...to detain an adversary. In the end, perhaps only two soldiers were required to do this job, but the entire force will have supported them, operationally, by providing medical care in the event of injury, providing communications, intelligence or firepower. The tactical group comprises approximately 1,500 people who are deployed on the ground, working together in order to achieve the same objective.
Moreover, the national command, which constitutes the chain of command providing contact with Ottawa, includes about 200 people. It provides intelligence to the forces. In addition, there is the national support group which provides supplies and support to our soldiers.
Indeed, we don't make any distinction between the combat soldier and the support soldier. They are all soldiers, they all participate in the same operation. We do a lot of manoeuvres in Kandahar, if we compare ourselves to our colleagues in allied forces.
It is difficult to provide you with figures, because it is difficult to make a distinction between those who are part of this group and those who are not. Most of the 1,500 soldiers in the tactical groups work outside of the camp.