I'm Captain Simon Wilson from Calgary, Alberta.
I'm an Air Combat Systems Officer at 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron
in Shearwater, Nova Scotia.
Air Combat Systems Officers, or ACSOs,
are responsible for tactical decisions onboard aircraft and directing pilots where to fly.
They operate on world-class, state-of-the-art tactical platforms
like the Cyclone maritime helicopter
and the CP-140 Aurora long-range patrol aircraft,
as well as fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft.
On a maritime helicopter, we fly with two pilots,
an ACSO, and an AES Op.
I'll direct the tactical mission...
and the sensor operator will devise and correlate tracks
and be able to stitch together the maritime picture.
And the CP-140 Aurora is an extremely capable aircraft.
They have sophisticated sensors and they can sanitize a much broader area of water
in a much shorter period of time.
ACSOs operate tactical navigation systems, hi-tech sensors, communications systems,
electronic warfare equipment and weapon delivery systems.
They lead and coordinate missions related to sovereignty patrols, anti-submarine warfare,
electronic warfare, and search and rescue.
These highly trained officers are experts in joint operations and multi-mission taskings
that involve the Army and Navy in international settings.
Now we have one of the most capable and most advanced maritime helicopters in the world.
It's almost: the 4 of us on a helicopter
versus the sub commander with his entire crew of, say, 50+.
And that's exciting, that it's us vs them, and you really are in their head,
and you want to think what they'll be doing while considering all the other factors -
your ships around you, what other helicopters do you have, what assets,
who's closest, how long will they be, who has weapons, who doesn't,
and the capabilities of all the different aircraft.
After completing their professional training, Air Combat Systems Officers
are posted to an operational squadron and assigned to one of four areas:
the Aurora; the Cyclone maritime helicopter;
an air mobility squadron; or a search and rescue squadron.
At this stage, ACSOs learn to master the specialized systems
onboard the aircraft they'll be working on.
Officers could be assigned to work on missions in Northern Canada; overseas,
in joint operations with other nations;
or go to sea as part of the air detachment
on a Royal Canadian Navy ship for several months on maritime operations.
They say: "Train hard, fight easy". And that's what we do.
But when we get to go "fight easy", whether it's fighting
or just accomplishing an operational mission, that is incredibly rewarding.
I wouldn't do anything else in the Air Force.
I can't see myself filling another role.
I truly found that this is where I belong.
I'm surrounded by the best squadron mates,
the best crew members that you can possibly have -
they always challenge you to be the best version of yourself you can possibly be.