Evidence of meeting #8 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was soldiers.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
All right.
Of the 2,050 soldiers who are in Afghanistan, how many are reservists?
4:10 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
According to our figures, they represent 15 per cent.
4:10 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
About 300 people. We have to keep them at this level because of our capacity.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Could you explain the composition of the group in Afghanistan? We are often told that for each infantry soldier in a theatre of operations, there are five or six soldiers behind to keep the theatre of operations functional. If there are 2,000 soldiers in Afghanistan, does that mean that approximately 500 or 600 are soldiers and the others are there to support them? How does it work?
4:10 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
The diagram that I provided to you shows the comprehensive contribution of the various units. Several units have their own mission in the Afghanistan intervention. The team in Kabul which is helping create the national government is composed of about 15 people. This team has its own mission and there is no overhead. The team training the Afghan army in Kabul is composed of 25 to 30 people in all. There is no overhead for this team either. The tactical group that carries out most of the manoeuvre operations outside the camp includes about 1,500 soldiers in all, and most of the soldiers leave the camp on a regular basis in order to conduct external operations.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
When they leave the camp, are they followed by mechanics, or chefs, for example? People must follow them when they are involved in such an escapade.
4:10 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
They would like to be followed by chefs.
4:10 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
No, they bring their meals in a bag.
4:10 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Do any mechanics follow them should they have any vehicle breakdowns, for example?
4:10 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
Absolutely. Our soldiers provide all the support. Because of the threats present in the Kandahar region, we must insure that it is our military forces that are providing the support.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
I have already been in theatres of operations. You often see civilians or private companies such as ATCO Frontec.
4:15 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
As there were in Bosnia.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Exactly.
Are there any in Kandahar? Are there any civilians who are working there? Are you responsible for their training before deployment?
4:15 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
No, they're under the control of other members of the Canadian Forces. We share the training provided by the civilians with our international partners in Kandahar.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
On your second diagram, you show that there is basic training. Does “low level soldier training” mean recruitment and the first 13 weeks, or does it mean something else?
4:15 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
No, this is basic training for every rank. When you are made a major, you receive the training to learn the duties of a major. Then you receive special training for your area of expertise, because you join the full team in order to contribute to the group.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
Is it true that there is currently a shortage of instructors because many have been deployed to theatres of operations? This criticism is often made. Do you agree with it? Are you often grappling with this problem?
4:15 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
As the Commander Land Force Doctrine and Training, I am responsible for the individual training of all members of the force.
It is not that we have an insufficient number of instructors for the mission. The problem is rather trying to achieve a balance between the size of our training force, the size of our operational force and what remains in Canada, because the rest of the army needs training as well. It's a capacity issue.
4:15 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
We have to take some leaders from our units and send them to our schools in order to train all of our soldiers. In a period of growth, we send more instructors and leaders to our schools.
The growth rate in our training centres is linked to the pace of growth in our operational forces and in our units here, in Canada.
4:15 p.m.
Bloc
Claude Bachand Bloc Saint-Jean, QC
So you are preparing the next group, over an 18-month period, so that they can take over in Kandahar.
Should the government ask you to start another theatre of operations, would we currently have the capacity to go elsewhere other than Kandahar?
4:15 p.m.
Commander , Land Force Doctrine and Training System, Department of National Defence
In terms of quality, yes. The quality of our people is always guaranteed. We have two operational fields. The second group is trained to the required level so that it can be deployed following a certain number of days of advance notice. Nevertheless, in terms of quantity, we do not have the same capacity.