We Share More than a Border and Hockey

Published March 9, 2015
By Senior Airman James Richardson
AFCENT Combat Camera

Southwest Asia -- Americans and Canadians are very similar: they like the same music, like the same sports and speak [mostly] the same language.

The relationship between the United States and Canada, however, is much deeper than a passion for top 40 music, rivalries between the National Hockey League’s Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs and the many other societal trends that help identify our culture. Since World War II, the U.S. and Canada have shared one of the world’s most powerful bilateral partnerships.

In World War II, the U.S. and Canada worked together to create the elite commando unit 1st Special Service Force. The 1st Special Service Force, also called the Devil’s Brigade, was entirely comprised of American and Canadian soldiers who fought the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands and the Nazis in Italy and southern France.

Although the American and Canadian forces have evolved over time both militaries still work together closely. The partnership shows in the many training exercises held throughout North America, and in real-world operations against terrorism and the oppression of human rights.

The most recent issue uniting the U.S., Canada and other coalition partners is the current fight against the terrorist group, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known by the Arabic acronym Da’ish. Since late October the U.S. and Canadian air forces have been hard at work supporting the Operation Inherent Resolve air campaign.

Round-the-clock air missions require a great deal of resources, and there are times when both Canadian and American Airmen have come knocking at each others' doors for help in maintaining their aircraft.

“When we showed up, we began air operations even before we received all of our tools. Our American counterparts lent us tools, material - pretty much anything we needed,” said a Royal Canadian Air Force engineer. “Now it’s nice to be able to give back, as we borrowed so much in the beginning.”

"The [U.S. Air Force] 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group has been critical to enabling our success," said a Royal Canadian Air Force maintenance officer. “We would be liaising with them on average of once per week and that goes both ways; they are often in our hanger looking for resources as well."

Good neighbors always lend a hand and he quickly adds how grateful the maintenance crew is of the support provided by the U.S. personnel.

“It seemed as if we were top on their priority list, whether it was morale and welfare for the guys or it was equipment for the aircraft it was outstanding and we recognized a lot of folks for their contributions,” he said.

One way the Canadians gave back to their American counterparts was to build a ball hockey rink. A few times a week, many U.S. and Canadian Airmen spend their free time playing hockey using Canadian supplied hockey sticks, boards built from repurposed wood and metal goals brought over on a Canadian C-17 Globemaster III.

The relationship between the United States and Canada in today's fight against Da’ish exemplifies coalition partnerships between countries participating in OIR air operations.

“I don’t think any two countries have the same relationship that we do,” Deputy Commanding Officer of the Canadian Hub explained. “A dynamic relationship but a very close relationship, we share the same language, the same religions, the same work ethic, and even the same television channels. For all intents and purposes we share the same interests and that’s why we have been such good partners together.”