The Maple Leaf –  Defence Stories

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Jeff Gaye – The Courier, 4 Wing Cold Lake

Personnel from 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alta., have begun returning home after a four-month Operation REASSURANCE deployment to Romania.

A CC-177 Globemaster II aircraft brought the first group of 30 home on January 8, with the rest scheduled to arrive over the course of the week.

The members were deployed as part of Air Task Force (ATF) – Romania. With four 409 Squadron Hornets and approximately 135 personnel from across Canada, they conducted enhanced air policing missions and trained with Romanian and other NATO counterparts.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Hickey, commander of ATF – Romania, said he was “exceptionally proud” of the work the contingent performed overseas.

“It was excellent,” he said. “At the same time, it’s good to be home. I’m proud of our team, and I’m so proud of the support we got from our families and everyone in Cold Lake while we were away.”

4 Wing Commander Colonel Paul Doyle and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Remi Nault were there to greet the returning personnel. Col Doyle said the ATF-Romania deployment adds to the body of experience 4 Wing personnel bring to deployed operations.

“I believe this deployment to Romania has set a new standard for us. I am proud of how everyone represented Canada, and it speaks to the professionalism of our Defence Team,” he said.

Col Doyle said the support deployed members received from the home front was “fantastic.”

“Families and the resources at home are force enablers,” he said. “Because of them, we are able to concentrate on our duties and get the job done.”

Op REASSURANCE is Canada’s support to NATO’s assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe.