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AIR WEAPONS CONTROLLER22 NORAD Region, North Bay, Ontario, 1974 - 1976
Following successful graduation from the 12 week Basic Officers Training Course at C.F.B. Chilliwack, B.C. and 14 weeks classification training at the Air Weapons Control and Countermeasures School, North Bay, I became a commissioned Officer in the rank of Lieutenant with a job as an Air Weapons Controller. I served one posting controlling the CF 101 "VooDoo" super sonic air defence fighter of the day at 22nd NORAD Region, North Bay, Ontario as a proud member of "Charlie Crew". Our mission as co-signators of the North American Air Defence Treaty Agreement with the United States was to maintain surveillance and defend the sovereignty of Canadian and American skies.
23 NORAD Region, Duluth, Minnesota, 1977 - 1979
Next came an exchange tour with the United States Air Force (USAF) in Duluth, Minnesota at 23rd NORAD Region Headquarters where I was employed as the supervisor and primary Weapons Director responsible for the daily operation of a 28 member crew of weapons controllers and technicians
Following promotion to the rank of Captain 12 October 1977, in the spring of 1978 I was selected to attend the highly elite and extremely demanding USAF Instructor Weapons School, Tyndall A.F.B, Florida. I returned to the 23rd Region as an instructor and the Officer in charge of Training Programs and Continuation Training.
SWINTER, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, 1979 - 1980
In the spring of 1979, the Canadian Forces announced it's Study of Women In Non-Traditional Environments and Roles Trial program, (SWINTER). For the first time in Canadian Military history, women, initially on a voluntary basis, were being given the opportunity to serve with the Navy at sea, with the Army Combat Support Units in the field, at the northern isolated Canadian Forces Station Alert in the high Arctic and with the Air Force in the classifications of Pilot, Navigator and Flight Engineer.
As much as I truly loved controlling aircraft in a quickly-changing, mentally-challenging environment, the mystical magical lure of flying was in my blood and I was off on yet another incredible adventure!!!
