McG
Army.ca Legend
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MND's speech of 07 Oct in Kingston on the stand-down of the CFJHQ and the resurrection of 1 Cdn Div:
Today, with many important Canadian Forces units located here, including the Royal Canadian Military College, the Land Force Doctrine, the training system, Kingston remains a fundamental part of our modern military, our modern military’s numerous successes around the globe. And today it’s my pleasure to see that the Canadian Forces are bringing a new dimension to that pivotal connection by reestablishing the 1st Canadian Division Headquarters here in Kingston. The Division already has a rich legacy and an impressive resume of results.
Mesdames et messieurs, la Division a déjà un riche héritage. Elle a été mise en place à certains des moments les plus cruciaux de l’histoire de notre pays. De sa mobilisation durant les deux guerres mondiales et à nouveau à la suite de la guerre de Corée en 1954 puis encore vers la fin de la guerre froid pour entraîner et commander les composantes terrestres des forces canadiennes dans le cadre d’opération de l’OTAN.
The uncertainty and complexity of today’s security environment demands unique capabilities that 1st Canadian Division can and will provide. Recently, this year in Haiti, Canada and the Canadian Forces were among the first responders to lend humanitarian relief and assistance after the tragic earthquake that shook that country. Within a few hours of the quake, we had boots on the ground doing reconnaissance work. Later, we sent the DART and almost 2,000 personnel from Army, Air Force, Navy, Special Forces to assist the people of Haiti through their darkest hour.
The need and ability to quickly deploy was also highlighted in the evacuation of Canadian citizens from Lebanon in 2006. And I can tell you that thanks to the hard work and dedication of the men and women in uniform, and the landmark investments from the Government of Canada to rebuild the capacity of the Canadian Forces, we are better prepared today to respond to such a situation than we were in the year 2006.
More recently here at home, in Newfoundland and Labrador, our men and women of the military quickly provided assistance to help Canadians in need in the devastation in the aftermath of Hurricane Igor. In fact, almost 1,000 Canadian Forces personnel worked with the provincial government to provide assistance to those people and communities who needed it most. And as previously seen in other parts of the country, Manitoba floods, the ice storm in Ontario and Quebec.
In Afghanistan, the need for joint command and control capacity that enables a comprehensive or what’s called a whole of government approach to an operation is critical to success in a modern theatre of operation.
Ladies and gentlemen, in these instances and many others, the Canadian Forces have done tremendous work and distinguished themselves time and time again, continuously building on lessons learned to better prepare for challenges for tomorrow. That remarkable ability and capacity to be ready and respond in complex, multifaceted environments is unique and unlike, unlikely I should say, to diminish anytime soon. And those, many on parade and many here among us who have served in Afghanistan would certainly attest to that fact. This type of challenge is not going to go away.
And a divisional headquarters will be needed to command deployed personnel on future operations, whether here at home or abroad. The 1st Canadian Division Joint Command, and I’m not referring to any debates in Ottawa about pharmaceutical products here, Joint Command means we will readily be able to provide deployed capability, that is a capability that will include headquarters, but Army, Air Force, Maritime and civilian components as well. The 1st Canadian Division will stand on guard with that capacity to carry out a broad range of operations and a high readiness posture that is absolutely essential to meeting current and future military and humanitarian challenges.
Ongoing training is a fundamental part of that high state of readiness. And I note, as proof of that, that many of you have already conducted a disaster assistance response team command post exercise right here, in fact yesterday, just at this field across from us.
Mais je sais aussi que la quartier général de la 1ère division du Canada poursuit son travail indispensable dans le développement d’une expertise essentielle concernant l’approche globale pan-gouvernementale. Comme on le constate en Afghanistan et ailleurs, une coopération étroite entre les forces canadiennes et les autres partenaires du gouvernement est essentielle au succès de missions internationales. Je suis convaincu que la division répondra remarquablement bien aux besoins du Canada, que ce soit à quelques fuseaux honoraires d’ici au l’autre bout du monde.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 1st Division, the 1st Canadian Division is unique not only in its history but also by its reputation. The distinctive red patch symbolizes so much, a reputation of honour, of determination and of skill, a reputation that was hard earned in the First World War and reinforced in our country and around the globe time and time again.
I want to congratulate Major-General Fraser who has been selected to command 1st Canadian Division, a highly qualified leader who is well known for his past command as, certainly as a former Commander of Regional Command South in Afghanistan and previous assignments and he will of course operate under the leadership of the Chief of the Land Staff, General Devlin.
I also want to personally congratulate all the men and women of 1st Canadian Division who are here with us today. I have no doubt that this significant experience will further enhance your careers. I also have no doubt that the leadership of General Fraser will again serve us well. His experience, his superb, his superb leadership will be a great asset to the 1st Canadian Division. And I know that our government and indeed all Canadians can count on you to swiftly respond and successfully meet the challenges that our country may face, when necessary to humanitarian and environmental challenges abroad. I am sure that the Division motto, We Lead, Others Follow, and that famous red patch will be as much a source of inspiration today as it was almost a century ago.
