Visitors Now: | |
Total Visits: | |
Total Stories: |
Story Views | |
Now: | |
Last Hour: | |
Last 24 Hours: | |
Total: |
OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Oct. 21, 2012) - The first group of Canadian Forces (CF) personnel to take part in Operation ATTENTION (Roto-1) are returning home to Fredericton, New Brunswick, and Trenton, Ontario, after an eight-month mission in Afghanistan.
"Today, military families are being reunited with their loved ones. We must recognize the dedication, valour, and professionalism of all members of the Canadian Forces who have served in Afghanistan and supported the mission," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence. "Our men and women do incredible work in contributing to Afghanistan's future and I thank them for their service to Canada and their sacrifices for Afghanistan."
The CF deployed more than 900 military trainers and support personnel to Afghanistan to take part in Operation ATTENTION, the Canadian component of the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan.
"The men and women of the Canadian Forces who are returning today from Afghanistan made a huge contribution to the professionalization, training and education of thousands of Afghan National Police and military members. Those they trained are key to helping Afghanistan provide for a better future for all its citizens." said General Walt Natynczyk, Chief of the Defence Staff. "These returning men and women can be rightfully proud as they have brought great credit to Canada and to the Canadian Forces. I am thankful for their professionalism, for their service, and for the sacrifices their families made to support them."
Since February 2012, the CF personnel, primarily from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, in Gagetown, New Brunswick, were involved in training and preparing the Afghan National Security Forces in Kabul and Mazar-e-Sharif.
"Our great soldiers can be proud of the tremendous work they have done in the past months," said the commander of the Canadian Army, Lieutenant-General Peter Devlin. "They've made a positive effect in bringing greater security to the people of Afghanistan."
Operation ATTENTION is Canada's contribution to the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, which delivers training and professional development support to the National Security Forces of Afghanistan: the Afghan National Army, the Afghan Air Force, and the Afghan National Police.
For further information on Operation ATTENTION and the Canadian Contribution Training Mission - Afghanistan, please visit: http://www.cjoc-coic.forces.gc.ca/exp/attention/index-eng.asp
2012-10-21 19:01:42
Source: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=1715872&sourceType=3