Two senior Air Force officers have been charged with failing to stop a group of fighter pilots from giving another member an inappropriate nickname in June.
Col. Colin Marks and Lt.-Col. Corey Mask each faces one charge of failing to effectively discharge his responsibilities and will face a disciplinary hearing Royal Canadian Air Force,
Specifically, the military police have accused two officers of failing to enforce orders from the military when it comes to preventing and addressing sexual misconduct.
Neither Marx nor Musk responded to requests for comment on Monday.
Air Force spokesman Major Trevor Reed said in a statement on Monday that the two officers were charged last month.
The charges are not criminal in nature, and Reed said their hearing would be conducted by other authorities. cold lake,
A summary hearing for Mask is scheduled for 5 December and will be heard by the Commander of the Military Cadets, Brigadier-Gen. Jamie Spicer-Blanchett.
Marks’ hearing is set for December 12 and will be conducted by Colonel Robert McBride, commander of 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton.
Reed said neither hearing would be open to the public.
“The Royal Canadian Air Force believes in a just culture that focuses on victims and their well-being,” Reid said in a written statement.
“We also believe in our members and their ability and commitment to learn from their mistakes and always strive to be better. The outcome of the summary hearing will be communicated after their conclusion.
A third, more junior officer, was also charged with discipline or lowering of morale, Reed said, “for participating in the assignment of an inappropriate call sign”.
“Upon review of the evidence, a summary hearing was determined not to be appropriate for this officer; Rather, the chain of command has implemented separate administrative measures as a disciplinary response.”
The name of the third officer was not released.
Reid said that administrative measures, which typically include warnings and reprimands, have also been imposed on several other officers in the ranks from second lieutenant to major.
The allegations and disciplinary actions stem from an informal meeting known as the “Call Sign Review Board” on June 22 at one of Canada’s two main fighter jet bases. 4 Wing Cold Lake in Alberta.
Despite their formal-sounding names, former fighter pilots describe such review boards as informal meetings after major training exercises or operations, in which pilots give nicknames to, or point out, new members over drinks.
Investigation highlights concerns over fighter pilot surname tradition in Canada
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Many people may know the call signs from Blockbuster top Gun movies, in which Tom Cruise’s character is nicknamed “Maverick”. That call sign is a reference to the character’s refusal to follow orders and play by the rules of the military.
Canadian fighter pilots also use call signs. Anyone who has been to an air show in Canada and seen a Snowbird or CF-18 up close has noticed the pilot’s call sign near the cockpit with their real name written on it.
While call signs are not the domain of pilots alone, and such nicknames are often assigned to weapons officers who also fly on two-man CF-18s, they are not widely used in other parts of the Royal Canadian Air Force. Let’s go
The Air Force says call signs help build team spirit and identity among fighter pilots and break down barriers between different rank levels. They also take advantage of communication in the air.
According to the Air Force, during the meeting in June, several fighter pilots proposed, discussed and assigned an “inappropriate” call sign for another pilot.
Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Eric Kenny first revealed an investigation into the meeting on June 22 when he announced in August that a ceremony to install Marks as commander of Canada’s other fighter jet base was delayed.
The revelation hinted at a long-standing tradition in the Canadian military at a time when the military is still dealing with the fallout of inappropriate – and in some cases criminal – behavior by senior officers.
Retired Lieutenant-Colonel Rory Fowler, now a specialist lawyer in military affairs, questioned the decision to hold the hearing of Marks and Mask behind closed doors.
“While an officer conducting a summary hearing has the discretion to close part or all of a hearing, the expectation is that such a reduction from transparency will arise only in exceptional circumstances,” Fowler said in an email.
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