WEBVTT

00:00:05.250 --> 00:00:07.333
I'm Captain Simon Wilson
from Calgary, Alberta.

00:00:07.333 --> 00:00:10.791
I'm an Air Combat Systems Officer
at 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron

00:00:10.791 --> 00:00:12.375
in Shearwater, Nova Scotia.

00:00:17.541 --> 00:00:20.583
Air Combat Systems Officers, or ACSOs,

00:00:20.583 --> 00:00:25.375
are responsible for tactical decisions onboard
aircraft and directing pilots where to fly.

00:00:29.500 --> 00:00:32.958
They operate on world-class,
state-of-the-art tactical platforms

00:00:32.958 --> 00:00:35.500
like the Cyclone maritime helicopter

00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:39.208
and the CP-140 Aurora
long-range patrol aircraft,

00:00:39.208 --> 00:00:41.916
as well as
fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft.

00:00:42.791 --> 00:00:45.333
On a maritime helicopter,
we fly with two pilots,

00:00:45.333 --> 00:00:47.916
an ACSO, and an AES Op.

00:00:47.916 --> 00:00:49.750
I'll direct the tactical mission...

00:00:54.291 --> 00:00:57.416
and the sensor operator
will devise and correlate tracks

00:00:57.416 --> 00:01:00.250
and be able
to stitch together the maritime picture.

00:01:00.250 --> 00:01:03.416
And the CP-140 Aurora
is an extremely capable aircraft.

00:01:03.416 --> 00:01:07.541
They have sophisticated sensors and they
can sanitize a much broader area of water

00:01:07.541 --> 00:01:09.458
in a much shorter period of time.

00:01:09.625 --> 00:01:14.875
ACSOs operate tactical navigation systems,
hi-tech sensors, communications systems,

00:01:14.875 --> 00:01:19.000
electronic warfare equipment
and weapon delivery systems.

00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:24.125
They lead and coordinate missions related to
sovereignty patrols, anti-submarine warfare,

00:01:24.125 --> 00:01:27.833
electronic warfare, and search and rescue.

00:01:27.833 --> 00:01:32.625
These highly trained officers are experts
in joint operations and multi-mission taskings

00:01:32.625 --> 00:01:35.541
that involve
the Army and Navy in international settings.

00:01:45.416 --> 00:01:49.125
Now we have one of the most capable and most
advanced maritime helicopters in the world.

00:01:49.125 --> 00:01:52.000
It's almost: the 4 of us on a helicopter

00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:55.708
versus the sub commander
with his entire crew of, say, 50+.

00:01:55.708 --> 00:01:59.166
And that's exciting, that it's us vs them,
and you really are in their head,

00:01:59.166 --> 00:02:02.208
and you want to think what they'll be doing
while considering all the other factors -

00:02:02.208 --> 00:02:04.833
your ships around you, what other
helicopters do you have, what assets,

00:02:04.833 --> 00:02:08.041
who's closest, how long will they be,
who has weapons, who doesn't,

00:02:08.041 --> 00:02:10.541
and the capabilities
of all the different aircraft.

00:02:16.958 --> 00:02:20.625
After completing their professional training,
Air Combat Systems Officers

00:02:20.625 --> 00:02:25.375
are posted to an operational squadron
and assigned to one of four areas:

00:02:25.375 --> 00:02:28.458
the Aurora;
the Cyclone maritime helicopter;

00:02:28.458 --> 00:02:32.583
an air mobility squadron;
or a search and rescue squadron.

00:02:32.583 --> 00:02:36.000
At this stage, ACSOs
learn to master the specialized systems

00:02:36.000 --> 00:02:38.416
onboard the aircraft they'll be working on.

00:02:38.416 --> 00:02:42.791
Officers could be assigned to work
on missions in Northern Canada; overseas,

00:02:42.791 --> 00:02:45.125
in joint operations with other nations;

00:02:45.125 --> 00:02:47.541
or go to sea as part of the air detachment

00:02:47.541 --> 00:02:51.458
on a Royal Canadian Navy ship
for several months on maritime operations.

00:02:51.916 --> 00:02:54.625
They say: "Train hard, fight easy".
And that's what we do.

00:02:54.625 --> 00:02:56.833
But when we get to go "fight easy",
whether it's fighting

00:02:56.833 --> 00:03:02.083
or just accomplishing an operational mission,
that is incredibly rewarding.

00:03:09.750 --> 00:03:11.833
I wouldn't do anything else in the Air Force.

00:03:11.833 --> 00:03:13.666
I can't see myself filling another role.

00:03:13.666 --> 00:03:15.916
I truly found that this is where I belong.

00:03:15.916 --> 00:03:18.041
I'm surrounded by the best squadron mates,

00:03:18.041 --> 00:03:20.208
the best crew members
that you can possibly have -

00:03:20.208 --> 00:03:23.416
they always challenge you to be the
best version of yourself you can possibly be.