Canadians in Afghanistan: what Operation Attention?

Nicolas Laffont is currently on assignment in Afghanistan with the Canadian Forces deployed for Operation Attention. 

For more than a decade that the Afghan war has begun and Canadians have been present since January 2002.

The combat mission in Kandahar which was based in the south of the country, ended in July 2011.

Since the present contingent of Canadian military declined to about 900 soldiers train Afghan security forces. This is what the military calls Operation Please note that the Canadian Contribution Training Mission - Afghanistan (CCFM-A).

Trainers, teachers, educators, advisors, ... In the context of this operation, Canada sent its military to provide support for training and professional development for national security forces of Afghanistan: Afghan National Army (ANA) Afghan Air Force (AAF) and the Afghan National Police (ANP).

The aim is to support the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan when NATO troops leave the country in 2014.

The Government of Canada has allocated a budget of nearly $ 700 million per year between 2011 and 2014 (500 million military presence, 85 million for the installation and close the training mission and 100 million in aid and development ).

After a rotation 0 in July 2011 and one rotation in February 2012, is now the "roto" 2 to be in control.Feature of this deployment? They are almost all Quebecers.

In October and November, it is indeed nearly 870 soldiers who flew from the Jean-Lesage International Airport Quebec City to visit the capital of Afghanistan: Kabul.

Distributed in a dozen camps in Kabul (and another in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif in the north), the new rotation is commanded by Colonel Roch Pelletier.

In the coming weeks, 45eNord.ca will visit each camp in which Canadians are:

• Camp Phoenix is the headquarters of the Canadian Contribution Training Mission - Afghanistan.
• Camp Blackhorse , the Centre consolidated commissioning. It is here that are formed kandaks , units of the size of a battalion of infantry, combat support, combat service support and route clearance for operational service.
• New stadium in Kabul , this is where the Academy of Medical Sciences of the armed forces (ASMFA). Canadians notify the clinical level and develop leadership in place.
• At the Kabul International Airport North , is the School of Afghan Air Force where Canadians are consultants that support instruction and mentors Afghan cadre.
• The Regional Military Training Centre - North is located at Camp Mike Spann in Mazar-e-Sharif. A team of Canadian Forces medical help establish a sustainable medical capacity within the Afghan National Security Forces.
• Camp Julien , the Centre for Literacy of Darulaman. 1400 Afghan can be accommodated at any time Canadians have established a Training Advisory Team.
• At Camp Alamo is the Military Training Centre in Kabul, which is the main training center for the Afghan National Army. The contingent of Canadian military to provide support Command Team and Afghan instructors.
• Finally, Camp Eggers is the headquarters of the training mission in Afghanistan, where NATO is a large contingent of Canadians whose mission commander training Canadian Major-General Jim Ferron, who also serves as Deputy Commander - Operations NATO mission.