Lost Armourers (07 Oct 2009)

     G’Day 

My name is Warren Mazlin and I am a retired armourer from the Royal Australian Air Force. 

I am trying to contact an ex Canadian Forces aircraft armourer, Major Gilbert Tessier, who I met when I did an exchange tour with the USAF at Eglin AFB Florida in 1983-1984.  Tess and I worked together at Eglin for 18 months and hit it off right from the start.  He was a great guy.  He was an ex enlisted armourer who was commissioned.

It has been many years since I have seen him and I would like to get in touch and say G’Day.  I found this email address ('gtessier@cyberus.ca') on the net but unfortunately I got a note back saying it doesn’t exist anymore.

If there is there anyway you can put me in contact with him it would be much appreciated.

Thanks mate, 

Warren Mazlin

 "The Armament Empire Strikes Back" Picture (12 Sep 2009)

     For all of you TAZ fans, a brand new TAZ graphic.

     The Armament Empire strikes back and will hopefully be restored to its former glory.

     You can also see it in a larger format on the Graffiti page.

 "Taz is Back" Picture (02 July 2008)

     Pat Savoie drew an awesome picture of the return of Taz!  Well he actually drew two, the last one is made to replace the first one as the 1st one has a CWO rank which is not possible in the new AWS trade since WO and above will be Air Maintenance Superintendants (AMSupt).  The highest rank an armourer will be able to achieve will be Sgt.  If you have the old picture, here is the new one.

Once I have more time, I will post it and another one on the Graffiti page.

Passing of Paul Haswell (13 April 2008)

     It is with sadness that I post the passing of Paul Haswell in Hamilton, March 31st 2008. Many will remember Paul as a hard working armourer as well as a DJ at CFNS. Paul was a happy go lucky guy that would do anything he could to help anyone and often did. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth, a daughter and two grandchildren.

     Nicole & Valère Côté

More on the Resurrection of the Armament Trade (11 April 2008)

     The web site on the CF Intranet DIN where you can find Questions & Answers and a forum regarding the "Air Tech Transformation" can be found at http://winnipeg.mil.ca/a4maint/Sections/A4OccRdns/subjects/AOE.htm.  Copy the hyperlink and paste it in your browser at work as it is on the Intranet DIN and not the Internet.

     The latest words are:

•  that Implementation will start in earnest in APS 09 and we expect the total transition to take 5-7 years.
• They are committed to recording every question, doing the legwork and providing qualified answers to you all. To this end a Q & A website will
  be stood up shortly which identifies what they know now.  As each visit is completed and answers are confirmed they will be added to the site. A
  discussion group has been formed on the National DIN home page.  Every one of you (CF members) will be able to join that group.  As topics (forums) are introduced they will be assigned to one of the Senior Occupation Advisors (SOA) or an Military Employment Structure-Implementation Planning (MES-IP) Team member to chair and research.
• After the SOAs visit they will be asking those members who are interested in finding out more about "Volunteering to Compulsory Occupation Transfer (V/COT)" to AWS, to complete a short on-line survey which will give them their qualifications, experience and demographics data.  They require this data to be able to model how long it will take them to successfully grow the new AWS occupation.  You already appreciate how 'tight' the CF is with our current commitments, so they need a plan that will not fail, not one that just looks good on paper.  They won't burden you with paper forms or booklets to complete,  this will be a simple group of questions asked via the DIN and can be completed in the workplace.  No member will be committing to anything at this point.
• They don't have all the answers.  CWO Alex does not have all the answers, nor do the SOAs or the CMs.  But collectively we and our most senior leadership are convinced this is the way forward and as a true team committed to the outcome they can refine this model and make it truly what the maintenance community should be and will be for the future.  They are not afraid of 'Nay Sayers', neither is CWO Alex or the team.  They need to hear their voice.  In 1995 the amalgamation was wounded before it really got off the ground because of the unqualified 'talk around the coffee boat'.  A lack of understanding at the WO and Sgt level cannot be overcome by a single speech from a CO, SAMEO or SWO.  They have learnt that lesson.  You can expect an aggressive communication plan that they want you to champion.  They did not say that you have to be in full agreement.  They need you all to ensure that every members have the opportunity to ask questions and access the information they need to fully understand what will be happening in the coming years.

 More on the Resurrection of the Armament Trade (09 April 2008)

     Those who transfer to the new AWS occupation and had the 572 MOC will keep their current ranks.

  More on the Resurrection of the Armament Trade (28 March 2008)

     The name is going to be Air Weapons Systems (AWS).

     A4 Maint will be traveling across Canada to all Wings during the months of May and June giving presentations on the way ahead of the Air Maintenance community.  They will be asking those interested in transferring to the new AWS occupation to fill out a five minute survey.  That survey will allow them to determine the length of time it will take for the trade to be able to stand up on its own without the help of the AVN technicians.

     Once they have been across Canada they will be developing a FAQ and forum on the 1 Can Air Div Intranet Site.

     The AWS occupation will be opened to all trades including AVS.

 The 2008 Jim Zotek Memorial Armament Curling Bonspiel

     This is to inform you that the 2008 Armament Bonspiel is cancelled this year.  I certainly hope that it will run in 2009 as I will finally be able to attend to that one.  

     Sorry I have very little information about it at this time.

 Resurrection of the Armament Trade

     The plan is to remove all maintenance tasks and responsibilities associated with 'kill stores', Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) from the Aviation (AVN) occupation.

     The AWS trade will be manned by the transfer of willing qualified AVN technicians to the new occupation through Occupational Transfers (OT).  Should insufficient numbers of personnel elect to OT, a transition strategy will allow the interim employment of qualified AVN technicians in AWS positions until all positions are filled by those recruited into the new AWS occupation.

     Approximately 475 positions will be transferred from the AVN occupation to create the AWS occupation.  This occupation will employ the majority of new apprentices on the fleets that routinely operate 'kill stores' and hence have the greatest requirement for AWS skills.  Experienced technicians developed by these fleets would then be relied upon to fill the required standards positions and Wing EOD/IED/Air Weapons Safety positions on non-kill store fleets.

     Do not plan on seeing the new AWS trade until Military Employment Structure (MES) Implementation Plan (IP) is finalized which is to be completed and approved by July 2009.  Once the MES IP is approved, the recruiting and the voluntary OT of qualified AVN personnel to AWS may begin.

 Resurrection of the Armament Trade (05 March 2008)

 It is done.  As per the rumour, the resurrection of the trade was signed on 25 February 2008.  It has been said that it will take approximately six months before they will know how to proceed and what is to happen.

 As best as I can, I will keep you informed of new developments regarding the Armament Trade.