US and Canadian forces join for first live-fly homeland security exercise since Cold War

Photo By Capt. Brandon Shapiro | A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet that stands on alert during exercise Vigilant Shield 15 at 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, Oct. 25, 2014. The Vigilant Shield field training exercise is a bi-national NORAD Command exercise which provides realistic training and practice for American and Canadian forces in support of respective national strategy for North America’s defense. NORAD ensures U.S. and Canadian air sovereignty through a network of alert fighters, tankers, airborne early warning aircraft, and ground-based air defense assets cued by interagency and defense surveillance radars. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro/Released)  

GOOSE BAY, NL, CANADA

10.28.2014

Story by Tech. Sgt. Brandon Shapiro      

6th Air Refueling Wing

5 WING GOOSE BAY, Newfoundland - From Oct. 22-27, 2014, U.S. and Canadian forces partnered to conduct a series of homeland defense exercises that tested the bi-lateral partnership’s ability to thwart a series of potential threats, during Vigilant Shield 15.

Hosted by the Canadian Region of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, VS15’s focus was to tests NORAD’s aerospace and maritime warning strategies in unison with U.S. Northern Command’s homeland defense mission.

What is the importance?

USNORTHCOM and NORAD are charged with defending North America by outpacing all threats, maintaining faith of the people, and supporting them in times of great need. Exercises of this type and magnitude highlight strengths and locate targets of potential improvement.

“When you are dealing with the defense of North America and a wide variety of potential threats, readiness is imperative,” said Royal Canadian Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Roberts, Air Task Force commander.

“Having men and woman from the U.S. and Canada come together to practice lifelike scenarios creates a strong cohesiveness and strategic preparedness.”

Although specific threat venues were classified, sticking with the NORAD exercise objectives, units participating in VS15 focused primarily on air defense operations and tactics.

Included in the Force Training Exercise were U.S. KC-135 Stratotankers, E-3 AWACs, F-15 Eagles, two B-52 Stratofortress, U.S. and Canadian C-130 Hercules, and Canadian FC-18 Hornets. Amongst the nearly 600 support element personnel were Canadian and U.S. military police, U.S. Air Force combat communication and camera assets, and aircraft maintenance and ground equipment technicians.

“The planning and execution of an exercise of this magnitude takes months of planning,” said Roberts. “But, anytime you are able to work in a bi-national setting it’s extremely special and leaves you with a sense of pride.”

Exercise VS15 was conducted as a simultaneous three-part exercise participated by bases throughout the U.S. and Canada. This particular exercise marks the first time since the end of the Cold War that a combined U.S. Canadian bi-national force has been deployed to a forward operating location to conduct live-fly scenarios in support of homeland defense.

• Date Taken: 10.28.2014
• Date Posted: 10.28.2014 11:49
• Story ID: 146315
• Location: GOOSE BAY, NL, CA