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Subject:
Canadian Numbers in Afghanistan Missions
Griffin
12/22/2007 12:03:38 AM
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Here is some information from the DND web site viewers may be interested in, regarding the Cdn. mission to Afghanistan.
Operation ATHENA: The Canadian Forces contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF): approximately 2,500 CF personnel
Overall, 2,500 CF personnel support the ISAF mission. CF personnel deployed as part of OP ATHENA comprise the following units (all figures approximate):
A Battle Group in Kandahar, primarily the 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment (3 R22eR) from the 5e Group-brigade mécanisé du Canada (5 GBMC), which includes:
Soldiers from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment based out of CFB Valcartier, as well as various Reserve units;
An engineer squadron from 5e Régiment du génie du combat (5 RGC) in Valcartier;
An artillery battery from 5e Régiment d?artillerie légère du Canada (5 RALC) in Valcartier;
An armoured reconnaissance troop, from The Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) in Petawawa and 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (12 RBC) in Valcartier; and
A Leopard tank squadron from the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (LdSH(RC)) in Edmonton, Alberta;
A Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) unit comprised primarily of personnel from 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (438 ETAH) based in St-Hubert, Quebec, and members from 5 RALC in Valcartier;
Health Service Support (HSS) personnel at the Multinational Medical Unit (MMU) at Kandahar Airfield comprised of personnel from 5e Ambulance de campagne (5 AMB C) in Valcartier, 1 Canadian Field Hospital (1 Cdn Fd Hosp) in Petawawa, and other Health Services units from across Canada;
About 300 CF members with the National Command Element (NCE) at Kandahar Airfield. The NCE is primarily composed of personnel from 5 GBMC in Valcartier;
About 300 CF members with the National Support Element (NSE) in Kandahar, primarily from the 5e Bataillon des service du Canada (5 BNS) in Valcartier;
About 30 CF members with the Multi-National Brigade (MNB) Headquarters including Canadian Deputy Commander, Brigadier-General Marquis Hainse are assisting British Major-General Jacko Page in accomplishing his mission and exercising command and control over the MNB Regional Command (South) in Afghanistan;
In Kabul, about 50 CF personnel at ISAF Headquarters, 15 personnel with a smaller NSE Detachment and 15 personnel working at the Strategic Advisory Team (SAT) who work closely with at the Canadian Embassy;
250 CF members with the Theatre Support Element (TSE) in Southwest Asia.
The Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT)
Since August 2005, a Canadian PRT has operated in Kandahar City, where it will remain until February 2009. The PRT brings together elements from the Canadian Forces (CF), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (DFAIT), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Corrections Services Canada (CSC) and civilian police led by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in an integrated Canadian effort known as the ?Whole of Government? approach. Approximately 250 personnel are based at the PRT site at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar City under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Chamberlain.
The PRT helps reinforce the authority of the Afghan government in Kandahar Province, assisting in the stabilization and development of the region. It monitors security, promotes Afghan government policies and priorities with local authorities, and facilitates security sector reforms.
The PRT military component comprises personnel, drawn largely from Land Forces Quebec Area (LFQA). The PRT includes:
The PRT Commander?s Tactical Headquarters Group, which provides protection and mobility to the PRT Commander and his staff;
In order to allow the PRT to enhance the reconstruction effort, an Infantry Company from primarily 3 R22eR is currently providing security to the various PRT detachments involved with various projects outside of Kandahar City. This company from Quebec also provides a quick reaction force for Kandahar City and the vital aspect of defence and security tasks at the PRT Camp;
Military project managers (military engineers) enhancing the PRT?s capability to manage quick impact reconstruction and development projects;
A Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) capability from LFQA;
A Military Police Platoon consisting of members primarily from 5e Peloton de police militaire (5 PPM) in Valcartier;
Health and medical support from 5 AMB C;
Service and support elements drawn from across Canada; and
Other specialized elements from various CF units across Canada.
Operational Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLT)
The Canadian Operational Mentor Liaison Teams (OMLT), commanded by Col Stephane Lafaut, advises, mentors and assists the senior leadership of the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) in their capacity building. This professional development initiative enables the ANA to help secure peace and stability in Afghanistan and extend the legitimate authority of the Government of Afghanistan.
Currently the OMLT consists of approximately 150 Canadian Forces members, primarily from LFQA and various other units across Canada, who are assisting and helping influence and shape the mentoring and training of approximately 1000 ANA soldiers. These ANA soldiers form the 1st Brigade, 205 Corps at locations throughout Kandahar province and are broken down into three Kandaks (battalions) consisting of about 350 soldiers each. The overall objective of the OMLT is to progressively bring the ANA to a level where it can independently plan, execute and sustain operations to provide military security for Kandahar province. The OMLT, therefore, assists in providing the people of Afghanistan with the hope for a brighter future by helping Afghans establish the security necessary to promote development and an environment that is conducive to the improvement of Afghan life and help Afghanistan become a self-sufficient society.
On May 15, 2007, the OMLT took over the responsibility for the mentorship of the 1/205 Corps of the ANA from the United States Army during a Transfer of Authority (TOA) parade in Kandahar City. The US, UK, and Dutch are also involved in mentoring the ANA in RC (South) including in both Kandahar and Uruzgan provinces.
Operation ARCHER (Approximately 30 Personnel)
The Canadian contribution to the U.S.-led Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan is known as Operation ARCHER.
Since the fall of the Taliban in December 2001, the International Community has been rebuilding Afghanistan?s infrastructure, institutions, government, and army. This effort involves more than just supplying weapons and equipment; Canada has contributed to the U.S. led effort to build a security infrastructure that includes operational forces, sustaining institutions, and the general staff and ministries to direct these organizations. The Combined Security Transition Command ? Afghanistan (CSTC-A) (formerly the Office of Security Cooperation - Afghanistan) is currently re-forming and building both the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP). The Canadian Forces currently has Brigadier-General Dennis Tabbernor and other CF personnel with CSTC-A in Kabul.
The CF also contributes 15 personnel to act as instructors involved in the training of the Afghan National Army at the Canadian Afghan National Training Centre Detachment (C ANTC Det) in Kabul.
Operation ARGUS (15 Personnel)
Strategic Advisory Team ? Afghanistan (SAT ? A)
Since September 2005 the Canadian Forces has, on a bi-lateral basis, provided a team of strategic military planners to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in developing key national strategies and mechanisms for the effective implementation of those strategies. The team is called the Strategic Advisory Team ? Afghanistan, or SAT-A.
The Strategic Advisory Team consists of 15 Canadian Forces members and civilian employees, augmented by a CIDA officer to advise on development issues. The team includes a small command and support element, two teams of strategic planners, a defence analyst and a strategic communications advisor. The composition, size and capabilities of the team are adjusted as necessary.
The SAT-A works in consultation with Arif Lalani, the Canadian Ambassador, the Head of Aid and a senior representative of the Afghan government in providing direct planning support to government ministries and working groups in the development and governance realms. To date, the team has worked extensively with the Afghanistan?s National Development Strategy Working Group, Public Administration Reform, Civil Service Gender Equity Policy, and with the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.
The teams are embedded in their partner Afghan Government ministries and agencies and work under Afghan leadership. The basic method of operation is that the team assists working level officials integrate the substantive ideas of the Afghan leadership and international experts into cohesive strategic frameworks. Working closely with the Ambassador, CIDA and the Afghan Government, SAT-A is an example of the ?whole of government? concept at work so that Canada can maximize the value of its contribution. The planning team members bring a very wide range of training, education, experience, and military strategic planning skills to bear on the resolution of complex civil problems.
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