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Air Force officer Major Ken Pothier was honoured at Canadian Forces Base Kingston, Ont. in June for his expertise in educating Army personnel in the complexities of integrating air and Army operations.
Maj Pothier received a Commendation from the Commander of Land Forces Command (Army) for his “selfless commitment” and “total dedication” to the students and staff and to the success of the Army Operations course (AOC). The course is offered through Canadian Land Forces Command and Staff College in Kingston.
Maj Pothier, a member of the Canadian Forces Aerospace Warfare Centre, located at 8 Wing Trenton, Ont. is a helicopter pilot by trade. But he now spends his work days showing Army officers how and why the Army and Air Force overlap to ensure safe, effective and efficient joint operations.
“I’ve been very passionate about training for along time,” Maj Pothier said. “I was extremely honoured to be given that commendation. I am fortunate to be part of a very dedicated team.”
He is never happier as an instructor than when he recognizes his students understand the complexity of the air and Army integration process.
“It’s such a great feeling when you know that the students ‘get it,’” he said. “You can see it in their eyes, and I get such great feedback. You’ve earned their trust; and you can only get that by doing your job well and communicating effectively.”
His military career has spanned several decades, but Maj Pothier said the training turning point for him occurred in 1984 when he, as a young pilot, successfully completed the
Canadian Land Forces Command Staff course, the forerunner of the current AOC. As a result, he has been teaching for 25 years.
“I was a 24-year-old captain, by far the youngest in a course of 60 officers, and probably the youngest pilot to take the course to that point,” he said. “It was pure survival. It was a career-changing event for me.”
That course also opened Maj Pothier’s eyes to the critical importance of not only optimizing the integration of air and land-based operations, but to ensure armed forces officers understand why successful integration of those operations is important.
“In Canada, there is some separation between aviation and Army,” Maj Pothier said. “Land Forces are very busy keeping up with their land operation skills, and it can be very difficult for them to take on aviation skills.
“The challenge for us as aviators is to build trust with our customers, and get them to understand what can, and can’t be done,” he said.
Maj Pothier works with about 240 officers who take the AOC each year. He has been doing that since being posted to the CFAWC in 2005 – and he loves his job.
A retired colonel recently told Maj Pothier why he stood out from the rest of his colleagues. “He told me, ‘It’s your positive attitude that set you apart,’” Maj Pothier said. “I really appreciate that. It’s good to be recognized for who you are.”
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