Re: Joint Task Force 2

by Lionfield Mon 29 May 2023, 7:27 am

Canadian special forces leaders warned about 'untouchable' soldiers who have escaped punishment for wrongdoing

In some cases involving sexual harassment complaints, if the accused is part of the so-called elite group, then nothing is done.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen

Published May 29, 2023

Certain groups within Canadian special forces have emerged as ‘untouchable’ and protected from any punishment for their wrongdoing, members of the organization have warned their senior leaders.

A culture of silence and a double standard protects those individuals who engage in sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct, according to the reports prepared for the senior leadership of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command or CANSOFCOM.

The various reports providing feedback throughout 2021 and 2022 from special forces personnel about the culture of their units indicate soldiers enjoy their work and comradery and feel what they are doing is important to the country.

But one theme that emerged in the various reports was that there are groups within the special forces units that are protected and accountable to no one — and personnel who raise concerns about the misconduct of the protected elite often face reprisals.

“Several units raised concerns about a perception of ‘multiple standards’ for different sectors of the Command,” noted one of the reports produced in March 2022. “Specifically, certain groups within units are perceived as having higher status and beyond reproach, and seen as ‘untouchable’ and without accountability while those who are not part of these groups are held to a different standard.”

“This group of ‘elites’ or ‘clubs’ appear to be small, self-protected and reinforced by trade, rank or occupation lines,” added another update about the special forces culture.

In some cases involving sexual harassment complaints, if the accused is part of the so-called elite group, then nothing is done. The report determined that such a situation is “most concerning.”

CANSOFCOM is the headquarters organization for the Ottawa-based Joint Task Force 2, the country’s main counter-terrorism unit; the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron at Petawawa; the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU), which deals with weapons of mass destruction and is located at CFB Trenton; and the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, also at Petawawa. In addition, there is a training organization for the special forces units.

Issues raised about JTF2 are largely censored from the reports obtained through the Access to Information law or limited in details. But information about other special forces units was highlighted in the documents.

Complaints were raised about sexual misconduct and assault at the Canadian Special Operations Regiment and the desire to protect the front-line soldiers in that unit known in special forces jargon as “operators.”

“They know that operators have a free pass to do and say anything they want,” pointed out one of the reports about the views of CSOR personnel. “Other operators are afraid of coming forward to support the victim for fear of being targeted as well.”

Fear of reprisal for speaking out about wrongdoing or even mistakes in training was a consistent theme that emerged from the feedback received from military personnel in CANSOFCOM.

Another was that staff are burning out from overwork and their mental health and family life is suffering. CANSOFCOM’s mottos of “We will find a way” and the “Relentless Pursuit of Excellence” are the prevailing attitudes of the command’s leadership. But that comes with a price, according to the reports.

“Everything is being treated as a top priority with relentless pursuit of excellence to the point that members experience burnout,” noted one of the reports from CJIRU in Trenton.

“Members are experiencing a high level of work family conflict, job stress and work overload,” added another report from 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron in Petawawa. “As much as members admire the values of CANSOFCOM, “we will find a way” and “relentless pursuit of excellence” are followed at the detriment of their families and their own health.”

In one of the updates on culture, concerns were raised about what were termed as myths circulating in the Canadian Forces that “CANSOF isn’t a place for families” and “CANSOF isn’t a place for women.” Such myths were hurting recruiting, it added.

CANSOFCOM commander Maj. Gen. Steve Boivin noted in the update that those myths had to be dispelled and he pointed out “that the burden is on members to engage and take on more recruiting as it is meaningful coming from unit members.”

CANSOFCOM spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Holder said the internal measures to understand the command’s culture are focused on making the right changes to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. “This audit revealed aspects of our culture which are healthy and others where we can make improvements – many of which have been or are in the process of being addressed,” he noted.

Specific direction on culture was issued by the senior leadership, he added.

“Moving forwards, our Unit Cultural Advisory Teams will continue to focus on identifying and analyzing underlying issues and developing solutions with the Chain of Command,” Holder noted.

Pembroke Observer

by **Joker** Wed 07 Jun 2023, 6:36 am

Resentment towards JTF2 is hindering military effectiveness, special forces commanders warned

David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen · Postmedia News | Posted: June 07, 2023

Resentment between Canada’s main special forces units is hindering operational effectiveness and must be dealt with, the country’s special forces leaders have been told.

Relations have soured between Joint Task Force 2, based in Ottawa, and Canadian Special Operations Regiment at Petawawa, according to documents released under the Access to Information law.

JTF2 personnel are seen by other special forces soldiers as being paid more and outfitted with better equipment, according to reports compiled for the leaders of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). There were complaints about how poorly JTF2 treated other special forces personnel at times. The unit is also seen as receiving more support from military leadership.

There is “unhealthy competition between CANSOFCOM units with regards to tasks and compensation, with this sometimes implicating interactions on deployment,” noted a March 2022 report prepared for CANSOFCOM commander Maj. Gen. Steve Boivin. “Unhealthy competition between CANSOFCOM units is contributing to poor morale,” another report added.

Much of the concern centred on tensions between special forces personnel from Canadian Special Operations Regiment (CSOR) and JTF2 located at the Dwyer Hill Training Centre (DHTC) in Ottawa.

“CSOR vs DHTC — Interaction between two units often leave both CSOR Supporters and Operators feeling like second-class citizens,” a November 2021 report added. “Based on historical experience, it is widely felt that CSOR CoC (Chain of Command) will not stand up for the Regt when frictions arise and problems are ignored even after being brought up. These frictions affect our unit’s ability to be as operational effective as we train to be and must be addressed. Relationship between the two units is further soured in disparity in pay.”

The various reports providing feedback throughout 2021 and 2022 from special forces personnel about the culture within their units indicate soldiers enjoyed their work and camaraderie and feel what they are doing is important to Canada.

But the bitterness towards JTF2 among other CANSOFCOM units is only growing, special forces leaders were warned. “Feelings of envy and resentment grow towards other units like DHTC who have better pay, more people and better support and advocation from their senior leadership,” a report update noted.

CANSOFCOM is the headquarters organization for Ottawa-based Joint Task Force 2, the country’s main counter-terrorism unit, the 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron at Petawawa, the Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit (CJIRU), which deals with weapons of mass destruction and is located at CFB Trenton, and the Canadian Special Operations Regiment, also at Petawawa. In addition, there is a training organization for special forces units.

The command and culture advisory boards preparing the various reports relied on interviews, surveys and comments from special forces personnel.

CANSOFCOM did not directly respond to a question from this newspaper about how Boivin planned to diffuse some of the tensions between JTF2 and other units in his command.

CANSOFCOM spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Jordan Holder said the internal measures to understand the command’s culture qwre focused on making the right changes to ensure a safe and healthy work environment. “This audit revealed aspects of our culture which are healthy and others where we can make improvements — many of which have been or are in the process of being addressed,” he noted.

Specific direction on culture was issued by the senior leadership, he added.

“Moving forwards, our Unit Cultural Advisory Teams will continue to focus on identifying and analyzing underlying issues and developing solutions with the Chain of Command,” Holder stated.

But the reports from the advisory teams indicate they already have a good handle on issues facing the senior special forces leadership.

One CSOR member who was asked what motivated him to come to work each day responded: “The small chance that the command might see the value of this unit and employ it and not in the ‘JTF2 is bored’ kind of deployment, but actually see the value and allow this unit’s potential to be demonstrated.”

Another review pointed out that the “massive pay gap” between JTF2 and CSOR personnel was “devastating and creating a lot of discontent at all levels.”

The situation doesn’t appear to be any better at CJIRU, based in Trenton. “Members have the impression that they are viewed as inferior to the other units with Command, which can result in a lack of confidence when working in the same environment as their counterparts,” a report about that unit noted.

In a February 2022 update, Boivin was warned about a lack of unified culture within CANSOFCOM. “Some units have a sense of being undervalued,” he was told.

Another theme that emerged in the various reports was that there were groups within special forces units that were protected and accountable to no one — and personnel who raised concerns about the misconduct of the protected elite often faced reprisals.

“Several units raised concerns about a perception of ‘multiple standards’ for different sectors of the Command,” noted one of the reports produced in March 2022. “Specifically, certain groups within units are perceived as having higher status and beyond reproach and seen as ‘untouchable’ and without accountability while those who are not part of these groups are held to a different standard.”

Fear of reprisal for speaking out about wrongdoing or even mistakes in training was a consistent theme that emerged from feedback received from military personnel in CANSOFCOM. Another was that staff were burning out from overwork and their mental health and family life were suffering.

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

SALTWIRE

by Monsfool Thu 08 Jun 2023, 7:29 am

Canadian special forces to lease new surveillance planes, but details shrouded in secrecy

The lease of planes for Canadian Special Operations Forces Command is separate from another surveillance aircraft purchase for special forces.

David Pugliese • Ottawa Citizen

Published Jun 07, 2023

Canadian special forces will be leasing a high-altitude surveillance aircraft, but details about the new project are shrouded in secrecy.

Bids have been requested for the high-altitude, long-endurance plane that will be used to provide support to Canadian Special Operations Forces Command or CANSOFCOM.

Bids must be submitted by June 12. The aircraft will be used for both training and operations, according to a CANSOFCOM statement provided to this newspaper. “Supply arrangements are routinely entered into so that the commodity is easily called up as needed, e.g. during emergencies or when the commodity cannot be provided from within Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces,” CANSOFCOM added.

The special forces command declined to provide details on whether the leased aircraft would be operated by private military contractors or its own personnel.

CANSOFCOM also declined to provide further information such as how much taxpayers would be spending on the project or when the aircraft would be available and for how long. The command has in the past made use of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CP-140 surveillance aircraft. Those planes have recently been modernized.

The lease of planes for CANSOFCOM is separate from another surveillance aircraft purchase for special forces. The first of those surveillance planes, capable of intercepting cellphone calls and tracking individuals on the ground, are expected to arrive later this year.

Three of those aircraft are being purchased from the United States as part of the $247-million program for Canadian special forces.

CANSOFCOM declined to explain the difference between what it wanted to lease and the new planes that were being purchased.

The planes being bought are Beechcraft King Air aircraft. To be located at CFB Trenton, Ont., the King Air planes will be outfitted with sensors and equipment to intercept cellphone and other electronic transmissions. Canadian special forces and, potentially, other government departments will use them for missions overseas and in Canada.

Testing and evaluation of those planes is almost complete, National Defence spokesperson Andrew McKelvey confirmed. “Based on this latest timeline, delivery of the first aircraft to the CAF is planned for late 2023, with the other two expected later in 2024,” he said. “The capability is anticipated to be fully operational approximately a year afterwards.”

Exact deployments will be determined once the planes are operational, he added.

“This aircraft, known as the CE145, will have the capacity to be deployed on short notice and will provide the Canadian Armed Forces with better situational awareness on the ground, increasing the ability of CAF leaders to make informed decisions leading to mission success,” McKelvey said.

The aircraft will be flown by RCAF pilots and crewed by special forces personnel and airborne electronic sensor operators.

McKelvey said initial training had been done, with the final portion to be completed once the aircraft were delivered.

Some of that training, however, has been controversial. In 2022, this newspaper revealed that Canadian special forces were operating the mystery aircraft that flew over Ottawa during the convoy protests in late January and February.

Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Department of National Defence, awarded an in-service support and maintenance contract for the King Air fleet to a consortium consisting of General Dynamics Mission Systems–Canada from Ottawa and Voyageur Aviation Corporation from North Bay, Ont.

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

by Scout Mon 30 Oct 2023, 8:27 am

Canadian special forces members on the ground in Israel, DND confirms

Department of National Defence spokesperson says special forces doing 'contingency planning'

Christian Paas-Lang · CBC News · Posted: Oct 29, 2023

Joint Task Force 2 - Page 3 Israel-palestinians-gaza

CBC News

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