Operation ATHENA

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Image:OpAthenaSeal.jpg
Official ISAF seal for CF-Operation Athena.
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War in Afghanistan

(2001–present)

Operation Athena is the Canadian Forces contribution to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. The first unit deployed was called Task Force Kabul, at its peak comprised about 1,900 personnel (1,700 within Kabul). Their duties included patrols within the Canadian area, digging wells, and building repair. It cost approximately 840 million dollars and it was followed by Operation Archer from February 2006.

With the transfer of authority in Regional Command (South), in August 2006, from Operation Enduring Freedom to ISAF, the Canadian Task Force in Kandahar once again came under the umbrella of Op ATHENA.

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[edit] Current Forces

Overall, 2,500 CF personnel support the ISAF mission. CF personnel deployed as part of OP ATHENA comprise the following units (all figures approximate):

  • A battle group in Kandahar, primarily the 3rd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment (3 R22eR) from 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG), which includes:
    • Soldiers from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment based out of CFB Valcartier, as well as various Reserve units;
    • An engineer squadron from 5e Régiment du génie du combat (5 RGC) in Valcartier;
    • An artillery battery from 5e Régiment d’artillerie légère du Canada (5 RALC) in Valcartier;
    • An armoured reconnaissance troop, from The Royal Canadian Dragoons (RCD) in Petawawa and 12e Régiment blindé du Canada (12 RBC) in Valcartier; and
    • A Leopard tank squadron from Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (LdSH(RC)) in Edmonton, Alberta;
  • A Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) unit comprised primarily of personnel from 438 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (438 ETAH) based in St-Hubert, Quebec, and members from 5 RALC in Valcartier;
  • 70 Health Service Support (HSS) personnel at the Multinational Medical Unit (MMU) at Kandahar Airfield composed of personnel from 2 Field Ambulance and 1 Canadian Field Hospital in Petawawa, Ontario, and other Health Services units from across Canada
  • About 30 CF members with the Multi-National Brigade (MNB) Headquarters assisting Dutch Major-General Ton van Loon in accomplishing his mission and exercising command and control over the MNB Region Command (South) in Afghanistan;
  • 300 CF members with the National Command Element (NCE) at Kandahar Airfield. Primarily composed of elements of 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group based in Petawawa, Ontario. The NCE also contains members from various units within the Land Force Central Area, as well as health services personnel from across Canada;
  • 300 CF members with the National Support Element (NSE) in Kandahar, primarily from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and 2 Service Battalion, also from Petawawa;
  • In Kabul, about 50 CF personnel at ISAF Headquarters, 15 personnel with a smaller NSE Detachment and 11 at the Canadian Embassy;
  • 250 CF members with the Theatre Support Element (TSE) in Southwest Asia.

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