Afghanistan


Canadian troops have been deployed in Afghanistan basically since 2001 on several Operations. Listed is the Operation name, the dates and the main unit. Within a Battalion Group (Bn Gp) there are several sub-units and trades people. This includes engineers, usually the Engineer unit associated with the Brigade group which the Battalion came from.

Op Apollo

November 2001 - July 2002
3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI Bn Gp)
Operation APOLLO was Canada's military contribution to the international campaign against terrorism.

Op Athena

August 2003–February 2004
3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battalion Group (3 RCR Bn Gp)

The objective of Operation ATHENA , Canada's contribution to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), is to take part in the United Nations (UN)-authorized, NATO-led mission in Kabul, Afghanistan, starting in August 2003.

Task Force Kabul is the formation that comprises all Canadian Forces (CF) units and formations committed to Op ATHENA.

The Canadian contribution is about 900 CF personnel currently in theatre. Canadian soldiers conduct regular surveillance missions in the ISAF area of responsibility. In addition, they are involved in a number of projects in cooperation with other members of the ISAF team. Of the 900 troops deployed on Operation ATHENA , about 700 are deployed in Kabul; the rest are deployed elsewhere in southwest Asia in support of the mission.

The following is an example of the structure of the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, based on Rotation 2. Each rotation may be different depending on the units tasked and the tasks for that rotation.
  • An armoured reconnaissance squadron group, based on a squadron of the Lord Strathcona's Horse (LdSH(RC)) with an infantry element from 3 Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry;
  • An engineer squadron based out of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, Edmonton, providing engineer support;
  • A training cadre to help train the Afghan National Army;
  • A National Command Element that links the Chief of the Defence Staff in Ottawa with Task Force Kabul;
  • A National Support Element, based out of 1 Service Battalion, Edmonton responsible for delivering centralized administrative and logistics support services to Task Force Kabul;
  • B Coy from 1 PPCLI, who are responsible for Force Protection at Camp Julien;
  • A Health Support Services unit based out of 1 Field Ambulance that provides medical and dental support to the task force;
  • An airlift element in Camp Mirage, the Canadian sustainment base located in southwest Asia, operating CC-130 Hercules tactical transport aircraft; and
  • An infantry element from 38 Canadian Brigade Group responsible for force protection in Camp Mirage.

Op Athena Rotation 1

February 2004 – August 2004:
3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment. (3 R22eR);

Op Athena Rotation 2

August 2004 – February 2005
Lord Strathcona's Horse (LdSH(RC)). Most of the personnel deployed come from Land Force Western Area.

Op Athena Rotation 3

February 2005 - August 2005
Announced on 12 November 2004, troops from Petawawa will deploy to Afghanistan for Rotation 3.

Op Athena Rotation 4

August 2005 - February 2006


Op Archer - Provincial Reconstruction Team

August 2005 - Jan/Feb 07?


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