CDS Message to the Troops
From: Chief of the Defence Staff/Chef d’état-major de la Défense
Friday, 19, November, 2010
Subject: Canadian Forces Engagement in Afghanistan beyond 2011 // Engagement des Forces canadiennes en Afghanistan après 2011
Earlier this week, the Government of Canada directed that the CF will remain engaged in Afghanistan beyond 2011 in a non-combat mission that will focus on training and building the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces.
We are ready for this important mission. With years of hard-earned combat experience, forged in difficult conditions alongside our allies, our whole of government partners and our Afghan comrades, we should be confident that we are ideally suited to train our Afghan partners. Indeed, we already have a lot of experience in mentoring and training the Afghan National Army.
It is a critical mission. This increased investment in the training of Afghanistan National Security Forces will enable Afghans to take full responsibility for their nation’s own security.
With the government’s intent to commit up to 950 CF personnel in a training mission until March 2014, we can move ahead on planning with our NATO allies in the coming weeks. I know from our many town halls across the country that the men and women of the CF want to make a contribution to the security of our nation.
The Afghan training mission will form part of an enduring legacy of service and sacrifice and tradition of partnership through which Canada and the CF will continue to contribute to the goal of building a stable, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan.
Thank you for your service.
General W.J. Natynczyk, CDS
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Ce message est envoyé à tous les clients sur le RED et par conséquent n’a pas besoin d’être réacheminé sur le RED.
Plus tôt cette semaine, le gouvernement du Canada a demandé aux Forces canadiennes de demeurer présentes en Afghanistan après 2011 pour mener une mission sans combats qui consistera à entraîner les membres des Forces de sécurité nationales afghanes.
Nous sommes prêts à entreprendre cette mission forte importante. Étant donné l’expérience que nous avons acquise pendant des années de combats durement gagnés dans des conditions difficiles aux côtés de nos alliés, de nos partenaires à l’échelle pangouvernementale et de nos homologues afghans, nous sommes convaincus d’être parfaitement en mesure de mener cette mission d’entraînement. En effet, nous avons déjà acquis une vaste expérience quant au mentorat et à l’entraînement de l’Armée
nationale afghane.
Il s’agit d’une mission essentielle, et l’investissement supplémentaire qu’elle exigera permettra aux Afghans d’assurer pleinement la sécurité de leur nation.
Le gouvernement compte affecter jusqu’à 950 membres des Forces canadiennes à cette mission jusqu’en mars 2014, et nous pourrons donc entamer notre planification avec nos alliés de l’OTAN au cours des prochaines semaines. Nos nombreuses consultations tenues à l’échelle du pays m’ont appris que les membres des Forces canadiennes tiennent à contribuer à améliorer la sécurité de notre pays.
La mission d’entraînement en Afghanistan s’inscrira dans le cadre des traditions de longue date de service, de sacrifices et de partenariat selon lesquelles le Canada et les Forces canadiennes continuent de contribuer à faire de l’Afghanistan un pays stable, prospère et en paix.
Merci de l’excellent travail que vous accomplissez.
Le Général W.J. Natynczyk, CEMD
Soldier heads overseas on last battle rotation
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24092 Patrick Lanouette (2008)
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12192 Major-General Tom J. Lawson, OMM, CD (RMC 1979) Assistant Chief of the Air Staff, Department of National Defence will be the keynote speaker at the Human Factors & Complex Systems Conference on Tue Nov 23 – 25 at the Ottawa Marriott, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Presented by the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI) in collaboration with Gladstone Aerospace Corporation (GAC), this conference will focus on the challenges and solutions for dealing with human factors issues associated with the development and operational employment of complex systems. MGen T.J. Lawson will address the strategic importance of human factors issues in expanding capability and functionality within new and existing defence programs on behalf of the Canadian Forces. More on the Conference
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Mighty Herc celebration evokes fond memories
“Sure, it had no problem flying on three engines. You could even take off on three engines,” said Lt.-Col. (Ret.) Tony Halliday, who flew the ‘E’ and ‘H’ models with 436 Squadron. “And when the plane wasn’t loaded, flying on two engines was pretty reliable as well.”
6181 Tony Halliday (RMC 196?)
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Roméo Dallaire: May the Zero Force be with him
“No, I never saw this as therapeutic,” he replied. “Because every time I do it, I feel like I’m going back to hell. All we’re able to do is build this mental prosthesis, which allows us to cope. But I never feel I am free of this – as if my arm has grown back.”
7860 Roméo Dallaire (CMR RMC 196?)
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NATO unit scouts Canadian battlefield sector
“It was recognized that a residual CF elements may remain in Afghanistan in a non-combat role post-2011,” said a mission analysis briefing for the country’s Ottawa-based overseas commander, Lt.-Gen. Marc Lessard.
11275 Lieutenant-General Marc Lessard (CMR 1977)
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22291 Judson Bridgewater (RMC 2002) was ordained to the Diaconate in St George’s Cathedral on Nov 21. He will serve in the Diocese of Ontario for three years and has been assigned to be in charge of the Parish in Loughborough. We hope to have a more detailed follow-up article in the near future.
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