In his youth, Hnatyshyn enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, where he was a member of 107 Spitfire Squadron in Saskatoon. He was enlisted as a reservist with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from 1951 to 1956, then served in the RCAF's 23 Wing (Auxiliary) from 1956 to 1958.
In his youth Hnatyshyn enrolled in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets where he was a member of 107 Spitfire Squadron in Saskatoon He was enlisted as a reservist with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) from 1951 to 1956 then served in the RCAF's 23 Wing (Auxiliary) from 1956 to 1958