In Episode 16 of Semper Try (Because Trying Beats Quitting), Bill sits down in an undisclosed, snow-free location with Canadian veteran Jeff McCrae.

Jeff’s story is one you don’t hear every day. He served across Canada’s integrated military system, working with the Army, Navy, and Air Force—including time supporting NORAD in Colorado Springs before commissioning as a military air traffic controller.

We talk about what makes the Canadian military different, what life was like on a Canadian destroyer, and the reality of working in air traffic control—where teamwork, precision, and pressure all collide. Jeff shares stories from training, life at sea, and even what it’s like handling aircraft in ways that would never happen in the civilian world.

We also get into 9/11’s impact on aviation, Canada’s role in supporting diverted flights, and the respect and camaraderie between Canadian and American forces.

At the core of it all—this is a story about adapting, taking opportunities, and finding your path… even when it doesn’t go the way you planned.

Because Trying Beats Quitting.