Canadian Contribution Training Mission - Afghanistan

New rotation of troops at the ready!

VALCARTIER GARRISON, QC, Sept. 28, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - After four months of intensive training at Valcartier, some 850 soldiers who will form the next contingent of the Canadian Contribution Training Mission - Afghanistan (CCTM-A)  are ready to carry out their mission. Tribute was paid to the preparedness of Task Force 4-12 at a ceremony held at the Valcartier Garrison today at 6:00 pm.

Lieutenant-General Peter Devlin, Commander of the Canadian Army, found important to highlight, in the program given to the guests, that "the strength of the Canadian Army is represented by its soldiers and their level of preparation for expeditionary operations is second to none. The outstanding contributions of our Canadian soldiers will ensure the success of the overall mission".

Brigadier-General Richard Giguère, Commander of Land Force Quebec Area and Joint Task Force (East), who presided over the ceremony, said that "Task Force 4-12 will be deployed in the coming weeks after completing rigorous and specialized training. I am confident that our men and women, most of whom are from the Quebec Area, will represent the populations of Quebec and Canada with dignity by contributing to the training of an autonomous and competent Afghan security force."

As part of Operation ATTENTION, the soldiers of Task Force 4-12 will essentially provide support for the training and professional development of the national security forces of Afghanistan from October 2012 until June 2013. This task force, known as CCTM-A in Afghanistan, will be concentrated in Kabul, with a satellite team at the Regional Military Training Centre - North in Mazar-e-Sharif.

"After several months of training, our troops are ready and keen to begin their deployment and start, at last, to accomplish their mission in the field. The goal of Canada's contribution to the NATO training mission in Afghanistan is to support the people of Afghanistan with the creation, training and provision of support for a professional and competent Afghan security force that can take responsibility for its own security. It goes without saying that this mission will also provide a further opportunity to showcase the professionalism of Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and throughout the world," said Colonel Roch Pelletier, Commander of Task Force 4-12.

To learn more about Operation ATTENTION and the CCTM-A, go to: http://www.comfec-cefcom.forces.gc.ca/pa-ap/ops/attention/index-eng.asp.

SOURCE: National Defence

Captain Julie Brouillette
5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer
Telephone: [phone], ext 4688
Email: [email protected]