Canadian Forces sets rapid pace for Transformation

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Chief of Defence Staff Gen Hillier just made a huge announcement today. I heard it on the CBC tv, but don’t seem to be able to find a current web article on it. Here is a link for forms sake. This release does not go into a lot of detail.

**Media Advisory: Canadian Forces Transformation Ceremony

MA-06.002 - January 27, 2006

OTTAWA – General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff, will preside over a ceremony on Tuesday, January 31, to stand-up four new operational commands – Canada Command, Canadian Expeditionary Force Command, Canadian Special Operations Forces Command, and Canadian Operational Support Command, as well as the dissolution of the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff Group.

The new commands become operational on February 1.
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This matter of Hillier’s timing is crucial. The new Conservative government may decide to replace him. The army loves Hillier.

The timing of the details of transformation is also crucial. The Conservative government has made a lot of campaign promises about upgrading the military.

If I remember correctly they will double the size of DART, buy transport planes so that we don’t have to hitch-hike on American or Russian planes, reinstitute the Airbourne, recruit 2000 new sailors for the Arctic, build a deep-water port in the Arctic, and buy three new ice-breakers to patrol the Arctic.

There are other promises, but I don’t remember them. I will try to post links to that info as I have time.

A few more details:

Canadian Forces sets rapid pace for Transformation

The Canadian Forces (CF) is approaching the end of the second of four phases of transformation.

Phase One was the development of a unified CF vision, which led to the establishment of a Chief of Transformation and the creation of Canada Command, along with the first of a number of subordinate regional joint headquarters.

Phase Two commenced last summer and deals with the fundamental restructuring of CF operational command and control. This will result in the separation of strategic and operational-level staffs.

A Strategic Joint Staff (SJS) will be created to provide strategic advice to the Chief of Defence Staff. Canada Command (Canada COM) will become responsible for domestic operations in North America, while the Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command (CEFCOM) will be responsible for international operations. In addition, a Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) and a Chief of Force Development will be created.

Phase Three will commence on February 1, 2006 when Canada COM and CEFCOM reach initial operational capability. Phase Three is expected to begin the alignment of enabling organizations and functions to the new structure.

Phase Four, expected to take place in late 2006, will resolve how force generation will be accomplished in the future…

1 Canadian Air Division will essentially become a “plug and play” operation within Canada COM.

 

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Backgrounder: Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command (CEFCOM)

Under the new CF structure, Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command (CEFCOM) is the unified command that is responsible for all Canadian Forces (CF) international operations, with the exception of operations conducted solely by Special Operations Group (SOG) elements…

CEFCOM will bring together under one operational command the maritime, land and air force assets to conduct humanitarian, peace support or combat operations wherever they are required internationally…

The deployable organizations under command of CEFCOM will include:

Standing Contingency Task Force (SCTF) that will be established to respond rapidly to emerging crises…

Mission-Specific Task Forces (MSTFs) … which will be drawn from forces maintained at different states of readiness and structured for longer deployments [and] carry out combat and peace support operations… They will be made up of maritime, land, air and special operations elements, and could be deployed as follow-on forces to the Special Operations Group (SOG), the SCTF or as stand-alone contributions to other operations. The MSTF will also be capable of lead-nation status in multinational peace support operations for limited periods.

Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). An enhanced DART, or its component parts, will continue to provide humanitarian support and disaster relief to overseas missions, as directed.

 

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Backgrounder: Canada Command

The creation of CANADA COMMAND means that for the first time, a unified and integrated chain of command at the national and regional levels will have the immediate authority to deploy maritime, land and air assets in their regional areas of responsibility in support of domestic operations…

The creation of CANADA COMMAND is based on the new international security environment and a commitment to place greater emphasis on the defence of Canada and North America…

CANADA COMMAND will command six regional headquarters; Northern, Pacific, Prairie, Central, East, and Atlantic. It will also be consistent with Canada’s commitments and obligations under the NORAD agreement…

CANADA COMMAND is based on a more command-centric approach to command and control.

 

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Backgrounder: Special Operations Group (SOG)

[A] Special Operations Group (SOG) … will be capable of responding to terrorism and threats to Canadians and Canadian interests around the world…

The SOG will be composed of Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2), the Canadian Forces’ special operations and counterterrorism unit; a special operations aviation capability centred on helicopters; a Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Defence Company ; and supporting land and maritime forces…

its primary focus will be to generate Special Operations Forces (SOF) elements to support Canada Command (Canada COM) and the Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command (CEFCOM).

New Canadian Forces Operational Commands Take Charge of Domestic, Special and International Operations

Canadian Operational Support Command (CANOSCOM) , commanded by Brigadier General Daniel Benjamin, is responsible for providing support to the operational commands including but not limited to logistic, engineering, health services, communications, and military police support, etc.

 

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Some history from 2003:

Connecting the dots: the carrier option, the Chretien doctrine, and transformation of the CF

Some history from 2003:

**Transforming the Canadian Army
******Speech to the Canadian Defence Industries Association, Ottawa

Some analysis of continental defence:

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Canada-US Relations & Missile Defence: List of Papers

Some commentary from an American soldier on the barriers to Transformation posed in Canada:

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Canada, Kandahar, and Civility: Gen. Hillier and His Critics

I can’t connect with army.ca to get any commentary from Canadian soldiers, but I know they have been talking about this.

 

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Chief of Defence Staff looking forward to new government


Gen. Rick Hillier
**

while Hillier is looking forward to the future, he also had a few comments about the recent past. Hillier said he was insulted by a controversial Liberal advertisement that came out during the election campaign. The ad never ran, but was shown on the Liberal party website. The ad was meant to attack Stephen Harper and the Conservatives, but critics called it an attack on the military.

Hillier said that “like almost every other man and woman in uniform - and I heard from thousands of them and their families - [we were] insulted by that commercial. We don’t think it reflects the national treasure that our men and women in uniform are.” Hillier struck a different tone when asked about the incoming Conservative government. The Conservatives are promising more money, equipment and troops for the military.

Hillier says the forces are ready to hire thousands more troops when the government gives the word. “Can we recruit them? Yes, we can. And then can we absorb them and train them and get them ready to be deployed,” he said. A new command structure for the forces was also unveiled. The Expeditionary Force Command will oversee the deployment of 2,000 Canadian troops in a dangerous new mission in Afghanistan.

“The risk is high, but Canadians have never before flinched in the face of danger,” said Hillier. It is a further shift in emphasis from peacekeeping toward aggressive military operations. For Hillier it is a choice. “We must export stability to a place like Afghanistan, or we will import instability that results from the lack of action,” he said.