KITCHENER — The thought that he will soon be heading to Afghanistan, that his life will be on the line, that he’s going to a place where other Canadian soldiers have died, doesn’t seem to worry Private Chuck Fernandes at all.

It’s what the 24-year-old Kitchener native has spent nearly three years preparing for.

Thirteen weeks of arduous basic training in St. Jean, Que., followed by 13 weeks of battle school at Canadian Forces Base Meaford. Then nearly two years of military exercises and drills at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa near Ottawa.  Read more... (616 words, 1 image, estimated 2:28 mins reading time)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – The RCMP has started looking at how to continue the police training mission in Afghanistan after the Canadian military pulls out next year, the Mounties’ top man said Saturday.

But Commissioner William Elliot noted there are a number of details and variables to be worked out, among them, who would protect and transport the police trainers as they go about their business in the volatile country.

“We’re at the beginning of looking at options, but there are a lot more questions than answers at the moment,” Elliot told reporters after wrapping up a brief visit to Kandahar.  Read more... (539 words, 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

KANDAHAR — The RCMP has started looking at how to continue the police training mission in Afghanistan after the Canadian military pulls out next year, the Mounties’ top man said Saturday.

But Commissioner William Elliot noted there are a number of details and variables to be worked out, among them, who would protect and transport the police trainers as they go about their business in the volatile country.

“We’re at the beginning of looking at options, but there are a lot more questions than answers at the moment,” Elliot told reporters after wrapping up a brief visit to Kandahar.  Read more... (538 words, 1 image, estimated 2:09 mins reading time)

Canadian combat troops are slated to leave Afghanistan next summer, but RCMP Commissioner William Elliott said Saturday he expects his personnel will have to stay behind to undertake the “huge challenge” of training police officers.

About 50 RCMP and other civilian Canadian police are posted to Afghanistan as part of a mission to train the Afghan National Police. The ANP, as it’s known, has had a reputation for roadside shakedowns and graft that Canadian officials hope mentoring, training and supervision will eradicate.  Read more... (486 words, 1 image, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed virtually all Canadian soldiers will leave Afghanistan by the end of 2011, making some of his most definitive statements yet on Canada’s future role there in an interview Wednesday with Canwest News Service.

Parliament has already decided the combat mission, involving about 2,500 troops centred around Kandahar, will end in 2011. The Department of National Defence has started preparing plans to bring the soldiers home.

But at various times over the past two years since that decision was made, there has been some discussion about using Canadian Forces personnel in a non-combat capacity or to station soldiers in a more peaceful part of the country.  Read more... (944 words, 1 image, estimated 3:47 mins reading time)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Canada’s chief of defence staff concedes 2009 was a “rough year” in Afghanistan, but he’s vowing to continue pursuing such strategies as having more soldiers leave fortified bases to live closer to the Afghan people.

Gen. Walter Natynczyk said a corruption-marred Afghanistan presidential election in the summer and growing violence in the war-torn country have made the past 12 months difficult.

Indeed, the period from July to September of this year is considered the most deadly in Afghanistan since the war began, with 223 allied soldiers killed, including 11 Canadians.  Read more... (598 words, 1 image, estimated 2:24 mins reading time)

Canada’s chief of defence staff concedes 2009 was a “rough year” in Afghanistan, but he’s vowing to continue pursuing such strategies as having more soldiers leave fortified bases to live closer to the Afghan people.

Gen. Walter Natynczyk said a corruption-marred Afghanistan presidential election in the summer and growing violence in the war-torn country have made the past 12 months difficult.

July to September is considered the most deadly in Afghanistan since the war began, with 223 coalition soldiers killed, including 11 Canadians.

Still, Natynczyk insisted Canada is making progress in Kandahar, the dangerous southern province, where most of our troops are based.  Read more... (467 words, 1 image, estimated 1:52 mins reading time)

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Canada’s chief of defence staff concedes 2009 was a “rough year” in Afghanistan, but he’s vowing to continue pursuing such strategies as having more soldiers leave fortified bases to live closer to the Afghan people.

Gen. Walter Natynczyk said a corruption-marred Afghanistan presidential election in the summer and growing violence in the war-torn country have made the past 12 months difficult.

Indeed, the period from July to September of this year is considered the most deadly in Afghanistan since the war began, with 223 allied soldiers killed, including 11 Canadians.  Read more... (596 words, 1 image, estimated 2:23 mins reading time)

OTTAWA – A special House of Commons committee focusing on the 2006-07 treatment of Afghan detainees should also examine the current treatment of Canadian-transferred Afghan detainees and their release from custody, sometimes back into the battlefield, New Democratic Party MP Paul Dewar said yesterday.

He made the comment in an interview about a written statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon that there have been 10 allegations of mistreatment of Canadian-transferred detainees in Afghan custody since the signing of a supplementary May 2007 agreement with Afghanistan on detainee transfers.  Read more... (475 words, 1 image, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

OTTAWA (Marketwire) – The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, announced today that Canada’s new fleet of 15 F-model Chinook helicopters will be based at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, Ontario.

The new CH-147F Chinooks will support land forces and other Government departments, secondary search and rescue missions, as well as responding to humanitarian emergencies such as fire, floods, and earthquakes.  Read more... (450 words, 1 image, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)