CSOR Concludes Ex. FLINTLOCK 2019

A member of Canadian special forces conducts training with African forces during Exercise Flintlock. CANSOFCOM photo 

By: David Pugliese, The Ottawa Citizen 

Earlier this month Canadian special forces were in Africa taking part in the annual U.S.-led Exercise Flintlock.

Canada’s participation in Flintlock 2019 started in Burkina Faso on Feb. 18 and went until March 1.

Elements of the Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) from Petawawa participated in the exercise, which is part of Canada’s commitment to counter-terrorism and capacity-building in the Sahel region.

CSOR personnel worked with the Forces Armées Nigeriennes in Bobo Dioulasso, Burkino Faso. CSOR also had a staff officer working in the Joint Military Headquarters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The Canadian Forces Health Services Group also sent a mobile surgical resuscitation team to provide primary medical support to the exercise.

In total, around 50 Canadians took part in the exercise.

Like in previous years, CSOR focused on providing training in firearms, patrolling and night operations and the Law of Armed Conflict

CAF Special Forces in Niger for FLINTLOCK-17

By: David Pugliese, Defence Watch 

Exercise Flintlock 2017 – which brings African military units together with western special forces – began in Diffa, Niger on Feb. 27. It runs until March 16.

This is the second time Niger has hosted Flintlock, an annual multinational special operations forces exercise designed to reinforce military capabilities of those nations taking part. “Flintlock calls for training together to exchange knowledge and reinforce our operational capabilities,” Col. Mukala Altini, Zone 5 Commander, Forces Armees Nigerinnes, or FAN, said in a news release. “The concept of Flintlock is a result of a common willingness expressed to fight against extremism and terrorism.”
Units being trained will be able to use the skills against Boko Haram, ISIS and Al Qaeda in the Maghreb.

3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) of the U.S. Army Special Operations Force as well as special forces from Canada, Australia and Belgium will be operating in Niger for Flintlock 2017.

Capt. Sally-Ann Cyr, a spokeswoman for the Canadian Special Operations Regiment at Petawawa Garrison, said approximately 20 military personnel from Canada are taking part in the exercise this year. That includes CSOR staff and specialists from the Canadian Forces health services group.

She said Canada is partnered with the FAN – the Niger Armed Forces (Forces Armées Nigeriennes).

The Flintlock exercise will involve, in total, approximately 2,000 military members from more than 20 African, European and North American countries. Those include Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Chad, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom and the U.S. The exercises are being hosted in different locations this year, including Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

Ex. CUTLASS EXPRESS Begins

DND Press Release

Canadian Armed Forces members on Operation ARTEMIS are deploying to eastern Africa and island nations in the Indian Ocean as part of Exercise CUTLASS EXPRESS (CE) 17. CE 17 is taking place in Djibouti (Djibouti), Port Louis (Mauritius), Mombasa (Kenya) and Antsiranana (Madagascar), from January 30 to February 8, 2017.

CE 17, sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and conducted by Naval Forces Africa (NAVAF), aims to assess and improve international maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security in eastern Africa, inform planning and operations, and shape Security Force Assistance efforts. CAF personnel, along with their Australian team members comprise Combined Task Force 150 (CTF 150). CTF 150 is the Combined Maritime Forces’ lead for this exercise.

CAF personnel will deploy in a variety of roles across the CE 17 locations. In addition, members of the Canadian Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police will also participate as advisors, mentors and subject matter experts to enhance CE 17 exercise scenarios with the goal of developing enduring capacity building in eastern African nearby island nations.