The following sitrep from LCol Tim Bishop, who went from CO 1 RCHA to G9 at KAF, is a good read.
Please share this with Gunners across Canada - From Lt Col Tim Bishop,
Chief of Fires for Task Force Afghanistan (Golf Niner)
Sirs all,
When we arrived here in Feb 09 we knew that there would be challenges and
some difficult times. We also knew that we were well trained and well
equipped for the months ahead. The fact that the battery that was here
from 2 RCHA already had most of their tour under their belt made that
transition easy. The folks that we took over from were also really well
prepared and Maj Sonny Hatton had done an outstanding job setting our team
up for success.
Being the commanders gunner (G9er) has meant that I have had the good
fortune to get out and visit all the gun lines and gunners on every
position from the actual gun lines to the more remote gunners on Ghundy
Ghar and other exotic locales. Sometimes getting there was challenging
and at times even a little exciting, but the gunners always welcomed me
with open arms and a cup of coffee - or something colder, which in summer
here is much appreciated. Their morale is - as ever - high. I attribute
that to a couple of things. Firstly great leadership at all levels. From
Bdr on up, they all continue to inspire their younger charges and mentor
them in everything from gunnery, to basic life skills. Second and most
important here - the sense of purpose shared by all for the mission. They
all understand that they are here to support their fellow Canadians and
coalition partners that are in direct contact with the enemy and they
never have to be told to hurry up. When the command to take posts is
given there is no hesitation at all. I have been asked why the gunners
are in their underwear firing the guns - there are cameras everywhere
after all - and I invariably answer the RSM - they support the troops
first and get dressed at end of mission. I have yet to see a gunner
without their IPE on the guns - but I have seen several in shorts and flip
flops because that is what they had on when the call came to take posts.
And did the calls come. At all hours of the day and night and in all
kinds of weather. The guns have responded to all calls with the expertise
and speed we are known for. They are loved by the troops on the ground as
they know that they are always there. This can't be said for other
support. They have done every type of mission imaginable and some called
for creative solutions, all worked out in the famous hot planning fashion
well known to the Director. (Or planned on the fly for those uninitiated
in the fine art) They have worked with and fired for a variety of allies
in contact with the enemy and have always earned their respect and
admiration. To date they have fired more than any other roto and we still
have time left.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the sterling work of our supporting
troops. The HALO, and LCMRs have been kept very busy supporting the fight
and are often our first indication that something is going on in the AO.
So accurate is their information, that we have been able to contact the
call signs operating in the area and ask them if there is something
happening - more often than not the reply is - Contact - wait out! Also,
the SUAV continues to break records monthly for the amount of outstanding
Situational Awareness they are providing.
The folks that are nearest and dearest to my heart are the Coordination
Centres in the Bde HQ. They have functioned flawlessly for the entire
time that we have been here ensuring that the battle space is clear for
all other operations, the air space is clear and coordinating the assets
to win the fire fight. The thing that I am most proud of is their
willingness to work 24/7 to keep the troops in the field fed with
information, and occasionally even ammunition. Although they function
behind the scenes their work is critical to the smooth day to day support.
Without them there would be chaos in the battlespace. To give you an
idea of the scope of this challenge, Kandahar Airfield sees about 6500
individual air movements a week making it the busiest single strip
airfield in the world. (Heathrow has about 5500) All of this traffic
transits our battlespace.
I would like everyone to know that we largely have it right. With our
solid teamwork we win the fire fight, and we do that by combining whatever
assets are available at the given moment from Arty, to CAS, to CCA and
sometimes all of it. These are all coordinated by the Bde FSCC, ASCC, and
TACP. Our training is outstanding, our selection of troops and soldier
skills are second to none, and the heart and soul with which the soldiers
shoulder the load makes me proud to call myself a gunner.
I will close by remembering our gunner wounded during this tour. To the
young FOO that was severely injured in an IED attack just weeks before the
end of 2 RCHAs tour, and to the MBdr that was my crew commander that was
injured in the IED blast on 03 Jul; both of them were out doing the
business and were highly respected members of their teams - both were/are
sorely missed. The sacrifice that everyone makes to come here and
especially in these two cases, to make the lives of Afghans better, must
always be remembered.
Please share this with Gunners across Canada - From Lt Col Tim Bishop,
Chief of Fires for Task Force Afghanistan (Golf Niner)
Sirs all,
When we arrived here in Feb 09 we knew that there would be challenges and
some difficult times. We also knew that we were well trained and well
equipped for the months ahead. The fact that the battery that was here
from 2 RCHA already had most of their tour under their belt made that
transition easy. The folks that we took over from were also really well
prepared and Maj Sonny Hatton had done an outstanding job setting our team
up for success.
Being the commanders gunner (G9er) has meant that I have had the good
fortune to get out and visit all the gun lines and gunners on every
position from the actual gun lines to the more remote gunners on Ghundy
Ghar and other exotic locales. Sometimes getting there was challenging
and at times even a little exciting, but the gunners always welcomed me
with open arms and a cup of coffee - or something colder, which in summer
here is much appreciated. Their morale is - as ever - high. I attribute
that to a couple of things. Firstly great leadership at all levels. From
Bdr on up, they all continue to inspire their younger charges and mentor
them in everything from gunnery, to basic life skills. Second and most
important here - the sense of purpose shared by all for the mission. They
all understand that they are here to support their fellow Canadians and
coalition partners that are in direct contact with the enemy and they
never have to be told to hurry up. When the command to take posts is
given there is no hesitation at all. I have been asked why the gunners
are in their underwear firing the guns - there are cameras everywhere
after all - and I invariably answer the RSM - they support the troops
first and get dressed at end of mission. I have yet to see a gunner
without their IPE on the guns - but I have seen several in shorts and flip
flops because that is what they had on when the call came to take posts.
And did the calls come. At all hours of the day and night and in all
kinds of weather. The guns have responded to all calls with the expertise
and speed we are known for. They are loved by the troops on the ground as
they know that they are always there. This can't be said for other
support. They have done every type of mission imaginable and some called
for creative solutions, all worked out in the famous hot planning fashion
well known to the Director. (Or planned on the fly for those uninitiated
in the fine art) They have worked with and fired for a variety of allies
in contact with the enemy and have always earned their respect and
admiration. To date they have fired more than any other roto and we still
have time left.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the sterling work of our supporting
troops. The HALO, and LCMRs have been kept very busy supporting the fight
and are often our first indication that something is going on in the AO.
So accurate is their information, that we have been able to contact the
call signs operating in the area and ask them if there is something
happening - more often than not the reply is - Contact - wait out! Also,
the SUAV continues to break records monthly for the amount of outstanding
Situational Awareness they are providing.
The folks that are nearest and dearest to my heart are the Coordination
Centres in the Bde HQ. They have functioned flawlessly for the entire
time that we have been here ensuring that the battle space is clear for
all other operations, the air space is clear and coordinating the assets
to win the fire fight. The thing that I am most proud of is their
willingness to work 24/7 to keep the troops in the field fed with
information, and occasionally even ammunition. Although they function
behind the scenes their work is critical to the smooth day to day support.
Without them there would be chaos in the battlespace. To give you an
idea of the scope of this challenge, Kandahar Airfield sees about 6500
individual air movements a week making it the busiest single strip
airfield in the world. (Heathrow has about 5500) All of this traffic
transits our battlespace.
I would like everyone to know that we largely have it right. With our
solid teamwork we win the fire fight, and we do that by combining whatever
assets are available at the given moment from Arty, to CAS, to CCA and
sometimes all of it. These are all coordinated by the Bde FSCC, ASCC, and
TACP. Our training is outstanding, our selection of troops and soldier
skills are second to none, and the heart and soul with which the soldiers
shoulder the load makes me proud to call myself a gunner.
I will close by remembering our gunner wounded during this tour. To the
young FOO that was severely injured in an IED attack just weeks before the
end of 2 RCHAs tour, and to the MBdr that was my crew commander that was
injured in the IED blast on 03 Jul; both of them were out doing the
business and were highly respected members of their teams - both were/are
sorely missed. The sacrifice that everyone makes to come here and
especially in these two cases, to make the lives of Afghans better, must
always be remembered.