SALINA, Kan. --
From left, Maj. Gen. John Errington, commander of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre; and Chief Warrant Officer Pascal Gagne, Sergeant Major of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, present the flag element of the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award to Lt. Col. Kevin Thomas, commander of the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron, during a ceremony at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, Kansas, Oct. 1, 2024. Errington and Gagne presented the award to the 284th ASOS for their part in helping the Canadian Armed Forces Joint Terminal Attack Controller program regain NATO accreditation in 2022.
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)
A Kansas Air National Guard unit received one of Canada’s highest military honors for their help in restoring a specialized capability that was all but lost.
Top-level Canadian Armed Forces personnel presented the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award to the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron, 184th Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, during a ceremony at Smoky Hill ANG Range, Oct. 1, 2024. The 284th ASOS was nominated for the award for their part in helping the Canadian Armed Forces’ Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) program regain NATO accreditation in 2022.
The Canadian Forces JTAC accreditation was rescinded in March 2021 following an inspection by NATO Close Air Support Capabilities Section. As a result, the qualifications of the Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Canadian Special Operations Forces previously recognized by NATO were no longer valid.
“From a Canadian perspective, in March of 2021, we lost our accreditation and couldn’t train our own JTACs,” said Maj. Gen. John Errington, commander of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre. “Our JTAC capability was done.”
Maj. Gen. John Errington, commander of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, addresses the audience during a ceremony whereby the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award was presented to the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron, 184th Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, Kansas, Oct. 1, 2024. The 284th ASOS was nominated for the award for helping the Canadian Armed Forces restore their Joint Terminal Attack Controller program’s NATO accreditation in 2022.
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)
Losing their accreditation meant that Canadian JTACs were barred from controlling aircraft and air weapons systems during NATO operations, which in turn left Canadian ground forces without air power and close air support. To regain accreditation, the JTACs had to undergo requalification training with the supervision of an allied program in good standing.
Fortunately, the Canadian JTACs already had a working relationship with the 284th ASOS.
“In the fall of 2021, the Canadian JTAC program managers reached out to us inquiring as to whether we could provide re-accreditation of [their] program,” said Master Sgt. Chris Schneider, chief of weapons and tactics, 284th ASOS.
U.S. and Canadian armed forces personnel stand outside of the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron’s facility at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, Kansas, following an award ceremony, Oct. 1, 2024. During the ceremony, the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award was presented to the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron for helping the Canadian Armed Forces Joint Terminal Attack Controllers requalify for NATO accreditation in 2022.
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)
After months of planning and coordination, the coalition partners formulated a two-week course called Exercise Viking Strike 22 which included academic instruction, ground tests, and control evaluations. They conducted three separate courses at Smoky Hill ANG Range from April to June 2022, resulting in the requalification of most of the Canadian JTACs and JTAC instructors.
Scheider was one of the key personnel involved in developing and implementing the courses.
“It was a busy two weeks with a lot of moving parts, evaluations complete and hours spent on a windy range,” said Schneider. “Besides the Alpha jets they brought, we also utilized U.S. Air Force aircraft when available on range including F-16s, A-10s, and bombers. This was beneficial for both parties involved.”
Their hard work paid off. In September 2022, NATO reinstated the Canadian JTAC program’s accreditation.
According to Schneider, the relationship between the 284th ASOS and Canadian JTACs has grown stronger since then, and the two units currently hold multiple courses throughout the year at Smoky Hill ANG Range.
From left, Maj. Gen. John Errington, commander of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre; Lt. Col. Kevin Thomas, commander of the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron; and Chief Warrant Officer Pascal Gagne, Sergeant Major of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, hold the scroll element of the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award during a ceremony at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, Kansas, Oct. 1, 2024. Errington and Gagne presented the award to the 284th ASOS for their part in helping the Canadian Armed Forces Joint Terminal Attack Controller program regain NATO accreditation in 2022.
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)
During the ceremony, Errington and Chief Warrant Officer Pascal Gagne, Sergeant Major of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, presented the award.
“On behalf of all these JTACs, the Canadian Armed Forces, and a nation that’s going to need this capability, I want to personally thank you for that relationship and everything you did,” said Errington.
The Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award is presented in three elements.
The Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award, pictured, is presented in three elements. The first part is a scroll inscribed with a citation in both official languages and signed by the chief of the Defense Staff. The second part is a twelve-sided gold-colored medallion bearing the symbols of the three services: the anchor, the crossed swords, and the flying eagle topped by the royal crown. The third element is a special commemorative flag also showing the three symbols. Top-level Canadian Armed Forces personnel presented the award to the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron during a ceremony at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, Kansas, Oct. 1, 2024.
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)
The first part is a scroll inscribed with a citation in both official languages and signed by the chief of the Defense Staff. The second part is a twelve-sided gold-colored medallion bearing the symbols of the three services: the anchor, the crossed swords, and the flying eagle topped by the royal crown. The third element is a special commemorative flag also showing the three symbols.
The Canadian Forces Unit Commendation has been awarded to only 13 units from just four countries outside of Canada: the Czech Republic, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
Lt. Col. Kevin Thomas, left, commander of the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron, delivers remarks to an audience of Canadian and U.S. armed forces personnel during a ceremony at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, Kansas, Oct. 1, 2024. At the ceremony, the 284th ASOS was presented the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award by top-level Canadian Armed Forces personnel for helping the Canadian Joint Terminal Attack Controller program requalify for NATO’s accreditation in 2022.
(U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt McCoy)
“We’re truly honored as an organization and the significance of this award is not lost upon us,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Thomas, commander of the 284th ASOS. “The relationship we have with the Canadian JTACs, both from an operational force and from the schoolhouse, is a point of pride for our organization and one that has benefited us immensely.”
“To the [284th] Vikings, job well done,” Thomas continued. “You continue to do great things that make this organization what it is.”