnipeg 100th Anniversary campaign, which will run from 01 Apr 25 – 30 Jun 25. My heartfelt gratitude goes out to the CFB Winnipeg 100th Anniversary Committee for their tireless organizing efforts thus far. Our work is not over yet, but you have established the foundational planning for success. I encourage all Wing/Base members to check out further details on VOXAIR and participate in as many events as you can. A 100th birthday only happens every 100 years – this is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity to celebrate you as 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg members!
Thank you to each and every member of 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg for your unwavering dedication and hard work. Together, we will continue to achieve great things and be the Best Wing/Base in the RCAF.
Regards,
Col Jody Hanson
Voxair has been the official Winnipeg military community news source since 1952. The name derives from the Latin word "vox" meaning voice and "air" from the Royal Canadian Air Force, combining to establish the Voice of the Air Force.
Managed by the Corporate Services team, Voxair represents CFB Winnipeg/ 17 Wing and is the central source of local information for the CAF community.
Currently, Voxair operates on Facebook and Instagram under the channel name @Voxair.
17 Wing is situated at Canadian Forces Base Winnipeg and operates under the command of 2 Canadian Air Division. It plays a vital role in generating, delivering, and sustaining air missions to support the mandate of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and offers assistance to Lodger Units and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The wing is responsible for providing fundamental aircrew training, specialized education, and environmental skills training for aircrew members.
Functioning as a support base, 17 Wing offers administrative, operational, and logistical support to over 113 units situated across 35 locations and 10 armouries spanning a wide geographic area. Additionally, 17 Wing serves as a Deployed Operations Base for NORAD fighter operations, including the CF-18 Hornets, as needed. The wing takes pride in supporting both 1 and 2 Canadian Air Divisions as lodger units.
