Canadian special forces
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Joint Task Force 2
The Canadian Special Forces (not officially known by that name, all special operations are under the command of CANSOFCOM, Canada Special Forces Command) is an elite branch of the Canadian Armed Forces, responsible for special operations, counter-terrorism, and as support for traditional troops. The Joint Task Force 2 forms the core of Canada's elite corps, and, while top-secret, is nevertheless the most widely-known part of the country's special forces.
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Joint Task Force Two
Special Forces duties in Canada are performed by a counter-terrorism unit known as JTF2 (Joint Task Force 2.) Canada's counter-terrorism unit is a highly secretive force about which there is very little verifiable data. The following information is extracted from that provided by the Canadian Forces.
Motto
Joint Task Force 2's Latin motto is Facta non verba and means "Deeds, not words."
Mission
The Joint Task Force Two (JTF2) of the Canadian Forces is a Special Operations Forces unit that is responsible for federal counter-terrorist operations. The mission of JTF2 is to provide a force capable of rendering armed assistance in the resolution of an incident that is affecting, or has the potential to affect, the national interest. The primary focus is counter-terrorism (CT), however, the unit can expect to be employed on other high value strategic tasks.
Not all Special Forces units are identical. There are different groups or tiers within the international Special Operations Forces community, and strategic-level counter-terrorism forces such as JTF2 normally operate under strict security guidelines.
The Canadian Forces also has Army snipers, its Pathfinder courses held at 8 Wing/Canadian Forces Base Trenton, combat divers and the Canadian graduates of the U.S. Army Ranger Course. Each of the three regular force infantry regiments also has a paratrooper company. In other countries these qualifications might be part of their Special Operations Forces units, but in Canada, they are embedded in conventional combat units and are not considered to be of a "special forces" nature.
Unit history
Lineage
The JTF2 states that it does not perpetuate the Canadian Airborne Regiment although some of its members have come from that now-disbanded unit. Rather it notes that Canadians served with distinction in several types of Allied Special Forces units during the Second World War. One such unit was the legendary U.S. and Canadian combined 1st Special Service Force or, as it was commonly known, "the Devil's Brigade." It achieved a sterling combat record despite overwhelming odds. While tactics, weapons and technology have changed, today's JTF2 soldiers are perpetuating the basic qualities that define such units.
Creation of JTF2
JTF2 was created on 1 April 1993, when the Canadian Forces (CF) accepted responsibility for federal counter-terrorism operations from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Since its inception, the unit has continuously evolved to meet modern-day threats, focusing in particular on the "elusive, sophisticated and determined enemy" such as those responsible for the events of 11 September 2001. JTF2 is continuously developing new capabilities, technologies, and tactics.
JTF2 recognizes the year 2001 as an important milestone in its history. The unit was committed to the international Special Operations Forces coalition in Afghanistan, completing its operations there in November 2002. This deployment was the first time JTF2 was used in a major combat role outside Canada. The unit played a critical role in coalition Special Operations Forces and earned the respect of Canada’s allies for its professionalism.
Operations
Afghanistan 2001-Present
40 JTF-2 Operators were sent to Afghanistan in December 2001, two months after then Minister of Defence, Art Eggleton, announced that Canada would be sending troops into Afghanistan to aide the removal of the Taliban. Since then JTF-2 Operatives have been at work closely with other Special Forces such as Delta Force, the SAS, and the German Kommando SpezialKraefte.
JTF-2 is known to have provided surveillance and strike teams for Task Force K-Bar in the war against Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. For its service in Afghanistan, Task Force K-Bar, in which JTF2 members took part, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation (US) in 2004. These JTF2 operators were not awarded the citation, nor the unit as a whole, due to pressure from the Canadian Federal Government to avoid involving JTF2 in an internationally public recognition.
Iraq 2003-Present
It was widely speculated that JTF2 was in Iraq, working closely with fellow Special Forces units the SAS and Delta Force. These speculations were confirmed Thursday March 23, 2006 by The Pentagon and the British Foreign Office when they both commented on the instrumental role JTF2 played in rescuing the British and Canadian Christian Peace Activists that were being held hostage in Iraq.
Haiti 2004
According to some sources, JTF2 may have been in Haiti at the time that Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted from power, and may have assisted the United States Marines in the removal of Aristide to the Central African Republic.
Unit accountability
JTF2 is a unit of the CF and is subject to exactly the same code of conduct, military discipline and overriding Criminal Code statutes as any other military unit. Due to the strategic nature of its operations, the unit answers directly to the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff in the chain of command. Like other units of the CF, JTF2 follows Rules Of Engagements (ROE) authorized by the Chief of the Defence Staff and are accountable to the military and civilian justice systems. They must follow the same regulations and orders as the rest of the CF. Like any other CF unit, internal oversight bodies such as the Chief of Review Services, the Military Police Complaints Commission, the Pay and Allowances Review Board, the Access to Information Office and the CF Ombudsman all have access to JTF2, if required, to carry out their duties.
Professionalism
JTF2 is comprised of CF members employed in assaulter and supporter roles. All members are carefully screened for service in the unit but it is the assaulters who undergo a selection and training regime for eventual service in the fighting arm of the unit. Any member of the CF, regular or reserve, can apply to become a member of JTF2 after completing 2 years of service (3 years for reservists) and meeting other initial entry requirements. Members of JTF2 are highly motivated, dedicated, mature, mentally robust and physically fit. Potential assaulters are carefully screened to ensure that they meet these criteria and are the type of team-oriented and highly-skilled professional soldier, sailor or airman that can effectively function in this high stress environment. On average, only one in ten candidates that arrive at the unit for final selection will actually become a JTF2 assaulter.
The standards established for selection and employment with the unit are scientifically designed and validated at the CF Dwyer Hill Training Centre in order to ensure that the members selected will be capable of accomplishing all tasks assigned to the unit. These standards include physical abilities, professionalism, integrity, psychological profile, mental aptitude, discipline, and maturity. These standards are required of all unit members, are tested regularly, and are an integral part of the JTF2 ethos.
Canada's National Counter-Terrorism Plan
The Solicitor General of Canada is responsible for the National Counter-Terrorism Plan. The plan establishes lines of communication, policy, the authorities and responsibilities of federal departments and agencies in a counter-terrorism situation, and outlines the legislation, conventions and agreements to which Canada is a party. The procedures for employing a military unit in a counter-terrorism situation are also detailed in the National Counter-Terrorism Plan.
The Canadian Forces Armed Assistance Directions (CFAAD) establish the procedures for the request and provision of armed assistance by the CF to the RCMP. CF resources can be positioned close to the site of a disturbance while the situation is developing, and before any armed assistance is authorized.
The CFAAD come into play on the basis of a request by either: the Commissioner of the RCMP asking for the pre-positioning of a military force ; or the Solicitor General of Canada submitting to the Minister of National Defence for the provision of such assistance by the CF to the RCMP. CF members engaged in armed assistance activities would be given the status of peace officers.
Security
JTF2 is subject to very stringent security procedures in order to protect the unit and its mission. However, JTF2 has conducted capability demonstrations for appropriate authorities. The Government has also notified the public about its creation in 1992, its expansion following 11 September 2001, and the JTF2 commitment to Afghanistan in 2001, as well as by responding to media questions about the unit within the limits of the security policy. However, it says that being open and transparent about certain aspects of the unit could seriously compromise its effectiveness.
JTF2 has established itself as a well-regarded Special Operations Forces unit. This reputation has allowed the unit to develop strong relationships with its allied Special Operations Forces counterparts, relationships built on trust and confidence.
The future
The Federal Budget of December 2001 allocated approximately $120 million over six years to expand unit capabilities and double its size (bringing it to an estimated 600), as part of the Government of Canada’s overall plan following the attacks of 11 September 2001. Since then the unit has embarked on a program of expansion and capability enhancement while at the same time maintaining its high operational and training standards.
JTF2 must be ready to respond immediately to any task assigned by the chain of command at home or abroad. The unit maintains the highest operational readiness standards in order to defend Canada against terrorism. On land, at sea and in the air JTF2 challenges itself to ensure it's ready to defeat a multitude of potential threats.
In April 2005, the Canadian government's new defence policy statement was made public. It included a concept of first responders for international tasks consisting of "special forces" (such as an expanded JTF2) supported by one of the light battalions. This concept of operations is similar to US Ranger battalions or the new Ranger battalion of the British Parachute Regiment, both of which support high-level Special Forces units. Ranger skills are considered, in Canada, to be part of the capabilities of a conventional light infantry soldier.
The Canadian Airborne Regiment
The Canadian Airborne Regiment is frequently associated with the notion of "special forces". However Canada's special forces (JTF2) do not consider themselves to be an offshoot of this unit. The Canadian Airborne Regiment was throughout its 27-year history a demanding parachutist unit, created and trained for conventional operations similar to those of the British Parachute Regiment, the U.S. Airborne divisions, and other NATO parachute troops. This applies, as well, to its Canadian parachutist and glider-borne predecessors that served in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion of the British 6th Airborne Division in World War II. Moreover, the operational capabilities of the CAR are now perpetuated in the light infantry battalion of each of Canada's three Regular Force infantry regiments. These air-transported battalions include a parachutist company. The anti-terrorism role of JTF2 is significantly different, even in an international context.
Canadian Special Operations Regiment
A currently being formed direct action and special operations unit will be made up of Category 1 special operations regiment operators and Category 2 specialists and support trades. Most of the unit at start-up is being formed through volunteers from 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, in Petawawa, where the unit will be based. Details and info on the application process were promulgated in December 2005 in CANFORGEN 195/05. It contains all relevant info available on the unit at this time.
See also
- Special Forces
- Emergency Response Team, the RCMP branch dedicated to paramilitary operations.
- Devil's Brigade