Canadian Military's Dirty Little Secret

[Garett]

I went to a briefing today on US Army Lessons Learned from OIF and US Army Transformation. The presenter was a Cdn LCol posted to TRADOC as the CDN LO.

Turns out this guy was an exchange officer with the 3rd Inf Div just before, throughout and asfter OIF. I think he said he was the Chief Operations Officer for the Division (big time posn) and he was attached with the 3rd Brigade throughout the fight up Iraq.  He has the 3ID combat patch sown on his right shoulder on his CADPAT uniform.

I'm pretty sure the official stance of the Canadian Government is that Canada did not participate in OIF. I read one story about Cdn's on exchanges with the US and Brits when the war first started (22?), other then that there has been really a complete black-out of information on these soldiers. I think one of them was wounded by a grenade during the operation.

I'm really amazed that nothing about this is in the Canadian or even the American media. At a time where Cdn-US relations are not 100%, I'd think that some reporter out there would put a story out about this. It's like a complete taboo to even mention this subject.

My country is nuts.

 

[FSTO]

Remember those slogans of "My Canada Includes Quebec"? Well I quess in this era of the Liberal Party of Canada "Canadian Values", my Canada does not include: (Rant on) :rage:
Service Personnel who go where their told and do a great job;
Service Personnel in general and Service Personnel who are at the sharp end in particular;
Police;
Farmers;
Trades People;
Westerners;
and anybody else who don't subscribe to the Liberal Party of Canada mantra that all shall bow to the all-seeing power of the Natural Governing Party and if you do not unquestionaly obey their directives you will be branded a racist, homophob, republican, right-wing wing nut and the worst insult of all "Being Too Western".

Rant Off   :-X

 

[DELTADOG13]

Many Canadian soldiers, sailors, airmen and women served and are serving with OIF units. In the past many served with American and British units. The name that comes to mind is MGen Natancyuk( excuse my spelling of his name ). He was Deputy Corps Commander of the V Corps out of Fort Hood. This is a exchange posting for Canadian generals. Past Generals have been the above named who gained combat experience in command of US troops(very interesting from an American perspective), Gen. Hillier who trained their troops for peacekeeping duty and presently the post is held by BGen. Devlin of Afghan fame. Many other unnamed officers and NCO's share these oppurtunities to gain some combat experience on anothers nickel. Its not a secret to advertise this, its just that no one asks the right questions! Pro Patria

 

[Michael Dorosh]

It's like a complete taboo to even mention this subject.

If that was true, then why are you mentioning it?

The subject has been brought up from time to time in the mainstream papers.  Is it really big news?  We do exchanges all the time.

What would you like the national news or a major newspaper to say about them?  Personally, if it keeps our own terror-attack risk low, I'd say keep it quiet.

 

[winchable]

I could see the wrong people getting a hold of this and ruining it.

 

[DBA]

I remember seeing this story in the main stream news around the time Canada decided not to participate and during the early part of the war. Was a bit light on facts as the government never released the who, what or where of the Canadian service members involved. The story lost traction fairly quickly and dropped off the radar.

 

[George Wallace]

I'm really amazed that nothing about this is in the Canadian or even the American media. At a time where Cdn-US relations are not 100%, I'd think that some reporter out there would put a story out about this. It's like a complete taboo to even mention this subject.

If you look at these posts you will see that this is already the case.  

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/26807.0.html

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/24871.0.html

http://forums.army.ca/forums/threads/2738.0.html

 

[Zipper]

Another little tid bit that many do not know is the fact that we have had RCMP in Iraq for quite some time helping with the training of their police forces.

Good on them I say.

I don't know what the big deal is. Yes, we did not go and participate in the war. Which I agree with. But that does not mean we should wipe our hands of the entire country because of it.

 

[Acorn]

The RCMP are conducting the training in Jordan.

Acorn

 

[Zipper]

The RCMP are conducting the training in Jordan.

???

Ok. Then that RCMP officer I was talking to wearing an RCMP/Iraq training T who just got back was blowing smoke up my ass. Wouldn't be the first time I listened to BS.

:blotto:

 

[Garett]

When they state the Hardship and Risk pay levels in the Routine Orders they have the ones for Iraq.  I think the Risk level is the highest but the Hardship level is a level below Sierra Leone.

The RCMP and CSIS are active in countries where most Canadians, soldiers and policemen don't think they are.

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

I think I can clarify a few things here.

Canada has had three military/police "presences" in Iraq, as far as I recall.

First, are the exchange guys that we all know about.

Second is the RCMP training team that's operating in Jordan.   See link:
http://www.acdi-cida.gc.ca/CIDAWEB/webcountry.nsf/VLUDocEn/Iraq-Projects

Third, there was a Canadian officer (LCol) attached to CJTF-7 in Baghdad as the "Canadian national LO".   He was not an exchange officer and the position was terminated in Dec 03 on his recommendation (as Canada had no military involvement in Iraq per se).   It was a pretty hairy tour as the Green Zone was being routinely attacked (mortar and rocket) at the time.   Accompanying him - on an unrelated tasking - was a senior RCMP officer (Superintendent if memory serves) - to act as an advisor.   His position is mentioned on the CIDA website.

I believe, and am open to correction, that Canada has said we'll assist with NATO training of Iraqi forces - outside Iraq proper - but don't know what's come of this mission.

This is all open source stuff (nothing at all "secret" about it), but my knowledge could be a bit dated.   I will say, by way of "credentials", that my brother was the LCol with CJTF-7 so I heard (endlessly   ) all about his time there!

Cheers,

TR

 

[GonzoScribe]

Geez, I wish we could change the title of this thread.  As both a journalist and a supporter of our military, I can't help but think some of the journos reading this thread (believe me, there are more than a few!) could and would run the wrong way with this one.  Under the banner of National Security, we have many strategically placed ops, some mil, some police and some civvy, in many places we don't and shouldn't know about.  Instead of "dirty little secrets," I like to think of them as "little white lies" and ommissions of truth.  The few I have been able to research have me convinced the less we (those not directly involved) know about them, the better we will all be.  Have some comfort in knowing there are more than a few "intelligent" journos keeping tabs on these excursions and if anything arises in the public interest, they stories will break.

GonzoScribe

 

[karl28]

I am really glad that Canada military has troops in Iraq on exchange . Just wish the Gov.   would support them better . They work very hard and deserve what support we can give them