Canadian soldiers are assets in achieving peace, says Vance
Published Wednesday October 7th, 2009
Friday night at the Canadian headquarters of Task Force Kandahar is unlike anything back in Canada.
Appointment books are full.
Top military minds gather, war is discussed and strategy is planned.
If the opportunity presents itself, there might be enough time for a quick break or even the occasional telephone interview with the media back home.
If really lucky, there may also be a chance to catch a bit of sleep.
It's a life Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, the commander of Canada's more than 2,800 military personnel in the embattled country, has gotten to know up close and personal since arriving in the region in February of this year.
Over the last several months, the number of Canadian soldiers to lose their lives in the war-torn country has shot up to 131.
During that time, there have been moments of remembrance for the fallen, as well as gut-wrenching ramp ceremonies, marking the return of a fallen soldier back to the land of the maple leaf.
Vance, a former commander of The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, said the tour represents the most compelling job he has ever had.
"It's had its highs and its lows," Vance said in a recent interview. "The lows are obviously associated with the loss of my soldiers. That is always hard. Overall, it's a tour that has not been without its challenges, that's for sure. But, I think it is going the right way."
One of the battles that never seems to end in Afghanistan is the fight against improvised explosive devices, or IEDs.
Vance has spearheaded the Canadian effort to rid the country of the Taliban's most effective weapon.
Over the last several months, Canadian troops have one of the highest percentages among alliance forces in finding and disarming the deadly devices before they explode and kill someone.
But the struggle isn't an easy one. Vance said IEDs are like the modern-day version of the artillery.
"Imagine if you were in the First World War and asking a battlefield commander, 'How are you doing in the battle against artillery?'" he said.
With the arrival of additional U.S. Forces in the region, Vance believes even more progress can be made in the overall fight against IEDs.
Generally speaking, Vance said, the tour has been a good one in that Canadian troops have accomplished a lot.
The commander said he's proud that an integrated military-civilian effort is underway in the region and that related techniques and methodology has proven effective.
"This tour has reconfirmed in my mind the amazing strength and resiliency of the Canadian soldier," Vance said.
"I am convinced that our greatest strategic asset is that smiling Canadian soldier who walks into an Afghan town and shakes hands with an elder and says, 'How can I help you?' I think that is the strength of Canada right there and our soldiers are brilliant at it."
He said it has been a great experience to see the Canadian team at work.
"I think this tour has cemented lifelong relationships, built on respect and admiration. It's an intense environment here. It's intense in its rewards and it's intense in its setbacks."
It's been a long eight months and change at the top is knocking at the door.
Next month, Vance will hand over command of Canadian Afghan operations to Brig.-Gen. Dan Menard, the former commander, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.
Menard's appointment was announced in January.
Vance said he's looking forward to getting back home to his wife Jennifer and daughter Olivia, to visiting Nackawic (his spouse's hometown) and to normal Friday nights.
Edmonton can be a lot different from Kandahar.
Vance said it's been an honour to serve Canada's troops in Afghanistan as their commander and to try and bring to bear all of the things Canadians would have their soldiers bring to bear in the country.
"It truly is a privilege working with such great people."
But, he said, he's also looking forward to future challenges.
"There is certainly life after Afghanistan."
Michael Staples covers the military for The Daily Gleaner. He can be reached at staples.michael@dailygleaner.com.
Disabled
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
Comments (2)
All comments are subject to the site Terms of Use. For a full commenting tutorial click here.
Our editorial team relies on filtering technology and our visitor community to identify inappropriate comments. In the event that a site user has submitted offensive content that has evaded our filter, please select the option to Flag As Inappropriate presented within the comment. Thank you for helping to keep this site clean.
I have the pleasure of knowing many of them and they are not only the best of soldiers, but also some of the most noble people you shall ever meet. Always support our troops. Do not confuse a yellow ribbon with a political statement, just a way of showing we are thinking of them. Remember your poppys, when the time is right. It is the very least we can all do.