CTV News has reported that the new Chief of Defence Staff will be Lt. Gen. Jonathan Vance, who is a veteran of the War in Afghanistan, where he commanded Canadian troops between 2009 and 2010 before moving to the position of Deputy Commander of the Allied Task Force, Naples Italy. He will replace Gen. Tom Lawson later this fall.
He was later named Commander of the Canadian Joint Operations last September in Canada's fight against ISIS.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Canada in Iraq: RCAF CF-18's Conduct 6 Airstrikes against ISIS
BREAKING NEWS
According to the DND Technical Briefing, updating Canada's mission in Iraq and Syria today - RCAF CF-18's have conducted an additional 6 airstrikes in Iraq since the last update.
On March 24, 2015 - Two CF-18's targeted a vehicle born IED, and a Heavy Engineering Equipment being used by ISIS forces.
On March 29, 2015 - CF-18's coordinated two strikes on ISIS weapons cashes near Fallujah, Iraq.
On March 30, 2015 - CF-18's bombed ISIS fighting positions in support of Iraqi ground forces who where under heavy enemy fire. The airstrikes allowed Iraqi's to complete their ground mission.
On March 31, 2015 - CF-18's bombed ISIS fighting positions west of Mosul, Iraq.
To date, 54 airstrikes have been conducted by RCAF CF-18s in Iraq.
The CAF says that it has not yet conducted any sorties over Syria, and are still in the planning stages with Coalition forces.
According to the DND Technical Briefing, updating Canada's mission in Iraq and Syria today - RCAF CF-18's have conducted an additional 6 airstrikes in Iraq since the last update.
On March 24, 2015 - Two CF-18's targeted a vehicle born IED, and a Heavy Engineering Equipment being used by ISIS forces.
On March 29, 2015 - CF-18's coordinated two strikes on ISIS weapons cashes near Fallujah, Iraq.
On March 30, 2015 - CF-18's bombed ISIS fighting positions in support of Iraqi ground forces who where under heavy enemy fire. The airstrikes allowed Iraqi's to complete their ground mission.
On March 31, 2015 - CF-18's bombed ISIS fighting positions west of Mosul, Iraq.
To date, 54 airstrikes have been conducted by RCAF CF-18s in Iraq.
The CAF says that it has not yet conducted any sorties over Syria, and are still in the planning stages with Coalition forces.
 |
| A RCAF CF-18 taxis before take off for a mission above Iraq, as part of Operation IMPACT - November 2014 Photo: CF Combat Camera |
3rd RCR & Ex MOUNTAIN WARRIOR in Poland
DND revealed yesterday that approximately thirty-five (35) members of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) based out of Petawawa will be participating in Exercise MOUNTAIN WARRIOR in Trzclaniec, Poland throughout the month of April.
The 3rd RCR is joining in on this exercise with our Polish NATO ally to better develop our mountaineering expertise, says the news release from DND. The exercise will further promote interoperability, collective training and overall operation proficiency.
Exercise MOUNTAIN WARRIOR is a training exercise held every year, hosted by Poland's 25th Air Cavalry Brigade Reconnaissance Company. They regularly operate in the mountain regions, high altitudes and cold weather environments. This training will help prepare Canadian troops for operations in mountainous regions, high altitudes and extreme weather conditions that are usually only found in mountain regions. Each soldier will traverse steep mountain passes while carrying 25kg of cold weather gear and other survival kit.
The 3rd RCR is joining in on this exercise with our Polish NATO ally to better develop our mountaineering expertise, says the news release from DND. The exercise will further promote interoperability, collective training and overall operation proficiency.
Exercise MOUNTAIN WARRIOR is a training exercise held every year, hosted by Poland's 25th Air Cavalry Brigade Reconnaissance Company. They regularly operate in the mountain regions, high altitudes and cold weather environments. This training will help prepare Canadian troops for operations in mountainous regions, high altitudes and extreme weather conditions that are usually only found in mountain regions. Each soldier will traverse steep mountain passes while carrying 25kg of cold weather gear and other survival kit.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Canada's Mission Costs Partly Revealed
Following yesterday's announcement that the Conservative Government would classify OP IMPACT and OP REASSURANCE's budget as classified, for the purpose of National Security. This caused both opposition parties to cry foul.
Today, Defence Minister Jason Kenney, announced that Canada's one year extension in Iraq and expansion into Syria will cost tax payers $406 million, and has instructed DND to include the figure in federal budget reports.
But the remaining details for the price of the missions may still be classified - which would be the first time since 1996/97 that such figures have been classified.
OP IMPACT has 600 troops in Kuwait, 6 CF-18s, 1 CC-150 Polaris, and 2 CP-140 Aurora Aircraft.
OP REASSURANCE has seen CF-18s patrol the Baltic's, RCN frigates deployed to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, as well as several rotations of troops preforming training with Baltic States as well as the Polish Army.
Today, Defence Minister Jason Kenney, announced that Canada's one year extension in Iraq and expansion into Syria will cost tax payers $406 million, and has instructed DND to include the figure in federal budget reports.
But the remaining details for the price of the missions may still be classified - which would be the first time since 1996/97 that such figures have been classified.
OP IMPACT has 600 troops in Kuwait, 6 CF-18s, 1 CC-150 Polaris, and 2 CP-140 Aurora Aircraft.
OP REASSURANCE has seen CF-18s patrol the Baltic's, RCN frigates deployed to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, as well as several rotations of troops preforming training with Baltic States as well as the Polish Army.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Canada to begin Bombing Campaign in Syria
Yesterday, after several hours of debate in the House of Commons in Ottawa, the Conservative majority voted in favour (142-129) to extend Canada's mission against ISIS for one year (until the end of March 2016) and to expand our aerial campaign into neighbouring Syria.
Much of the debate centred around the international legal issues with conducting bombing in a sovereign country. Canada says it is following the same legal authority the United States is using to bomb ISIS positions in Syria. The opposition NDP, who are against the mission, believe that the campaign will indirectly aid the Syrian dictator in continuing his civil war. The 3rd party Liberals, believe that Canada should be doing more humanitarian aid, and accept another 25,000 refugees. One former Liberal, who was expelled from Caucus late last year, broke ranks with his former party and voted with the Conservatives.
The United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs praised Canada's actions in the Middle East, and Canada's expansion against ISIS in Syria. He said however, the UK would not be expanding into Syria, as they are conducting the most aerial attacks in Iraq behind the US.
Much of the debate centred around the international legal issues with conducting bombing in a sovereign country. Canada says it is following the same legal authority the United States is using to bomb ISIS positions in Syria. The opposition NDP, who are against the mission, believe that the campaign will indirectly aid the Syrian dictator in continuing his civil war. The 3rd party Liberals, believe that Canada should be doing more humanitarian aid, and accept another 25,000 refugees. One former Liberal, who was expelled from Caucus late last year, broke ranks with his former party and voted with the Conservatives.
The United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs praised Canada's actions in the Middle East, and Canada's expansion against ISIS in Syria. He said however, the UK would not be expanding into Syria, as they are conducting the most aerial attacks in Iraq behind the US.
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