Go Bold with Joetey Attariwala

This is our first episode of 2023, so to our loyal listeners, welcome back! To our new listeners, welcome! We hope you'll enjoy the wide array of topics and voices that we share from senior leaders and people who are serving or have served with Allied Forces around the world.

In my work as a global aerospace and defence journalist and analyst, I come in contact with interesting and inspiring people all over the world. Today's guest is one of those people.

I first connected with Major Andrew Fox when he was serving with the British Army as an Airborne Infantry officer. He served 3 combat tours in Afghanistan and has become a strong advocate for mental health. Our episode today was recorded when Major Fox was still in uniform and it focuses on a combat event that affected him with PTSD. That is enough in it's own right, but what struck me even more was that his traumatic experience concerned a colleague who wasn't even in his own army - it was a colleague in the Afghan National Army, so that to me speaks about the friendships, trust and camaraderie which is developed between Allies, especially in combat.

It's a story which I think is important to share, and more importantly, Maj. Fox shares it because he hopes his journey will help others, and that is just one of the reasons why I respect him.

I want to thank Maj. Fox for his time and for his perspective on PTSD and how we can all try to help each other.

Go Bold!

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For active or retired service members who are listening and feel that you need some help or support, please reference the following contact numbers, and please remember that there is no shame in asking for help as these resources are here for you.

In the UK: Samaritans provides a 24/7 safe place to talk about anything that's bothering you. Tel: 116 123

In the US: For the Military Crisis Line / Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, dial 988 and press 1.

In Canada: A confidential and free service available 24/7 to Veterans, former RCMP members, their family members, and caregivers. Call 1-800-268-7708

In Australia: All-hours Support Line (ASL) is a 24/7 confidential telephone service for ADF members and their families. Call 1800 628 036

For this episode we are proud to welcome Brigadier-General Mike Adamson, the Commander of the newly established 3 Canadian Space Division.

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) marked the establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division on 22 July 2022. The Division is an evolution from the Air Force’s Director General Space organization as the responsibility for space operations has steadily grown over the last decade. 

According to the Air Force, the establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division recognizes the critical importance of space in all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations and day-to-day activities, and is a step forward in protecting Canada's interests in space.

This newest Division of the Air Force will streamline, focus, and improve how space-based capabilities support critical Canadian Armed Forces requirements to deliver communications, command and control, navigation, weather, and situational awareness in support of military operations and activities. Such activities can include search and rescue, monitoring Canada’s maritime approaches to reinforce Arctic sovereignty, support to NORAD operations, and support to decision-making in overseas operations.

The establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division will also include the re-establishment of 7 Wing, which will comprise 7 Space Operations Squadron and 7 Operations Support Squadron. 7 Wing will provide space-based data and capabilities in support of CAF operations.

A priority for 3 Canadian Space Division will be Canada’s commitment to the Combined Space Operations Initiative. This agreement includes Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada, and provides opportunities to enhance cooperation on defence space activities.

Speaking during the establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division was Lieutenant-General Al Meinzinger, Commander of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who said: 

"The space domain is of critical importance, now more than ever, when considering its role in guiding military operations and enabling a vast range of day-to-day activities for Canadians. The establishment of 3 Canadian Space Division enables the Royal Canadian Air Force to ensure we have the right organizational structure to continually deliver spaced-based effects across the CAF, while also ensuring we are aligned with our allies who have established similar Space Commands."

You will hear how the space domain is of growing importance and how industry can help the Division. We hope you enjoy this episode with Brigadier-General Adamson. We thank him for his time and insight.

Go Bold!

We rejoin for Part 2 with our guest, Capt. Troy Maa, an accomplished helicopter pilot who has amassed over 6,200 flight hours, 5,200 of which are with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

I first met Capt. Maa a number of years ago when he was flying the CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter at 442 Squadron, which is a tenant unit at Canadian Forces Base Comox, in British Columbia, Canada. 442 Squadron is a composite unit which until recently operated both the Cormorant and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft in the search and rescue roles.

Troy was a Major and senior pilot on the squadron at the time, and as a Flight Commander he was focused on operations and operational training on the Cormorant. It wasn't just his role though -- he was passionate about operational training, and it was that passion that left a strong impression on me, and that is one of the reasons we asked him to be a guest here on Go Bold.

After his time on the Cormorant, Troy transitioned to the Air Force Reserve where he assumed the rank of Captain which allowed him the opportunity to return to flying his first operational platform, the CH-124 Sea King anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter.

In this episode we discuss more about the Cormorant helicopter, and how Search and Rescue missions were dispatched and conducted at 442 Squadron, which includes coordination with fixed-wing aircraft.

We also discuss one of Troy's last Search and Rescue missions where he and his team were dispatched on a night mission to rescue a climber who had fallen and was stuck on cliff at 10,000 feet!

I'm happy to share that Capt. Maa is now back on active duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force and is flying the new CH-148 Cyclone anti-submarine warfare helicopter. We will focus on the Cyclone in a future episode of Go Bold, so please like and follow us so you don't miss any of our great guests and topics!

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During our chat you'll hear us refer to the Buffalo fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft, which was part of 442 Squadron. The Buffalo has recently been retired, and its fixed-wing search and rescue role has been taken up by the CC-130 Hercules as an interim solution until the dedicated CC-295 Kingfisher fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft comes online.

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Our thanks to Capt. Maa for sharing his insight on flying the magnificent Sea King and Cormorant helicopters!

Go Bold!

Our guest today is Capt. Troy Maa, an accomplished helicopter pilot who has amassed over 6,200 flight hours, 5,200 of which are with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

I first met Capt. Maa a number of years ago when he was flying the CH-149 Cormorant search and rescue helicopter at 442 Squadron, which is a tenant unit at Canadian Forces Base Comox, in British Columbia, Canada. 442 Squadron is a composite unit which until recently operated both the Cormorant and CC-115 Buffalo aircraft in the search and rescue roles.

Troy was a Major and senior pilot on the squadron at the time, and as a Flight Commander he was focused on operations and operational training on the Cormorant. It wasn't just his role though -- he was passionate about operational training, and it was that passion that left a strong impression on me, and that is one of the reasons we asked him to be a guest here on Go Bold.

After his time on the Cormorant, Troy transitioned to the Air Force Reserve where he assumed the rank of Captain which allowed him the opportunity to return to flying his first operational platform, the CH-124 Sea King anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter. Troy shares his thoughts on flying ASW missions and some of the unique nuances of the Sea King.

It's important to note that Canada has retired the Sea King, but we wanted to discuss both platforms as a way to learn and contrast their capabilities, and to preserve stories about them.

After his second stint of flying the Sea King, Troy then went to the civil side of aviation where he flew the Sikorsky S-76 on scheduled routes, and then to another company where he flew the S-92 in the Search and Rescue role.

I'm happy to share that Capt. Maa is now back on active duty with the Royal Canadian Air Force and is flying the new CH-148 Cyclone anti-submarine warfare helicopter. We will focus on the Cyclone in a future episode of Go Bold, so please like and follow us so you don't miss any of our great guests and topics!

We hope you enjoy this episode where we focus on Troy's motivation to serve and his approach to training as he shares his experiences flying the Sea King and the Cormorant helicopters.

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During our chat you'll hear us refer to the Buffalo fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft, which was part of 442 Squadron. The Buffalo has recently been retired, and its fixed-wing search and rescue role has been taken up by the CC-130 Hercules as an interim solution until the dedicated CC-295 Kingfisher fixed-wing search and rescue aircraft comes online.

We have another interesting side note -- although the Sea King helicopter is an older platform, it is still relevant today! The United Kingdom recently transferred some of their retired Sea Kings to Ukraine where they will be operated by the Ukrainian Forces for search and rescue and utility roles. So even as surplus equipment, the Sea King continues its long and storied service.

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Please look for Part 2 of our discussion with Capt. Maa in our next episode!

Go Bold!

We at Go Bold pride ourselves on documenting important events in aerospace and defence, so the 2nd of December 2022, is a day that will be remembered as a significant milestone in aviation history.

That's when the United States Air Force and the Northrop Grumman Corporation unveils the new B-21 stealth bomber, which is named the Raider, in honor of the Doolittle Raid in World War II. 

The rollout at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, is significant in its own right, but the bomber marks another major milestone as it is regarded as the first 6th Generation aircraft in existence.

Here to speak about the B-21 is a guest who is eminently qualified to discuss the topic, and that is retired Major-General Doug Raaberg, who served with the United States Air Force.

General Raaberg is an Honor Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and holds master’s degrees from the University of Southern California and National War College.

He is a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours, primarily in the FB-111, B-1 and B-2 bombers. 

He is a combat veteran with 35 combat missions in the B-1 bomber, and holds the world’s record for the fastest non-stop flight around the globe. For this historical aerial achievement, he and his team received the 1995 McKay Trophy for the U.S. Air Force Most Meritorious Flight of the Year Award.

General Raaberg commanded the United States only B-2 stealth-bomber wing which is known to have spearheaded the air campaign for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

His general officer assignments include Director of Air and Space Operations for Air Combat Command. Additionally, he has extensive experience in international military affairs orchestrating regional operations as the Deputy Director of Operations for U.S. Central Command. 

Today General Raaberg serves as the Executive Vice President, Air & Space Forces Association, providing strategic direction to AFA as the premier professional military and aerospace education association in the nation. He serves with the AFA President in their commitment to supporting Airmen and their families around the globe.

In speaking about the B-21, the General predicts that it will be a "menace" to adversaries.

We are excited for the rollout of the B-21 and for the future of the Global Strike Command, so we hope this discussion adds some context to the significance of the rollout event.

We thank Major-General (Ret) Raaberg for this time and insight.

Go Bold!

We are honored to have senior leaders from Allied forces share their insight. In Episode 26, we spoke with Group Captain Matthew McCormack of the Royal Australian Air Force, where we discussed the Australian-led multi-national large force employment exercise called Pitch Black.

Pitch Black is a biennial exercise and this year it took place between August 19 and September 8, and it hosted over 2,000 personnel and over 80 aircraft.

The exercise provides an opportunity for participating air forces to share best practices and an opportunity to test and improve force integration by utilizing one of the largest training airspace areas in the world which is over the Northern Territory and Queensland. 

The Royal Air Force (RAF) participated in Exercise Pitch Black this year with 4 Eurofighter Typhoons, and a Voyageur strategic air refueling tanker. A RAF A400M Atlas multi-role strategic transport aircraft supported the detachment as a sweeper.

Joining me to talk about Royal Air Force participation in the exercise, and in keeping with our focus of speaking with senior leaders, is Wing Commander Noel Rees, a Typhoon pilot and Commanding Officer of No. 6 Squadron which is based at RAF Lossiemouth. Wing Commander Rees served as the RAF Detachment Commander for the exercise.

We discuss the logistics of fighter aircraft traveling across the globe, flying during the exercise itself, and training opportunities the RAF was able to conduct with other forces like the Indian Air Force.

Wing Commander Rees also shares his thoughts on training for air warfare in the modern age.

We encourage you to listen to Episode 26 as a precursor to this episode, and we are confident you will enjoy this wide ranging and informative episode.

Our thanks to RAF Wing Commander Rees for his time and insight.

Go Bold!

This episode is Part 2 of our chat with retired Major-General Charles "Duff" Sullivan, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). 

In this episode we pick-up by discussing the General's role as the Director of Operations for the Canadian North American Air Defense Command Region during 9/11, and the planning that went into the 2002 G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.

The General provides us with detailed information about NORAD security for the Summit, and a briefing that he shared with the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada about the command authority to respond to incursions of the Summit's exclusion zone, and how engagement of an airborne threat would be handled. We learn that the concept of operations that the RCAF developed was briefed to the U.S. Military, who adopted a variation of it for their own security requirements post 9/11.

We also discuss the General's first foray into Afghanistan; and his subsequent deployment to the country as NATO's Air Component Commander for all air assets in theatre for NATO's 42-nation coalition.

While in Afghanistan the General served as the Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, where he and his colleagues stood up a Dynamic Targeting Operations Center in theatre.

With those experiences in mind, the General shared his insight into what he feels are essential enablers for modern warfare in the context of counter insurgency operations.

We conclude our discussion with thoughts about NATO's departure from Afghanistan, and his personal reflections on the Afghan people and their future.

Throughout our 2-part discussion, the General speaks with genuine candor.

As we did in Part 1, we wish to reflect on Remembrance Day and Veterans Day, and we acknowledge all those who have served in uniform, and particularly those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

We will not forget.

We thank Major-General (Ret) Sullivan for his service, and for sharing his time and experiences with us. We hope that you find our discussion informative and insightful.

Go Bold!

Our podcast features senior leaders in the military and in industry, and our guest fits both of those categories. Major-General Charles "Duff" Sullivan served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as a fighter pilot where he accumulated over 3,500 hours flying jet aircraft, 1,600 hours of which were flown in the CF-18 Hornet.

In his military career, General Sullivan flew operational missions in the Persian Gulf, in Europe - including Bosnia, Croatia, Kosovo, and in Canada's high Arctic and the North Atlantic.

Today, Duff Sullivan is Boeing's country leader in Canada, where he provides leadership to Boeing's interests across the country.

Speaking with the General is an honor for so many reasons. In this episode you'll hear his first hand accounts of flying in Germany during the Cold War, and his service both on the ground and in the air during NATO campaigns in Europe.

The General puts a very personal perspective to his accounts, and in doing so he allows us the opportunity to understand what he experienced in combat, and how those experiences affect him today.

The reflections he shares are detailed, and they pay respect to the men and women he served with. 

The General also takes time to share his philosophy on leadership and teamwork which he developed through military service, and continues to carry on in his professional career in the aerospace and defence industry.

We are publishing this episode to coincide with Remembrance Day and Veterans Day. 

You'll hear how the General's recollection of service evokes emotion, which is why I think he is a perfect guest to help us appreciate the significance of military service as a means to commemorate this solemn day of Remembrance.

We acknowledge all those that have served in uniform, and particularly those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. 

We will not forget.

This interview was done in October 2022, and is a 2 part back-to-back series.

Go Bold!

Today's guest is our first opportunity to speak with someone serving with the Finnish Defence Forces.

Seppo Aaltonen is a Senior Lieutenant in the Finnish Army Reserve (Land Forces Reserve Officer), and he is also the Chief Commercial Officer of Varjo Technologies, a company which is a leader in virtual and mixed reality headset solutions, and in cloud-enabled solutions.

We begin our discussion by speaking about mandatory national service that all Finnish men are expected to perform. 

That requirement is rooted in the fact that Finland is an immediate neighbor of Russia, which attacked Finland in 1939 in what is known as the Winter War. That war began with a Soviet invasion three months after the outbreak of World War II, and ended three and a half months later with the Moscow Peace Treaty of March 1940.

We discuss the obligations of mandatory national service, how it is conducted, and why mandatory service is meaningful to Lieutenant Aaltonen, who proudly serves Finland, a country which ranks high among the most desirable places to live in the world. 

A theme you will consistently hear in our discussion is that "Freedom is Not Free", a statement which rings true for all who serve in uniform, and certainly for those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Our discussion speaks about Finland's intent to join NATO, the concept of total defence, and the need to be prepared for potential scenarios that Finland may face in light of Russia's blatant aggression against sovereign nations, as is happening in Ukraine.

We also speak about virtual and mixed reality solutions which high-tech industry and the military are using for design, development and for training.

Our chat is enlightening as Lieutenant Aaltonen's perspective and the context he provides is one that often isn't heard, or isn't heard enough, and that is why we at Go Bold are so proud to present voices of allied warfighters to our global audience.

We thank Lieutenant Seppo Aaltonen for his time and perspective.

Go Bold!

Our podcast regularly features senior leaders across branches of the military. Today's guest is Captain Sheldon Gillis of the Royal Canadian Navy.

Captain Gillis is currently serving as the Deputy Fleet Commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, otherwise known as the Canadian Fleet Atlantic.

Captain Gillis recently served as the Naval Task Group Commander for Operation Nanook 2022, where he led a multinational flotilla which was focused on northern and Arctic operations.

The Arctic region of Canada encompasses over 40% of total land mass and 75% of national coastline. From a continental defence perspective, the Arctic is of great importance to Canada and therefore to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) as the region yields the shortest route for ballistic missiles, strategic bombers and cruise weapons to reach populated areas of North America. 

Operation Nanook consists of four yearly sovereignty and military deployments in the Arctic, and serves to strengthen the Canadian Armed Force's (CAF) knowledge of the Arctic, and hone its ability to operate there. The Operation also allows the CAF to work hand-in-hand with other Arctic nations and key non-Arctic Allies and partners in combined activities to ensure the region remains a low tension zone of global cooperation where the rules-based international order is preserved.

Our discussion focuses on the deployment and on the new Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessels (also known as the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships) which are entering service with the Canadian Navy. We discuss the utility of the ships, the ways they are being employed, and the potential for future enhancements. 

We also discuss the high North and the Arctic as an important region to Canada, and as an area that is of growing interest to adversaries like Russia and even China.

So important is the Arctic that NATO’s new Strategic Concept identifies Russia’s capabilities in the High North as a strategic challenge for the whole Alliance

We thank Captain Gillis for his insight on the new AOPV ships, and for his perspective on the incredibly important region that is the high North and the Arctic.

Go Bold!