Dear LFWA honouraries,

In this monthly update we have gathered news items, upcoming events and internet information sources that we hope will be of interest and use to you.

1. NEWS - PAST 30 DAYS

The Western Sentinel, Vol. 14, No. 2, 02 Feb 2012

http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/western_sentinel/westernsentinal_feb2/2012013101/#1

Helmets to Hardhats

Transitioning into civilian just got easier for CF members.  On Jan 06 Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Helmets to Hardhats program in Edmonton.  It pledges $150,000 for initial start up costs to help veterans, CF members and Reservists with accessing a range of job opportunities in the construction industry, apprenticeships and building trades.  [More…]

Life Saving Award for Saskatchewan Duo

(Maj Tony Engleberts)

On Apr. 11, 2012, Cpls Brower & Hrycuik worked together and used their first aid skills to save lives.  They were close to the scene when they witnessed a small plane crash into a sound barrier while on its approach to the Saskatoon Airport.  Without hesitation, they ran to assist the occupants trapped inside.  Realizing the plane was leaking fuel and posing an immenent danger of explosion, they pulled the three casualties from the wreakage and to safety.  They assessed the casualties and worked together to administer emergency first aid.  They stayed with the casualties and continued to monitor their conditions until emergency services arrived.  Cpls Bower and Hrycuik were commended for their courageous actions, teamwork and their knowledge and use of first aid in saving a life.  [More…]

Colonel Commandant George Canyon

(Capt Kimbrley Banaszkiewicz)

The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, announced on 23 Dec 2011 that George Canyon, former Honorary Colonel of 14 Wing Greenwood and well-known Canadian country music singer and songwriter, has been appointed the first-ever Colonel Commandant of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets.  [More…]

CBC News Website, 22 Feb 2012

Brian Stewart: A national security strategy for dangerous times

At a time when the world seems plunged into a period of extraordinary turmoil and profound shifts in big power ranks, Canada could benefit from developing a better "grip" on reality. We need, that is, a grip on our fundamental national security interests. And we need to do that by developing our own national security strategy (no, we really don't have one). That's the strong conclusion of a major report out Thursday called The Strategic Outlook for Canada, prepared as a Vimy Paper for the Conference of Defence Associations think-tank in Ottawa.  [More…]

LFWA Public Information website

Exercise ARCTIC RAM 12

Exercise ARCTIC RAM is the name of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group’s inaugural training exercise which is being conducted in the Northwest Territories from February 14 to 26, 2012. 

It is the biggest and most complex Army-led exercise ever undertaken in the Canadian Arctic. It will allow our soldiers to reacquire winter soldier skills and improve the Canadian Army Arctic capabilities. We need to be able to shoot, move and communicate in harsh Arctic conditions.  [More…]

ADM(PA) News Room

Afghan war vets struggle to find support; Offerings are lean, especially for reservists

It wasn't until his best friend, Stefan Jankowski, 25, killed himself that calls for help from a young Windsor, Ont., Afghan veteran began to get noticed."Right away, I had people knocking on my door, making sure I was still alive," said "Sam Smith," recalling the tragic day last summer.  "I was probably weeks away from what happened to Stefan," said the 23-year-old who, like Jankowski, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, upon his return fro Kandahar. Smith, who was a corporal, asked that his real name not be used, explaining he doesn't want to jeopardize the assistance he's getting from Veterans Affairs Canada.  Traumatic memories, including having a friend die in his arms, left Jankowski addicted to PTSD drugs and plagued by hallucinations and nightmares.  He was discharged after run-ins with the law and going AWOL from CFB Petawawa. Jankowski was on a waiting list for out-of-town help with his mental health issues when he died.  His family says the military had "washed their hands of him" after he returned.  A year ago, Smith was also discharged after an injury led to an addiction to painkillers.  Smith says he's now off booze and drugs, but there are still times when memories bring back anxiety.  "Then I stay awake, I have a cigarette, I let time pass - if I fall asleep - it's the terrors," he told a group of vets recently at a therapy session at a Windsor-area horse stable.

While the regular forces have support networks around bases and urban centres, the offerings are leaner elsewhere, especially for reservists or those who have left the military.  About 5,000 of the 39,000 Canadian Forces personnel deployed in Afghanistan since 2001 have been reservists, including almost a fifth of those rotated through the country in 2008, according to CF figures.  "I've heard so many horror stories - I don't think the Canadian public knows the true picture of what the soldiers are facing when they come back," said Wayne Hillman, who is active with the legion and veterans' support groups in the Windsor area.  While the vast majority of soldiers don't develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a military study last year found that about eight per cent of those who have returned from Afghanistan are suffering symptoms.  The rate was double for those in the infantry who did the actual fighting, according to the report, gleaned from the medical charts of returning soldiers.  "It's not a surprise at all - the more involved you are in the battle, the higher the risk," says Col. Rakesh Jetly, the head psychiatrist of the Canadian Forces.  That means there are thousands of young men and women suffering PTSD among the 39,000 soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. [More…]

2. UPCOMING EVENTS

March

09 – 11 Mar 12 – Area Council (Victoria)

All LFWA HCols in the Victoria area are invited to attend the meet & greet Friday night at the C Scot R Officers Mess at the Bay Street Armoury 1800-2100.

April

13 – 15 Apr 12 – Fort Garry Horse 100^th Anniversary (Winnipeg)

28 Apr – 06 May 12 – 38 CBG Exercise Bison Warrior (Shilo)

28 Apr – 06 May 12 – 39 CBG Exercise Cougar Salvo (Idaho)

May

04 – 05 May 12 – LFWA HCol Conference (Calgary)

18 – 21 May 12 – 41 CBG Belligerent Grizzly (Dundurn)

3. INFORMATION SOURCES

A. The Western Sentinel (this paper reaches all Canadian Army units and bases across LFWA, published bi-monthly by LFWA: http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/western_sentinel/westernsentinal_dec8/2011120601/#1

B. The Maple Leaf, (Canadian Forces monthly news publication:

http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/commun/ml-fe/index-eng.asp

C. LFWA Public Information Website (updated current events in LFWA and

more) :

http://www.army.gc.ca/lfwa/contents-eng.asp

D. Army News (Army multimedia content):

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/land-terre/news-nouvelles/stories-reportage

s-eng.asp

E. Canadian Military Journal (the official professional journal of the Canadian Forces and the Department of National Defence:

http://www.journal.dnd.ca/index-eng.asp

F. Canadian Army Journal (this is an official Army publication and is published three times a year - Spring/Summer/Fall - dedicated to the dissemination and discussion of doctrinal and training concepts, ideas, and opinions by all army personnel and those civilians with an interest in doctrinal, training, and other military matters):

http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/caj/default_e.asp?view=more

G. Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs (daily compendium of Canadian and international military news offered by the Canadian Forces College):

http://www.cfc.forces.gc.ca/257-eng.html

H. Chief Military Personnel (CMP) Website (policies, programs and services that are committed to the well-being of our service personnel and their families)

http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/index-eng.asp