Go Bold #39: Stories from the Cockpit: LtCol Stephen Latwaitis on RCAF Air Task Force - Romania (Block 60)

In our last episode we spoke with Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) fighter pilot Lieutenant-Colonel David McLeod, who was the Commander of Air Task Force - Romania for Block 54 of NATO Enhanced Air Policing in Romania.Our episode today is a compendium to that episode because we had the honor to speak with Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Latwaitis, a RCAF fighter pilot who is the Commanding Officer of 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron, the "Alouettes", which is based at Canadian Forces Base Bagotville. The Colonel served as the Commander of Air Task Force (ATF) - Romania for Block 60 of NATO Enhanced Air Policing in Romania, which was conducted in the latter half of 2022 from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. Our conversation took place in December 2022 as the ATF wrapped up its operations.We are publishing these episodes on NATO Enhanced Air Policing back-to-back in order to get an appreciation for the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) mission, how Canada has conducted deployments for it, and more importantly, to get an appreciation of how global events like the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine has affected deployments for the mission.You'll hear how the RCAF formed its contingent for Block 60, and how they had the opportunity to work alongside Romanian colleagues and several Allies in conducting interoperability training to enhance NATO’s collective assurance and deterrence on the southeastern flank, all while in the shadow of war in Europe. Exercise highlights during Block 60 included Thracian Viper in Bulgaria.The Colonel described how members from the Air Task Force for Block 60 worked for the first time with Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) which is headquartered in Ramstein, Germany. AIRCOM oversees the NATO Air Policing mission with 24/7 command and control from two Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs): one in Torrejón, Spain, which covers European NATO airspace South of the Alps; and the other in Uedem, Germany, which covers European NATO airspace North of the Alps.The RCAF will not be returning to Romania in 2023, so keep an ear out here for more on developments with the RCAF CF-18 Hornet fleet.We thank LtCol Latwaitis for his kindness, time and insight.Go Bold!