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Stories from the Field
Stories from the Field
Afghan Customs Uniform Handover Ceremony (Flickr)
August 12, 2013 - Marina Laker, Political Counsellor, represented the Embassy of Canada at a ceremony to mark the contribution to the Afghan Customs Department of over $1 million for standardized customs uniforms and equipment for the national customs laboratories. Full story....
The Embassy of Canada in Afghanistan Celebrates Canada Day-2013 (Flickr)
July 17, 2013 - The Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan hosted a bbq for over 120 Canadians on the lawn of the official residence for Canada Day celebrations on July 1, 2013. Full story....
Canadian Aid Helps Victims of Flooding in Afghanistan (Flickr)
April 16, 2013 - Flooding affected more than 30,000 people in Afghanistan. This year, Canada contributed $8 million to the World Food Programme, which distributed food to more than 8,000 people affected by floods in Balkh province. Full story....
Canada Supports Victims of Conflict in Afghanistan (Flickr)
March 26, 2013 - The Embassy of Canada hosted a book and documentary film launch of “The Memory Box Initiative” in cooperation with the Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization (AHRDO). Full story....
Deputy Ambassador Hill Attends Youth Session: Building Future Leaders of Afghanistan
March 11, 2013 - James Hill, Canada’s deputy ambassador to Afghanistan, and Grace Lee, political officer, attended Building Future Leaders of Afghanistan, a program offered in Kabul by War Child Canada and funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI). Full story....
Canadian Embassy in Kabul hosts Afghan Women for International Women's Day
March 6, 2013 - Glenn Davidson, Canada’s ambassador to Afghanistan, hosted Tahmina Kohistani, an Olympic sprinter, and Shamsia Hassani, a leading graffiti artist, at the Canadian embassy. Full story....
Ambassador Davidson Attends Conference for Civil Society Organizations in Afghanistan (Flickr)
March 5, 2013 - Glenn Davidson Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, attended a conference on civil society organizations in Afghanistan as part of the final event of the Canada-funded Professionalization of Civil Society Organizations in Afghanistan project implemented by Building Markets, a Canadian non-profit organization. Full story....
Ambassador Davidson Attends Afghan Children's Educational Circus
March 4, 2013 - Glenn Davidson, Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, and Grace Lee, Political Officer, participated in Children’s Shura Week at the Afghan Educational Children’s Circus in Kabul. Full story....
Ambassador Davidson attends Afghanistan's Nation Institute of Music's 3rd Annual Winter Concert
January 30, 2013 - Canada is proud to fund the vision behind the Afghanistan National Institute of Music, operating under the Ministry of Education, to provide talented Afghan children, regardless of their gender, social circumstances and ethnic background, the opportunity to receive musical training. Full story....
Canada Funds First Family Support Hotline in Kabul that will benefit Afghan Women
On January 30, 2013, the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan's Head of Political Section, Marina Laker, and Programming Officer, Emily Burns, attended the opening of Afghanistan's first Family Support Hotline in Kabul. This pilot project, funded by the Government of Canada will equip women with a support network and improve women's access to justice and human rights. Full story....
Soldiers' welfare comes first at Consolidated Fielding Centre
By October 2012, the Canadian Forces training advisors currently serving at the Consolidated Fielding Centre (CFC) in Kabul will have helped their Afghan partners organize some 15,000 soldiers into battalions, and then equip, train and deploy them to garrisons across Afghanistan. At the same time, they will have contributed to a positive shift in senior Afghan officers' attitudes to their soldiers. Full story....
Honouring fallen Canadian police from afar
While a damp and depressing rain fell on downtown Ottawa, half way across the globe in Kabul, the hot and brilliant sun flashed its eternal rays in the Green Zone. This varied range of weather from Canada to Afghanistan characterized perfectly the spectrum of emotions that police officers from across both countries felt as they honored comrades who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day on September 30. Full story....
Story from Afghanistan: Hope in a place of horror
In August 1998, a British newspaper reporter described events which took place at a packed Kabul stadium (now called Ghazni Stadium). Three men were to be punished for various crimes in front of more than 5,000 spectators: the first man would lose both hands; the second man, a foot at the ankle, and the last man would be fatally shot. Full story....
Remembering the Alamo
The Alamo, as most people know from Hollywood movies, is a former Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound and the site of the Battle of the Alamo, fought in 1836. It is now a museum in downtown San Antonio, Texas. To those of us here in Kabul, however, it is the 14-nation coalition base that is home to the Kabul Military Training Centre Training Advisory Group, which I command, and other components of the NATO International Security Assistance Force mission that assist and advise the Afghan National Army. Full story....
RMTC–North starts transition to Afghan lead
Mazar-e Sharif, Afghanistan; 5 July 2012 — The thermometer said 45 Celsius and there was no breeze, but more than 1,300 Afghan soldiers on parade at Regional Military Training Centre North stood still for almost two hours during the ceremony marking their graduation from Basic Warrior Training. The beginning of their journey as soldiers, this parade also celebrated a turning point for their training facility. Full story....
CF training advisors spread the PMED message in Afghanistan
As the Afghan national security forces grow and train to combat the Taliban insurgency, they are also taking aim at another equally insidious enemy — disease. Full story....
Building dental care services in Afghanistan
While the dental profession in Afghanistan struggles to emerge from decades of war and impoverishment, the rapidly growing Afghan National Army, Afghan Air Force and Afghan National Police are in great need of capable dental support and a sustainable dental care program. Full story....
Building a “rule of law” police force
The Royal Canadian Air Force is helping to build a “rule of law police force” in Afghanistan, says Colonel Philip Garbutt. His words are serious, but his comment a few moments later betrays his delight in contributing to nation-building in Afghanistan: “It’s incredible to think about." Full story....
Afghanistan – security is the key to the future
“It’s a good thing we weren’t doing this interview yesterday,” says Colonel Philip Garbutt, as the telephone line between Canada and Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, hisses and pops. “Otherwise I might have been talking to you from a bunker.” Full story....
U.S. Army unit receives Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation for Operation MEDUSA
The Green Berets of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) have the rare honour of being the first non-Canadian unit to receive the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation. Full story....
ANA Legal School promotes justice and rule of law
Established at the Kabul Military Training Centre on 3 February 2010, the Afghan National Army (ANA) Legal School graduated its first class in August 2010 and in only two short years is gaining recognition as the ANA’s centre of excellence in legal training. A move to permanent quarters at the Afghan National Defence University in Qargha-Kabul — planned for Spring 2013 — will significantly enhance its training capacity. Full story....
Malalai shoots for the stars
One of the most potent signs of change in Afghanistan is the sight of uniformed women on the job in the army, the air force, and in a wide range of policing services. Their recruitment, training and deployment is part of Transition, the plan for security in Afghanistan to be in Afghan control by the end of 2014. Full story....
Medical and Dental mentoring in Mazar-e-Sharif
At the heart of an effective and sustainable Afghan National Army is effective and sustainable health care support, and a Medical Training Advisory Group (MTAG) from the NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan is deployed in Mazar-e Sharif to assist with this task. Full story....
Canadian Contribution to the World Food Program Helps Afghan Factories to Produce High Energy Cookies For Children in Afghanistan
By working with Afghan producers through the Canadian- funded Purchase for Progress (P4P) programme, World Food Program (WFP) is buying products locally and strengthening the domestic market. Full story....
Farewell to Herat
RMTC-West commandant praises Canadian training advisors for their efforts. In Herat, the western-most province of Afghanistan, the Afghan National Army command team and training staff of Regional Military Training Centre (RMTC)–West are now running a full slate of courses independently, and no longer require a full Training Advisory Group from the NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan. Full story....
NCO Training Brigade at KMTC strengthens ANA backbone
With a stamping of feet and excitement in his voice, the sergeant shouts his report to the senior officer who is about to present him with his graduation certificate. Shining with pride, he turns to his brother graduates, holds the document aloft, and declares his dedication to his country. Full story....
An open letter from Lieutenant-General Stuart Beare
In March this year, our task force in Afghanistan completed another relief in place. The soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen of our initial rotation of Operation ATTENTION, the Canadian contribution to the training mission in Afghanistan, are back with their families and returning to work at their home units. Full story....
Canadian Police Officers Serving in Afghanistan Awarded Honours
On March 15, 2012 the Canadian civilian police contingent in Afghanistan held a medal parade on the grounds of the Embassy of Canada in Kabul. This event was the first of its kind to be held at the Embassy, marking the transition from a military engagement to a diplomatic one. Full story....
The Embassy of Canada hosts a blood drive in support of the Kabul Blood Bank
On March 31st, the Embassy of Canada hosted its first-ever blood drive in support of the Kabul Blood Bank. The drive was a great success and resulted in 100 units of blood donated to help Afghans. Full story....
The Afghanistan National Army: Securing Afghanistan’s future by not repeating a failure of the past
When the ANA finally brings peace to Afghanistan, it is my dream that we transition to other missions beyond our defense - tasks like responding to natural disasters and providing humanitarian assistance. It is my hope that one day we will be able to repay our friends and partners who helped us in our time of need by participating in peacekeeping operations in support of the United Nations and other international organizations. Full story....
The Embassy of Canada hosts the “Memory Boxes” exhibit to mark International Women’s Day
On March 3-4, 2012, in partnership with the Afghanistan Human Rights and Democracy Organization, a local Afghan NGO, the Embassy of Canada co-hosted a powerful exhibit – entitled “Memory Boxes” – displaying 20 vivid boxes decorated and lined with sentimental artefacts selected by Afghan widows. The items selected by these ordinary women were connected to the loved-ones they had lost during Afghanistan’s three decades-long conflict. The Embassy also invited the authors of the boxes, who had faced incredible trauma and personal loss, to discuss their experiences with Embassy guests. Full story....
Improving maternal, newborn and child health in Afghanistan
It is an all-too-common scenario in Afghanistan: 15-year-old Fatima, an expectant mother suffering from severe anaemia and living in poverty, gives birth to a baby boy at home with no medical assistance. For Fatima, who lives in a remote, rural area of the country, the closest health facility is too far away and because of her poor health, the baby does not survive. Fatima remains weak and barely capable of looking after her other children. Full story....
Police women in Bamyan make strides
I have been in Afghanistan since November 2011 and this is my first mission. I am currently serving in Bamyan Province with the European Union Police Mission. My assignment as mentor/advisor is to oversee the entire Afghan National Police training program for the province of Bamyan, which has 827 ANP officers – only 24 of whom are female. Full story....
Giving Afghans a chance
An interview with MGen Mike Day - “The international community's contribution to Afghanistan is fundamentally about two activities: Stop bad guys from doing bad things, and help good guys do good things,” said MGen Mike Day. He is the Deputy Commanding General–Operations of the NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan, and Commander of the Canadian Contribution Training Mission–Afghanistan. Full story....
Building the plane while flying: Training advisors at the Afghan National Army Signals School
When you work as a training advisor at the Afghan National Army Signals School, you feel like you’re building a plane that’s already airborne and outward bound. Full story....
Tactical ministry in Kabul: An interview with Padre Howard Rittenhouse
Captain Howard Rittenhouse of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, is the Task Force Chaplain deployed on Operation ATTENTION with the initial rotation of the Canadian Contribution to the Training Mission in Afghanistan (CCTM-A). Although he's a Captain with the official title of Chaplain, he quickly points out that he prefers to be called Padre. Full story....
Working with the ANA, then and now
Back in Afghanistan for the fourth time, a training advisor sees real progress. This is my fourth deployment to Afghanistan, and it’s likely to be my last. Canada’s involvement in the NATO Training Mission–Afghanistan is scheduled to end in 2014, which is also the year when NATO and the International Security Assistance Force will hand over responsibility for security in Afghanistan to the Afghan National Army (ANA), the Afghan Air Force (AAF) and the Afghan National Police (ANP). Full story....
Update from Kabul
This is a busy time for more than 900 CF members currently serving with the Canadian Contribution to the Training Mission in Afghanistan. They work in about 25 training and headquarters establishments located in 15 different camps in Kabul, Mazer-e-Sharif and Herat, serving as advisors to the Afghan National Army, the Afghan Air Force and the Afghan National Police. Full story....
Kabul Military Training Centre: Where the future begins for the Afghan National Army
We have all heard the proverb that says if you give someone a fish you feed them for a day, but if you teach them to fish you feed them for a lifetime. This proverb can be used to describe the work that Canadian Forces personnel are doing in Afghanistan. Full story....
Literacy training at the Kabul Military Training Centre
As you read this article, you probably don’t stop to consider when and how you learned to read. Reading is second nature to you, and you can barely remember when it wasn’t. But what if you had to learn to read and write now? Full story....
First graduation parade for Canadian training advisors in Herat
After nine weeks of drill, range practice, patrolling techniques, checkpoint procedures and convoy exercises, the 1,400 Afghan National Army soldiers on parade at the Regional Military Training Centre–West, deserved every moment of the praise and recognition they received during the ceremony marking their successful completion of Basic Warrior Training. Full story....
