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General treated to explosive start

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson was treated to an explosive start to the new year by members of 19 Explosives Disposal Flight.
CDS listens to LCol Payan at the Wing explosive range
Lieut.-Col. Brian Payan (right)

Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Tom Lawson, was treated to an explosive start to the new year by members of 19 Explosives Disposal Flight (19 EDF).

It was part of his visit to 19 Wing Comox on Jan. 7.

The CDS presented 19 EDF with his commendation denoting their important status as a centre of excellence promoting the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) explosives safety program.

The unit was also honoured for their operators' expertise in the safe disposal of ordnance and Improvised Explosive Devices, which they share amongst the Explosives Ordnance Disposal units of the CAF and RCMP through numerous exercises that they host.

After receiving their commendation, members of 19 EDF toured the CDS around their unit, showing him some of their unique equipment like bomb-disposal robots, protective suits and their rigid hull inflatable boat. The tour concluded with an explosives demonstration on their demolition range.

In addition to visiting 19 EDF, the CDS and CAF Chief Warrant Officer Kevin West visited 442 and 407 squadrons and viewed some of construction engineering's new infrastructure projects, including a new day-care facility under construction.

Before leaving, the CDS and CWO West conducted a town hall with the defence team members of 19 Wing Comox.

Several members of 19 Wing were also presented with individual and group commendations. The Silver Totems hockey team received Commanders' coins from the CDS and CAF CWO for their various community outreach activities, such as their annual youth hockey camp.

"We were thrilled that the CDS could take time out of his schedule while on the west coast to come visit us in Comox and recognize some of the great people and units who serve here," said 19 Wing commander Col. Jim Benninger.

— 19 Wing Comox