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Task Force 3-09 - Commander's Message

February 17, 2009

Regular and Reserve soldiers from across Western Area have risen to the challenge and started training for deployment with Task Force 3-09.

Western Area has been deploying soldiers to Afghanistan since 2002. Maintaining this operational tempo is a testament to the dedicated men and women who form our ranks and to the resilience of the services, Regiments and Branches that make up the Canadian Forces.

Importance of Training
For some of you, the training you are now undertaking is “old hat.” I encourage you to share your hard-won operational experience with your comrades who are deploying to Afghanistan for the first time. For those folks who are embarking on their first tour, I encourage you to make the most of every formal and informal training opportunity that comes your way.

In the fall of 1944, when the fighting was the heaviest and hardest, there were not enough trained replacements available to keep combat arms units up to strength. As a result, men who were not trained combat soldiers were thrust as replacements into the thick of the fighting in Italy and North-West Europe. They paid a terrible price, suffering needless casualties at a much higher rate than the soldiers who had spent years training for combat roles.

The lesson of the replacement crisis, bought with the blood of Canadian soldiers, was that every soldier needs to be ready and able to survive, fight and win on the battlefield. The training that everyone who is deploying receives is designed to do just that. It is important to remember that in an insurgency one never knows where the battlefield is going to be or when the battle is going to happen. This training could literally save your life or the lives of your comrades.

I expect that everyone, trainers and trainees alike, will put their maximum effort into preparing for this deployment.

Family Support
We recognize the strength behind our soldiers comes largely from the families who support them on the home front. Many of the links on this site will speak specifically to the family support mechanisms we have in place. Take the time to become familiar with the resources available to you.

Please bookmark our site and visit us often. I encourage you to make use of all the information available and to share it with your family and friends throughout all phases of the mission.