National Defence Committee on Oct. 21st, 2014

[MGen Michael Hood]

I said to you previously that there's a certain asymmetry in aviation assets. You just pointed out one thing: the turn radius of a MiG-21 versus an F-18. When we're operating with them—and imagine we're doing basic fighter manoeuvres—there's a good understanding among the pilots of the capabilities of those aircraft. We evolve how we're going to train to account for that. That's at the real basic level.

When it comes to the types of missions we do in NATO, whether those would be aircraft intercepts or air-to-ground missions, every country has a certain level of capability. Some can't drop the most modern ordinance, for example, while others can and that's all captured. When you're working together in an alliance you cater to the strengths of some to the benefit of all.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

In Poland for example, where we have roughly a company deployed there, how do you find that mission is going? They are ground forces and infantry-to-infantry, and I know they are doing common jumps, learning the Canadian platform, learning the Polish platform, and so forth. They are doing a lot of other training as they have done in other Baltic states and Germany.

[MGen Michael Hood]

In Germany right now. Yes.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

How are you finding that is working out? What is the impact on our troops from a training perspective?

[MGen Michael Hood]

I think I was relaying to you that the feedback from the troops is exceptionally positive. Getting to operate in a training environment with close allies, getting to do a lot of those types of activities, jumping out of aircraft, working in close concert, working in Germany and Poland and in the Baltic sets that level of activity. It is certainly what many young men and women join the Canadian Forces to experience.

From a pure experience level and the training value of them it's been very useful.

[RAdm Gilles Couturier]

Some of these young soldiers have not experienced Afghanistan for example. For them it's a very good opportunity to test those skills and increase their level of readiness operating with other countries. So they are very enthusiastic about what they are doing right now.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Absolutely, and hopefully that aids to retention as well down the road.

What are some of the problems you have found in particular there? It did take a little effort to set up the mission. Were there any issues with contracts, transport, or administrative issues in the front end that have all been resolved?

[MGen Michael Hood]

There was nothing in particular. I'm thinking that where we were operating in Romania was a very austere place. We had set up a camp of sorts and then we had to put a cement platform in when it flooded because of the local weather. When you talk about the normal type of friction that you would have on any deployment, it's not anything I'd remark upon here. It actually went very well and there was nothing I would take note of as a concern at this point.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

How would you assess the impact of Canadian involvement in this operation in the Baltics in particular, given that Russia is increasingly aggressive, not just against Ukraine of course but also by pushing the boundaries with Latvia? I was at the NATO conference and at the time they blockaded their own navy, their own water, and so forth. What's the impact of Canadian participation with both the CF-18s and on the ground in terms of the morale of our allies?

[MGen Michael Hood]

Certainly, the NATO expansion of the Baltic air policing I think is a strong indicator of NATO's resolve in the face of that aggression, with the enviable byproduct of certainly reassuring the countries that we're flying over. I know, irrespective of the element that we're talking about—the land, sea, or air—that NATO is getting stronger as a result of increased training, cooperation, and interoperability.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Okay.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

A very short question, Mr. Opitz.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

In terms of the reservists, do you see any role for reservists in Operation Reassurance right now just to keep up their skill sets and to be able to deploy with the troops and practice some of the skills they developed in Afghanistan and other places?

[MGen Michael Hood]

Absolutely. Our reservists are by and large interchangeable with our regular force, at varying levels of readiness. I couldn't actually tell you how many reservists are on the mission. It's not something that we actually think of all that much because we see them as the one Canadian Forces and they're well trained and able to do this mission, if that answers your question.

[Ted Opitz, Conservative, Etobicoke Centre, ON]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Peter Kent]

Thank you, Mr. Opitz.

Thank you, gentlemen, General and Admiral, for your time with us today. I'm sure all of us on the committee wish you good fortune in the continuance and completion of Operation Reassurance.

Thank you very much. We'll stand adjourned for 10 minutes and then return in camera for committee business.

We will suspend.

[Proceedings continue in camera]