Local resident heads to Canada for military training

By Dona Fair
Special to The Citizen

When the son of a Peachtree City couple arrived recently at Cold Lake, Alberta, Canada, a remote prairie setting where it seems like the sun never sets, it was like stepping back in time – a time of no four-lane, congested highways and full service gas stations.

Navy Lt. Phillip Casha, son of Phil and Carol Casha of Peachtree City, was one of more than 3,000 pilots, maintenance and support specialists from Canada, Germany, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Singapore, and the United States, who descended upon this small Canadian town –a haven for hikers, hunters and fishermen, to participate in Exercise Maple Flag 41, one of the largest Air Force coalition training exercises in the world.

Casha is a naval aviator at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.

Maple Flag, an annual exercise held at 4 Wing Cold Lake, was developed in response to a Vietnam War finding that 90 percent of aircraft losses took place during the first 10 combat missions. Aircrew who survived these critical first 10 missions were more likely to survive the remainder of their combat tour. Originally, the exercise was designed to develop a junior combat ready aircrew by promoting initiative and self-discipline in the air, and providing the opportunity for developing tactical and leadership skills. The exercise now provides Canadian and allied aircrew with realistic combat training in a modern simulated air combat environment.

“I am here for training and to gain experience in working with NATO forces," said Casha, who graduated in 1998 from McIntosh High School and received a degree in aerospace engineering in 2002 from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Traditionally focused on fighter aircraft, this year's Maple Flag has an increased involvement from the Canadian Forces air and ground components giving the Canadian Air Force expanded capability during the exercise. All of the forces engage in daily missions that involve confronting and dealing with air and ground-based threats.

“By participating in this training exercise, I have gained experience working with different foreign countries and integrating our military tactics," he said.

The 4 Wing's cutting edge technology and training assets combined with vast unrestricted airspace, and more than 640 targets at the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range, makes this a great place for the aircrew to train. Although the aircrews receive training upon their arrival here, pre-departure preparations must still be made before arriving at Cold Lake.

“I prepared for this exercise through my everyday normal training at my home base,” Casha said.

With wide-open spaces, slightly rolling hills scattered with dandelions, and quaint houses surrounding the lake, life here for Casha and his teammates is quite a change from what most of us experience in the United States.

“Canada has great weather for flying and the facilities here are great," Casha said.

Although this simulated war allowed the junior aircrew to fly their 10 missions and remain safe, it gave Casha, who has been in the Air Force for more than five years, a chance to take a small break from the hustle and bustle, and enjoy the small-town living of this wilderness retreat.

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