Canadian troops headed to U.S. survival school for Afghan risks

OTTAWA—The military is seeking security and survival training for Canadian soldiers who must “operate outside the wire” in Afghanistan, a mission that had been originally been pitched as low-risk.

And they want to give the work to a private American contractor.

The revelations raise questions about why Canada must turn to the United States when a generation of soldiers has gained combat expertise risking life and limb over the last few years in Kandahar.

It also tests the Conservative government’s assurance that the more than 900 soldiers involved in the 2011-2014 training mission would be operating largely out of harm’s way.

“Deployed (Canadian Forces) members now have a standing task to operate outside of the wire (OTW) to fulfill its tasks while deployed,” says a government document soliciting firms to bid on a training contract.

“Tactics that are now taught as part of the basic courses require added training for the CF. members to maximize their survivability while deployed on overseas operations.”

The document was posted to a government website just days after Master Cpl. Byron Greff, an Edmonton-based infantryman with the 3rd Battalion of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, was killed by a suicide bomber driving a car packed with explosives.

The military convoy — an armoured bus escorted by two armoured patrol vehicles — was travelling between a training base and headquarters in Kabul at the time of the incident.

Greff was one of five NATO soldiers killed. Another eight civilian contractors and four Afghans were killed in the blast, which also injured many others.

When Prime Minister Stephen Harper committed Canada to the training role one year ago, he said he was confident it presented “minimal risks for Canada.” Following Greff’s death, his tune changed.

“Any mission in Afghanistan involves significant risks.”

The contract is for “highly qualified instructors” to deliver training on the Sig Sauer pistol and C-8 Carbine assault rifle.

Soldiers are also to take “a team-focused, driving training program with a focus on overcoming danger areas in line with what may be encountered on current overseas operations.”

The military won’t say how many troops are to receive training at the Virginia facility, citing “operational security.” But it says the course is “highly specialized and is only required by a small portion of the (Canadian Forces).”

In this case, the force says, getting the service from a private firm is more cost effective because it is only required a few times a year.

Previous deployments of soldiers to take part in combat operations in Kandahar were sent to a mock Afghan village in Wainwright, Alta., for training and often sent down to the U.S. for additional training to operate as a thousand-soldier battle group.

The current contract on offer notes the defence department intends to award the contract to Team Crucible, a Virginia private security firm that provides hostile environment training to U.S. government employees and other civilians who work in conflict zones.

“The Crucible has exclusive ownership of the proposed training package. The Crucible employs the same weapons that are currently in CF. service,” said the military’s justification for giving the contract to the American firm.

“Training on different weapons than would be operationally employed creates inherently unsafe and potentially dangerous situations for all personnel involved.”

The Canadian contract would run for 11 days starting Jan. 16, 2012.

Origin
Source: Toronto Star