17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg,
Another December is upon us, and once again, we're scratching our heads wondering where the year went. But hey – time flies when you're having fun and tackling mission mandates with a group of consummate professionals like yourself - our 17 Wing/CFB Winnipeg Defence Team.
And goodness, did we get after it! With 8 integral and 22 lodger units, our list of 2024 accomplishments could fill a novel, but here are some highlights:
CFSSAT trained over 380 AMT and 330 SERE students and found creative ways to deliver Aeromedical Training despite the Hypobaric Chamber grounding.
17 OSS fixed standby UHF/VHF radios and introduced Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) capabilities, becoming the first OSS in the RCAF to do so.
17 MSS completed the MCU-MT uniform exchange for over 600 CAF personnel, integrated 75 new vehicles, processed over 100 releases, and handled more files than a busy law firm.
The RCAF Band conducted 96 performances, travelling as far as Normandy, France to showcase their talents.
RCSU(NW) enrolled 30 new Cadet Instructors and established a new Sea Cadet Corps in Alberta.
RPOU(W) improved road conditions at Springer Lake and patched back lanes within the north side RHUs.
17 MP Det excelled in community policing and even stopped an active assault in downtown Winnipeg.
MFRC served over 600 military families and provided over 1,100 individualized supports.
CFHA assigned RHUs to 88 new families and completed major renovations.
CF Met School modernized courses to meet future meteorological needs.
435 Sqn and 17 OSS played a significant role in OP LENTUS, evacuating over 2,100 people from Oxford House in just 48 hours.
And let's not forget the energy and effort of all Wing/Base members that made the 2024 RCAF Centennial Anniversary such a success with three events on our Wing alone.
These successes are just a glimpse into what makes a high-performing Wing. A key underlying contributor to our achievements is our integration of diversity and inclusion across backgrounds, culture, ranks, experience, and capabilities. A Wing that works together is a team that overcomes challenges and contributes to something larger than ourselves, which we do – every single day. The Wing Chief Warrant Officer and I couldn't be prouder to be part of this incredible cadre of humans. As we close out the year, we want to thank and congratulate the entire 17 Wing Defence Team for making 2024 all it could be. It's an honour to be serving you all.
On the heels of the RCAF's 100th anniversary, we have another exciting milestone next year: CFB Winnipeg's 100th Anniversary. We'll engage with the local community through Spring 2025 to celebrate this historic occasion. We hope you'll join us in celebrating this momentous event in our collective history.
So go wash your ugly sweater, buy those gift cards for people you don't know what to buy for, and mentally prepare to hang out with those bizarre relatives you only see once a year. And most importantly, take the time to relax and unwind – you deserve it.
On behalf of CWO Cousineau and myself, we wish you, your family, your friends and your pets a wonderful Holiday Season!
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