CF Transformation & the Operational Commands (Merged)

[McG]

The Land Force Area HQs will be folded into these regional commands, possibly as a sort of "Land Component Command".

Sounds a lot like some proposals passed about between mbrs of this site.

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

Pretty close, actually:

JTF Pacific
JTF Prairie
JTF Central
JTF North
JTF Eastern (Quebec)
JTF Atlantic (first to stand up - based on MARLANT and LFAA)

That gives the six mentioned in the article.   The terminology is that being used in Ottawa.

Cheers,

TR

edit to update info

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Oh man. I can see all the ninjasniperwannabes hanging around their local watering hole now! ;D

"Hey there sweetcheeks, do you know I'm part of the JTF?"

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

Bloody hell... ;D  The walts will always find a way regardless...

 

[Acorn]

Words I heard included "region" not JTF.

Joint Region Pacific (BC)
JR Prairie (AB, SK, MB)
JR North (currently Northern Region)
JR Central (ON)
JR East (QC)
JR Atlantic (NB, NS, PEI, NF)

I think we need to wait a bit before we find out what the real nomenclature will be.

Acorn

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

Got my terms while in Ottawa last week - right from the source, so to speak (no, not the CDS himself..!)

Watch and shoot, though... You could well be right.  We have too many damned TFs running around now!

 

[McG]

My initial impression was that Canada Comd would be parallel to the current force generation commands (the Navy's two coasts & the army's areas).  As it seems I miss-interpreted, will the LF area training centres fall directly under LFDTS (as opposed to the new Joint Area)?  What comd will be resp for infrastructure & bases?

 

[McG]

Command Canada to stand on guard
By SCOTT DEVEAU
Tuesday, June 28, 2005 Updated at 11:08 AM EDT
Globe and Mail Update

The Department of National Defence announced plans Tuesday to centralize its domestic operations, which it said will allow for more rapid response to security threats.

Minister of National Defence Bill Graham announced the new agency â ” Canada Command â ” in a press conference in Ottawa.

The new structure will also enhance co-ordination with the United States and other government departments to ensure Canada provides "the right mix of military capabilities to further improve the safety and security of Canadians," Mr. Graham said.

The centralized agency will enhance Canada's role in securing North America from terrorist threats, reinforcing its commitment to NORAD, he said.

Canada Command, will integrate regional commands under the leadership of Vice Admiral Jean Forcier. Vice-Adm. Forcier will be given the authority to deploy maritime, land, and air forces rapidly across Canada, including the North.

Vice-Adm. Forcier takes command of the new centralized agency, which is expected to be operational as early as the spring of 2006, on July 1.

Starting Wednesday morning, Vice-Adm. Forcier said he will meet with his planning staff of about 60 people to begin to develop the final operating concept, and the master implementation plan.

"Canada Command will allow the Canadian forces to bring the best available military resources from across Canada to bear on any crisis or threat wherever it occurs nationwide," Vice-Adm. Forcier said Tuesday.

Canada Command is "step one" in transforming Canada's armed forces into a more top-down command structure, according to Canada's chief of defence, General Rick Hillier.

"(Canada Command) is going to allow us to be more confident that we can fully meet our responsibilities to defend Canadians where the No. 1 priority is â ” at home here in Canada," Gen. Hillier said.

Since the mid-1960s the three branches of the armed forces have worked together to some extent but have had independent control over their forces, ships, aircrafts, and other equipment.

Canada Command will centralize the deployment of those forces.

"Right now, we have a plethora of responsibilities spread amongst a diverse group of commanders, and with a staff matrix that is somewhat complex. We're going to simplify that," Gen. Hillier said.

The federal government has said it wants to increase the size of the military by 8,000 people during the next five years.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050628.w2defence0628/BNStory/National/

 

[Infanteer]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/cdnmilitary/index.html

More of the same, so I won't put it up.

However, one line caught my attention:

The officer in charge of Canada Command will be the second most powerful uniformed officer in the Canadian Forces â “ reporting directly to the chief of defence staff.

Is this Commander going to be above the VCDS and the DCDS in authority?

As well:

The Department of National Defence said the commander of Canada Command "will be responsible for the conduct of all domestic operations â “ routine and contingency â “ and will be the national operational authority for the defence of Canada and North America."

That means the new Canada Command will be this country's equivalent of the U.S. military's Northern Command, created after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Graham said the creation of Canada Command would allow the Canadian Forces to react more quickly and more effectively to events across Canada, including the North.

The headquarters for Canada Command will be in the National Capital Region (Ottawa and Hull) but will be separate from National Defence Headquarters.

There will be six regional headquarters: Northern, Pacific, Prairie, Central, East and Atlantic.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier said regional commanders will have the authority to deploy land, sea and air resources where they are needed, without going through what he called the current structure's "complex matrix" of commanders.

So, the way I'm understanding it is that "Canada Command" is a unit under the CDS.  This unit has six sub-units (the regional headquarters).  Canada Command will issue all orders for Domestic Operations and the Regional Commands will be the active Force Employers.

Questions:

Will this be the regular Chain-of Command for all of our forces now?  (eg: 3 PPCLI ---> 1 CMBG ---> Prairie Command ---> Canada Command)?

Will the Regional Commands be Joint "Force Generators" for Overseas Operations?

Will the DCDS group still run the show for Overseas Operations?

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

A couple of points AFAIK:

-  Support isn't sorted out yet.  There is some talk of a "Support Command", but that is years off.  My guess is that the current Wing/Base/ASU structure will remain in place, reporting to their respective Regional Commands.

-  CANADACOM is the exact equivalent of US NORTHCOM in that it is a force employer only.  The same holds true for the Regional "Commands".  Thus the Land Component of each regional command force generates for its new joint HQ and for overseas missions.

A scenario for illustration:  say there's massive flooding in Manitoba along the Red River, affecting both the Province and North Dakota.  The Province asks for military assistance and the request for which is passed to the MND.  MND directs the CDS to assist.

This now becomes a CANADACOM mission.  Because the incident is in Prairie Region's AOR, it is responsible to CANADACOM for mission execution.  Prairie Region's MGen is instantly the "on-scene" commander.  He can direct his Land Component commander (a BGen) to deploy troops, his Air Component commander to deploy helicopters, can get airlift for evacuations instantly via CANADACOM and has - with one phone call - access to neighbouring regional formations.  CANADACOM is plugged right into US NORTHCOM, the American (Federal) force employer for any cross-border activity or issues.
 
For overseas service, deployments will fall under CEFCOM (Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command - love the name).  The environmental components force generate (via the regional commands) for CEFCOM on both a routine and "as required" basis.  Thus the Land Component commander for Prairie Region could be told to force generate an infantry BG for deployment OPCOM CEFCOM, which commands overseas.  Not much different than what we do now.  What I don't have sight of at the moment is where (if at all) CANADACOM fits into the force generation structure.  It is entirely possible that this will remain an "army" thing for now (ie:  CDS to CLS to Comd Land Component JTF Prairie)...  Watch and shoot.

Finally, Comd CANADACOM is a force employer (in the US: "Commander of a Combatant Command") and (as such) reports directly to the CDS for operations.  Look at it as the equivalent of CLS, etc..  It is entirely possible that the DCDS shop will fold into the Commands (J3 Intl to CEFCOM and J3 Cntl to CANADACOM, for instance) but I haven't seen anything on this.

I don't know if this is clear or not - let me know if I've been inarticulate.

Cheers,

TR

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

This just in:

CANFORGEN 116/05 CDS 053/05 281555Z JUN 05
CANADA COMMAND AND JOINT TASK FORCE ATLANTIC COMMANDERS AND STAND UP DATE
CANADA COMMAND

UNCLASSIFIED

THIS MESSAGE IS TO ADVISE YOU THAT I HAVE TODAY PROMOTED AND APPOINTED VICE-ADMIRAL J.Y. FORCIER, COMMANDER OF CANADA COMMAND (CANADA COM), AND HAVE CHARGED HIM WITH STANDING UP THE FIRST PHASE OF THE ORGANIZATION EFFECTIVE 1 JUL 05. THE COMMANDER CANADA COMMAND WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO ME.

THE CREATION OF CANADA COM IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE CF TRANSFORMATION PROCESS AND IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DEFENCE POLICY STATEMENT.

VADM FORCIER IS IDEALLY SUITED TO THE POSITION OF COMMANDER OF CANADA COM HAVING LED THE CDS ACTION TEAM LOOKING AT COMMAND AND CONTROL, AND GENERATING OPTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN OPERATIONALLY FOCUSED, INTEGRATED CF COMMAND.

CANADA COM IS THE OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS FROM WHICH THE CF WILL CONDUCT ROUTINE DOMESTIC OPERATIONS TREATING CANADA AS ONE AREA OF OPERATIONS. CANADA COM WILL EVENTUALLY COMMAND SIX REGIONAL COMMANDS THROUGHOUT CANADA.

THE CREATION OF CANADA COM MEANS THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME A UNIFIED AND INTEGRATED CHAIN OF COMMAND AT THE NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEVELS WILL HAVE THE IMMEDIATE AUTHORITY TO DEPLOY MARITIME, LAND AND AIR ASSESTS IN THEIR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY IN SUPPORT OF DOMESTIC OPERATIONS.

CANADA COMMAND WILL BE HEADQUARTERED IN OTTAWA BUT WILL NOT BE CO-LOCATED WITH NATIONAL DEFENCE HEADQUARTERS AT 101 COL BY DRIVE.

JOINT TASK FORCE ATLANTIC

I HAVE APPOINTED REAR-ADMIRAL DAN MCNEIL COMMANDER OF JOINT TASK FORCE ATLANTIC (JTF ATLANTIC) AND HAVE CHARGED HIM WITH STANDING UP THE FIRST PHASE OF THE OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS STARTING 1 JUL 05. THE COMMANDER OF JOINT TASK FORCE ATLANTIC WILL REPORT DIRECTLY TO CANADA COM.

JOINT TASK FORCE ATLANTIC IS THE FIRST OF SIX REGIONAL COMMANDS FROM WHICH REGIONAL DOMESTIC OPERATIONS WILL BE COMMANDED. THE CO-LOCATION OF MARITIME, LAND AND AIR HEADQUARTERS, FORMATIONS AND UNITS IN AND NEAR HALIFAX MAKE THE ATLANTIC REGION AN IDEAL LOCATION TO BEGIN THE TRANSITION TO A REGIONAL, OPERATIONAL COMMAND STRUCTURE UNDER CANADA COM.

IT IS ANTICIPATED THERE WILLL BE MANY VALUABLE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE JOINT TASK FORCE ATLANTIC EXPERIENCE WHICH WILL BE APPLIED TO THE PHASED-IN STAND-UP OF THE FIVE OTHER REGIONS -- EACH RESPONSIBLE FOR INTEGRATED CF OPERATIONS WITHIN ITS AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY. THE SIX REGIONS ARE: ATLANTIC; NORTH; EAST; CENTRAL, PRAIRE; AND PACIFIC.

Note the terminology - "Joint Task Force Atlantic".

 

[McG]

. . . so, LFAA will still exist.  It will be responsible to LFC for force generation, but it will be responsible to JTFA for Dom Ops?

 

[CH1]

Calling all OT's.

Doesn't this sound familiar?  Good step forward!  This sounds like we are stepping back some 30+ years with some modernised ideas.  Wonder if we will see the return of the sheep's head for Prairie Com?

Cheers

 

[Infanteer]

For overseas service, deployments will fall under CEFCOM (Canadian Expeditionary Forces Command - love the name).   The environmental components force generate (via the regional commands) for CEFCOM on both a routine and "as required" basis.   Thus the Land Component commander for Prairie Region could be told to force generate an infantry BG for deployment OPCOM CEFCOM, which commands overseas.   Not much different than what we do now.   What I don't have sight of at the moment is where (if at all) CANADACOM fits into the force generation structure.   It is entirely possible that this will remain an "army" thing for now (ie:   CDS to CLS to Comd Land Component JTF Prairie)...   Watch and shoot.

You're right, I do love the name (because I also proposed it 6 months ago.... ).

1)  Will CEFCOM be another Command on the same level as CANCOM?  EG: Canada will deploy forces to Durkastan - CEFCOM will designate what is required and the tagged regional commands will generate the required Forces.  The NCE of the mission will report to CEFCOM who reports (like CANCOM) to the CDS.

2)  Will CANCOM (and CEFCOM) report directly to the CDS?  If so, does this represent an evolution (and a loss of power) for the DCDS and his staff (I thought that all operations reported to the CDS through the DCDS group - the way I understood it, this was a post-Somalia reform).

3)  What are the Environmental Chiefs doing now that we have Joint Regional Commands - does anyone report to them anymore?  Do they now only deal with training, doctrine, etc, etc?  If so, this seems to be a loss of position for the Service Chiefs that they clawed back in the 1980's-1990's and a victory for Unification (as CH1 pointed out).

 

[Gunner98]

I was briefed thru HSS CoC that ECS and other staff in NDHQ will have strategic planning responsibilities only.   They are still working on the concept of a Support Command.   It seems to be a combination of Cdn historical, US Army and Marine terminology.

 

[Acorn]

So, the way I'm understanding it is that "Canada Command" is a unit under the CDS.   This unit has six sub-units (the regional headquarters).   Canada Command will issue all orders for Domestic Operations and the Regional Commands will be the active Force Employers.

A semantic correction: CANCOM would be a higher formation. The Regional JTFs (I bow to Teddy and the CANFORGEN) would also be formations, and would have subordinate formations (CMBGs and CBGs for the army).

Acorn

 

[Old Sweat]

Surely Canadacom is a command and the commander would have the powers of an officer commanding a command.

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

Acorn's right - CANADACOM is a formation, roughly equivalent to LFC, etc..

1)  Will CEFCOM be another Command on the same level as CANCOM?  EG: Canada will deploy forces to Durkastan - CEFCOM will designate what is required and the tagged regional commands will generate the required Forces.  The NCE of the mission will report to CEFCOM who reports (like CANCOM) to the CDS.

 More or less, yes.  Although the force generation part is still unclear to me.  The Army may well do it, working through the Land Component Commander in each Regional JTF.  I'm not sure they have the CEFCOM part fully worked out yet.

As an aside, the LF Area would likely become the Land Component portions of the new HQs.  Comd LFWA, then, could become the Land Component Commander for JTF Prairie.

2)  Will CANCOM (and CEFCOM) report directly to the CDS?  If so, does this represent an evolution (and a loss of power) for the DCDS and his staff (I thought that all operations reported to the CDS through the DCDS group - the way I understood it, this was a post-Somalia reform).

 Guessing, yes, I should think that the DCDS would "evolve" into CEFCOM and CANADACOM - replaced (eventually) by both.  DCDS is really the CF J3 (hence COS J3, etc), so the position could eventually "transform" in that direction.  We're talking massive restructure here.

3)  What are the Environmental Chiefs doing now that we have Joint Regional Commands - does anyone report to them anymore?  Do they now only deal with training, doctrine, etc, etc?  If so, this seems to be a loss of position for the Service Chiefs that they clawed back in the 1980's-1990's and a victory for Unification (as CH1 pointed out).

 The ECs don't command on operations anyway - any operation.  Even for domestic operations, the Area Commanders (currently responsible for Dom Ops) report directly to the DCDS for operational matters.  Until the entire structure shakes out, the ECs may not have to change much.

Doesn't this sound familiar?  Good step forward!  This sounds like we are stepping back some 30+ years with some modernised ideas.  Wonder if we will see the return of the sheep's head for Prairie Com?

 It isn't the the Hellyer fiasco discussed on other thread.  It is joint, not unified - there is a significant difference (see my point above).  The Ram's head is currently used by 1 CMBG, 1 ASG and LFWA - it never really left.

Cheers,

Teddy

 

[Infanteer]

A semantic correction: CANCOM would be a higher formation. The Regional JTFs (I bow to Teddy and the CANFORGEN) would also be formations, and would have subordinate formations (CMBGs and CBGs for the army).

Acorn's right - CANADACOM is a formation, roughly equivalent to LFC, etc..

Yeah, I was aware of that - I was only using unit and sub-unit to simplfy it in an attempt to make out the new "lines and boxes" for Chain-of-Command and responsibilities.   My fault for not using the right lingo....

More or less, yes.   Although the force generation part is still unclear to me.   The Army may well do it, working through the Land Component Commander in each Regional JTF.   I'm not sure they have the CEFCOM part fully worked out yet.

Is it necessary to have a "Land Component Command", along with, I'm assuming, an "Air Component Commander" and a "Maritime Component Commander" in Regional Commands?   Doesn't this just obfuscate the need for a Regional Commander if all he is going to do is to deal with independent commands under him?

It seems to me that we may have just created another layer of Command.

As an aside, the LF Area would likely become the Land Component portions of the new HQs.   Comd LFWA, then, could become the Land Component Commander for JTF Prairie.

What do we still need LFWA for?   I am assuming the 39 CBG will now fall under Pacific Command while 1 CMBG, 41 and 38 CBG fall under Prairie Command.

Guessing, yes, I should think that the DCDS would "evolve" into CEFCOM and CANADACOM - replaced (eventually) by both.   DCDS is really the CF J3 (hence COS J3, etc), so the position could eventually "transform" in that direction.   We're talking massive restructure here.

Hmmm, if we now have Formation Commanders responsible directly to the CDS, than I could see the DCDS losing some stature as he returns to being a Staff Member (my understanding was that the DCDS group had Command Authority when it came to operations).

The ECs don't command on operations anyway - any operation.   Even for domestic operations, the Area Commanders (currently responsible for Dom Ops) report directly to the DCDS for operational matters.   Until the entire structure shakes out, the ECs may not have to change much.

But doesn't, under the current mixup, the major Service formations report to their respective Service Staffs?   LFWA, LFCA, LFNA, SQFT, and LFWA report to CLS, while Pacific and Atlantic Fleets report to CMS and 1st Air Div reports to CAS?   Is that not correct?

If the above is how it works, than I'd imagine substanital change if now all these areas are broken up and instead report to Regional Commanders and Canada Command.

It is joint, not unified - there is a significant difference (see my point above).

I guess, if there is a Component Commander for each Service in each Region, then yes - this is more Joint than Unified.   I still think that Unified Commands should be the eventual target as they are better integrated and can skim off an entire layer of the C-of-C.

 

[Teddy Ruxpin]

Is it necessary to have a "Land Component Command", along with, I'm assuming, an "Air Component Commander" and a "Maritime Component Commander" in Regional Commands?  Doesn't this just obfuscate the need for a Regional Commander if all he is going to do is to deal with independent commands under him?

It seems to me that we may have just created another layer of Command.

What do we still need LFWA for?  I am assuming the 39 CBG will now fall under Pacific Command while 1 CMBG, 41 and 38 CBG fall under Prairie Command.

  Right, LFWA would get the chop - as would MARPAC, 1 CAD, etc.  It isn't another level of command.  By my count we go from around eight HQs to six.  A Joint HQ has to have each component commander as the technical expert for force employment and to simplify the command and control.  The component commanders would each be part of the Regional HQ.  For example (from deployed ops), JTFSWA in Tampa had a BGen Comd.  Under him were a naval component commander (embarked in the Gulf), a Land Component Commander (in Afghanistan) and an air component commander (at Mirage).  All reported to the same boss - one HQ.

Hmmm, if we now have Formation Commanders responsible directly to the CDS, than I could see the DCDS losing some stature as he returns to being a Staff Member (my understanding was that the DCDS group had Command Authority when it came to operations).

  The DCDS runs operations on behalf of the CDS.  It is staff authority, rather than command (not that there's much difference at that level!).

But doesn't, under the current mixup, the major Service formations report to their respective Service Staffs?  LFWA, LFCA, LFNA, SQFT, and LFWA report to CLS, while Pacific and Atlantic Fleets report to CMS and 1st Air Div reports to CAS?  Is that not correct?

  Yes, but not for operations.  ALL operations report to the DCDS shop, although the Navy and AF have slightly different ways of doing business.  The Navy runs operations centres on each coast that report to the DCDS, while the AF has CANR which does the same.  Each LFA has an operations centre that reports directly to J Staff for operations.  Note, though, that none of these entities report - on operational matters - to the Service Chiefs.  They are merely kept informed as a matter of courtesy and because the Services do all the force generation for operations.  DLFR is double-hatted as J3 Land.

If the above is how it works, than I'd imagine substanital change if now all these areas are broken up and instead report to Regional Commanders and Canada Command.

  That's for sure!!

I guess, if there is a Component Commander for each Service in each Region, then yes - this is more Joint than Unified.  I still think that Unified Commands should be the eventual target as they are better integrated and can skim off an entire layer of the C-of-C.

  The structure should evolve over time.  The "environments" may well disappear, but I personally would prefer training and procurement to be an Army matter as opposed to "purple".

Cheers,

TR