Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/235053
L Land Force right, but waypoint 2016 will help us understand where we are and where we want to be in terms of the distribution of the vehicles as they come in. The Chinook will give us a lot of power to protect ourselves, which is a key characteristic of the future security environment. We are talking about longer distance, about having more autonomy, about having dispersed operations, about an enhanced network – this is all the basis of the employment concept of adaptive dispersed operations. Q How do you see the role of the modernized Light Armoured Vehicle, the Close Combat Vehicle or the tanks in that context? Again, you have to look at it as a spectrum: tanks, CCV, LAV, indirect fire, all those vehicles will ensure that we are able to play a role within the spectrum of conflict, be it humanitarian, peace support operations, counterinsurgency or pure war fighting. When you get in that messy middle between peace support operations and all out war, which is part of that security environment consideration, that is where we need to have flexibility. So to me, having those type of capacities will allow me to be more versatile, to use those when needed, if needed. If I don't need tanks, I don't use them. But I know that if I lose expertise on the tanks and I need them, I can't just bring that back. Many armies that are getting rid of their tanks are building a CCV-type capacity that is much stronger. I think we are too small an army to be too specialized. But if we maintain our ability to be versatile and have all of those capabilities to a certain number, I think we will be able to face the future. I should add that I have had the chance to meet with my American, European, Asian and Americas counterparts lately, and we all share pretty much the same view of what the future will hold: operations that are more asymmetric than symmetric, but we must not lose the capability to do foundation war fighting. Q Specific to the network piece, the army has been going through a digitization process. Looking over that next five-year horizon, are there critical elements you need addressed? I think we have come a long way in building that digitized battle space. Afghanistan has proven that we can do it, but we need to bring it one step further. Our land support control system right now needs to be improved. Right now we rely a lot on the main base. We are able to command and control forward but I wouldn't say we have solved the code yet to be able to have units or subunits at the same level of digitization that we had at Kandahar HQ, for example. You will always need a place that is static to base your digitization, but how do I enable the subordinate HQ to be well connected and be able to project forward and still have the same level of digitization? This is where we need to improve in Horizon 1 and 2. 28 DECEMBER 2013/JANUARY 2014 www.vanguardcanada.com Q The Canadian Armed Forces stood up the Arctic training centre this summer, a partnership with Natural Resources Canada. What is the longer–term goal for the army and the training you can provide? The Arctic has been a priority for a while and we now have a firm base that we did not have before. The army has been appointed to lead that effort. So now we are going to resource it – if we are not at operating capacity, we are very close. It will allow us to take advantage of our Arctic response company group and start to train on a rotation basis. We also have one more tool in the toolbox for search and rescue. Our Rangers have a role in SAR and the centre gives us another place from where we can draw assets. The future will be to expand training and exercises and to grow our presence. The joint piece is crucial because nothing happens in the Arctic by itself. Q Are there any plans to make that a training centre for other countries that might be looking for assistance in Arctic operations? Private Trevon Best from 1st Battalion, The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North), during the final assault scenario as part of Exercise Southbound Trooper XIII. Members of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry and 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines with a CH53E Super Stallion helicopter during RIMPAC. Photos: DND