The motto of 8 Air Communication and Control Squadron (8 ACCS) from 8 Wing Trenton, Ont. is ‘Showing the Way,' and during Exercise Silver, the squadron lived up to its mantra.
Eleven squadron members deployed on Exercise Silver held February 9 to 13, 2009. It was the second of three major exercises for the RCMP-led Integrated Security Unity (ISU) held in preparation for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Although much of the exercise was conducted at the command post level (i.e., mock scenarios with few real assets) in the ISU, the Air Force conducted live scenarios and tested its capabilities in the mountainous British Columbia terrain.
8 ACCS deployed the MPN25 radar in an aerospace surveillance role to confirm radar coverage in a specific region. During the Olympics, the unit will bolster the air picture used by the Canadian NORAD Region (CANR) to guard against aerospace threats in the Vancouver and Whistler areas. 443 Maritime Helicopter Squadron from 12 Wing Shearwater, N.S., and 400 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (THS) from 1 Wing Kingston, Ont., flew dedicated flights to verify radar coverage, helping with the successful accomplishment of 8 ACCS's primary objective.
8 ACCS was also busy providing communications support to CANR, 400 THS and the military police detachments in Vancouver and Whistler on behalf of 1 Canadian Air Division.
The squadron members used this exercise to familiarize themselves with the local area in which they will be operating during the Olympics. Indicative of the truly integrated nature of the security operations, 8 ACCS received warm welcomes and excellent support from the local Municipality Office and the RCMP detachment that provided everything from close protection to snow clearing.
Now, one step closer to the Olympics, 8 ACCS is looking forward to Exercise Gold through which they, along with the RCMP and other security partners, will confirm Canada is ready for the Vancouver 2010 Games.
