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6 T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O F N O V A S C O T I A / N U N A V U T C O M M A N D Spring 2010An Afghan worker shows up on the jobsite in style14 Construction Engineering Squadronin a post 9/11 environmentBy Captain Gary Silliker14 CES/143 CEFThe attacks of 11 September 2001 by Al-Qaedaupon the USA, one of Canada’s NATO allies, wouldchange the world as most people knew it at that time.The attacks would quickly change the focus andoperational tempo of the <strong>Canadian</strong> Forces (CF) andconcomitantly that of 14 Construction EngineeringSquadron (14 CES). The squadron cons<strong>is</strong>ts of approximately10% regular <strong>for</strong>ce and 90 per cent reserve <strong>for</strong>cemembers and has three sub-units known as ConstructionEngineering Flights (CEF), one each being located in Lunenburg and Pictoucounties in NS and one other located in Gander NL. The squadron headquarters <strong>is</strong>located in Pinegrove, NS, just outside Bridgewater.Prior to the 9/11attacks the squadron had been sending small groups of individuals,usually one to eight members, to international operations or taskings in supportof government of Canada initiatives. 14 CES would soon be tested in supportingcounterinsurgency operations and would see some of their numbers taking part in aWhole of Government (WoG) ef<strong>for</strong>t while employed in stability operations in Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan.Th<strong>is</strong> would create a high operational tempo <strong>for</strong> 14 CES, yet the requirementto recruit train and remain connected with the host communities also neededto be nurtured and maintained. The squadron would r<strong>is</strong>e to the challenge.Prior to the 9/11 event the squadron participated in m<strong>is</strong>sions such as the UN m<strong>is</strong>sionon the Golan Heights, the Multi-<strong>for</strong>ce Observed m<strong>is</strong>sion in the Sinai, and thevarious NATO m<strong>is</strong>sions in the Balkans. They also took on numerous domestic taskingsacross the country and into the high Arctic. Squadron personnel were deployedin early 2008, as part of Op Pontoon, to ass<strong>is</strong>t the citizens of BC in the event of anymajor flooding.The initial request <strong>for</strong> squadron support to the m<strong>is</strong>sion in Southwest Asia came inthe early spring of 2002, when 1 <strong>Canadian</strong> Air Div<strong>is</strong>ion requested that 14 CES <strong>for</strong>mthe nucleus of a deployed camp construction/maintenance unit as part of the newly<strong>for</strong>med National Support Element (NSE) located at the newly constructed “CampMirage”. In July the squadron sent 13 members <strong>for</strong> a 6-month m<strong>is</strong>sion to CampMirage, where as part of the NSE, they would support <strong>Canadian</strong> naval, land, and airoperations in the region. In so doing the squadron found a place in the h<strong>is</strong>tory ofThe second request <strong>for</strong> support to the<strong>Canadian</strong> m<strong>is</strong>sion came in the latespring of 2002 as the battle groupin Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan prepared to re-deployhome to Canada via a Pacific route.MCpl Joe Wynands in ditch securing wire to prevent the Taliban from settingup another IED on our work site in Dand D<strong>is</strong>trict.the <strong>Canadian</strong> air reserve, in that it was the first air reserveunit since WW II to be deployed in support of an internationaloperation.The NSE duties at that time, as they are now, wereprimarily in support of air <strong>for</strong>ce operations, with some ofthe 14 CES personnel providing helpful technical advice tothe Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand AirForce, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. 14 CES personnel,on th<strong>is</strong> tasking, also flew into Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan <strong>for</strong> shortperiods of time to conduct engineer specific tasks. Thesecond request <strong>for</strong> support to the <strong>Canadian</strong> m<strong>is</strong>sion camein the late spring of 2002 as the battle group in Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan prepared to re-deployhome to Canada via a Pacific route. Two members of the squadron quickly deployedto the tiny <strong>is</strong>land of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to support that ef<strong>for</strong>t. The2002 contribution accounted <strong>for</strong> 11 per cent of the squadron’s personnel strength.One member of 14 CES was deployed to Camp Mirage in 2003 and another in2004 – in both cases they were employed in NSE engineering and maintenance duties.Seven members of 14 CES deployed to the NSE in 2005 and were employedin engineering and log<strong>is</strong>tics functions. That same year a squadron master warrantofficer deployed to the Kabul Multi-National Brigade and was employed at CampJulien in Kabul. While there he was heavily involved in the engineer planning andconsequent construction of facilities <strong>for</strong> the relocation of the <strong>Canadian</strong> contingentto the Kandahar Airfield (KAF). In 2006 the support unit at Camp Mirage, whichhad been re-designated from NSE to the Theatre Support Element (TSE), includedeight personnel from 14 CES who were employed in engineering, log<strong>is</strong>tical andadmin<strong>is</strong>trative duties.In response to a request from 1 <strong>Canadian</strong> Air Div<strong>is</strong>ion in the summer of 2006,the squadron <strong>for</strong>med a Technical Ass<strong>is</strong>tance V<strong>is</strong>it (TAV) team <strong>for</strong> service on theKAF. Normally a TAV deploys <strong>for</strong> a specific purpose and <strong>for</strong> a period of less than60 days – th<strong>is</strong> particular TAV would run <strong>for</strong> over 160 days and be multi-tasked. Theydeployed in October 2006 and returned in February-March 2007. In effect, they werea “surge element” of construction engineers. That TAV cons<strong>is</strong>ted of 17 members of14 CES and was pulled together, trained, equipped and deployed in 56 days.The work of the first TAV was considered “outstanding” by the <strong>Canadian</strong> airContinued on Page 7
Spring 2010T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C A T I O N O FN O V A S C O T I A / N U N A V U T C O M M A N D7The squadron will be called upon again in the futureContinued from Page 6<strong>for</strong>ce and the <strong>Canadian</strong> Military Engineers branch ofthe CF. To that end the squadron was presented withthe 2007 “Patton-Cunnington Airfield Engineer Trophy”<strong>for</strong> “the successful completion of a project of significantmagnitude”. A captain, from the squadron, alsodeployed to Kandahar that year as part of the EngineerSupport Unit (ESU). The ESU controls all aspects ofconstruction, maintenance, and associated contracting<strong>for</strong> all CF facilities in Kandahar Province, including the<strong>for</strong>ward operating bases. Six percent of the squadron’spersonnel strength was deployed to Southwest Asia in2005 and 19 percent in 2006.Flying from Canada to Iceland to Azerbaijan toAfghan<strong>is</strong>tan, providing close security <strong>for</strong> a plane loadof ammunition which included high explosive artilleryshells, was a duty accepted by two members ofthe squadron in early 2007. That same year saw thedeployment of four squadron members to the KAF onengineering and log<strong>is</strong>tics duties.In 2008 the squadron deployed sixteen personnel, 11per cent of the unit’s personnel strength, to SouthwestAsia.At the KAF, a squadron master warrant officerwas assigned to the ESU, two other members wereemployed in admin<strong>is</strong>trative and transport roles whileone other member was employed in the RegionalCommand South (RC South) HQ intelligence section(RC South <strong>is</strong> the higher NATO HQ <strong>for</strong> southernAfghan<strong>is</strong>tan). Three vehicle technicians from 14 CESwere part of a combat service support unit, primarilyworking “outside the wire” with the battle group whileanother vehicle technician was assigned to the “TacticalUnmanned Aerial Vehicle” (TUAV) unit. Anothersquadron member was deployed to Kabul was partof the <strong>for</strong>ce protection unit which provide security<strong>for</strong> Camp Sutter and close protection <strong>for</strong> the log<strong>is</strong>ticsconvoys moving, via road, throughout the city and area.Six members of 14 CES deployed to the KAF as partof a TAV that was led by 192 CEF (Aldergrove, BC),another reserve construction engineer unit, <strong>for</strong> the periodof 1 November to 15 December 2008. That TAVwas employed erecting transportable aircraft shelters insupport of the <strong>Canadian</strong> air <strong>for</strong>ce operations there. Thesquadron deployed 30 personnel to Jamaica, during themonths of August to October 2008, to support and/or take part in Exerc<strong>is</strong>e Tropical Hammer II. It shouldbe noted that 33 per cent of the squadron’s personnelstrength was deployed on international operations in2008 (SW Asia, France, and Jamaica).In early December 2007 an unofficial staff-checkrequest came from 1 <strong>Canadian</strong> Air Div<strong>is</strong>ion to see if 14CES could pull together team of 15-20 personnel <strong>for</strong> adeployment to Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan in early 2009. The squadronresponded positively and the official tasking arrived atthe headquarters the following spring. 14 CES wouldbe the nucleus of the Construction Management Organization(CMO) <strong>for</strong> troop rotation #7 (Roto-7). Predeploymenttraining was conducted between August2008 and March 2009 at CFBs Kingston, Valcartier,Gagetown, and Wainwright, as well as in Jamaica andFort Bl<strong>is</strong>s Texas. Exerc<strong>is</strong>e Tropical Hammer II, as mentionedabove, trained the squadron members in working<strong>is</strong> austere areas (read “jungle”), working with largenumbers semi-skilled and un-skilled local employees onlabour intensive projects, infantry tactics and drills, andspecial weapons-handling skills That exerc<strong>is</strong>e broughtthe CMO designated personnel to the high readinessposture they required <strong>for</strong> the m<strong>is</strong>sion in Kandahar.The squadron members who were selected andtrained to be part of the CMO deployed to Afghan<strong>is</strong>tanin early April 2009. The majority the CMO personneloperated cons<strong>is</strong>tently “outside the wire” during the periodof April to November. They were embedded withinfantry and armoured units and conducted counter-insurgencyoperations in the Panjwa’i and Dand D<strong>is</strong>trictsof Kandahar Province by planning, implementing andguiding community based “cash-<strong>for</strong>-work” projects thatTea time.improved water supplies, agriculture, flood control andsanitation. The work of the CMO brought hope andtangible improvements to the villages, provided a muchneeded short-term boost in the village economy, andultimately marginalized the influence and the operabilityof the insurgent elements in the region.While the 15 squadron members of the CMO wereconducting somewhat “non-traditional” roles <strong>for</strong> constructionengineers, other members of 14 CES werealso working in their trades in Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan. A squadronmaster warrant officer was located at the <strong>for</strong>ward operatingbase known as Camp Nathan Smith, where hewas employed both as the camp engineer and the campSergeant-Major.Another TAV, led by 14 CES, deployed with 15squadron members to the KAF in mid-May 2009 <strong>for</strong> a72-day period in support of <strong>Canadian</strong> air <strong>for</strong>ce operationsthere. While there, the squadron members erectedstructures known as Expeditionary Forces AircraftShelter System (EFASS). Each EFASS hanger <strong>is</strong> capableof sheltering one CF-47 Chinook helicopter or twoHeron NOCTUA UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle).Be<strong>for</strong>e leaving Kandahar <strong>for</strong> Canada, one memberof the TAV volunteered to stay on to work with theengineer unit located at Camp Nathan Smith. Anotherunit member was deployed as part of the admin<strong>is</strong>trativestaff at the task<strong>for</strong>ce headquarters at KAF, whilefive other members of the squadron were deployed toCamp Mirage on engineering duties.The percentage of 14 CES personnel deployedto Southwest Asia, since 2002, clearly demonstratesthe value of the Construction Engineering reserve tothe air <strong>for</strong>ce and the CF. Eleven percent in 2002, sixpercent in 2005, eighteen percent in 2006, fourteen percentin 2007, and eleven percent in 2008. In 2009, the14 CES contribution of personnel to that part of theworld, in support of CF operations, saw a unit “highwatermark” of 27 per cent of the squadron deployed.In late January 2010 the squadron deployed 13 membersto the KAF as part of another TAV in support ofair <strong>for</strong>ce operations. That TAV, much like the last twounit TAVs to the Kandahar Airfield, exemplified why14 CES ex<strong>is</strong>ts – primarily to support <strong>Canadian</strong> air <strong>for</strong>ceoperations on a global scale. The TAV erected moreEFASS shelters and improved/repaired infrastructure<strong>for</strong> the Joint Task Force Afghan<strong>is</strong>tan (JTF-Afg) Wing.An additional four personnel will deployed to SouthwestAsia in the fall of 2010 – a master warrant officerto take on the camp engineer duties at Camp Mirage,another master warrant officer was to the ESU and awarrant officer to the log<strong>is</strong>tics staff at the Task ForceKandahar HQ, and a Sergeant will be assigned to an intelligencesection with Regional Command South HQ.The squadron deployed 10 personnel to Op Podiumin support of the 2010 Winter Olympics. Seven ofthe ten were employed on engineering tasks while theother three were employed in security roles. A lieutenantfrom 14 CES was tasked with establ<strong>is</strong>hing a campto house 250 personnel, with a contingency plan toexpand to 500 if required, and securing the perimeterof the camp with concertina fencing. To support flyingoperations the lieutenant also had to establ<strong>is</strong>h two <strong>for</strong>wardoperating bases <strong>for</strong> a tactical helicopter squadron;set-up a full Quick Reaction Alert area to enable CF-18operations, which included the set-up of three ModularShelter Systems to house the fighter aircraft; and set upand operate a Mobile Expandable Container Configuration(MECC) power plant.One should never <strong>for</strong>get that while 14 CES hasbeen heavily engaged in deploying trained reserv<strong>is</strong>t andregular <strong>for</strong>ce members to the various CF operationsin support of the government of Canada’s ef<strong>for</strong>ts inSouthwest Asia, the squadron’s three flights continueto meet all the demands placed upon them within theirFlight communities at home.The flights continued to recruit, train, and employnew squadron members. They also conducted numerouscommunity support activities by providing theirconstruction skills to enable not-<strong>for</strong>-profit organizationsbuild or renovate structures as well as volunteeringto help charitable organizations like “Chr<strong>is</strong>tmasDaddies” and the <strong>Canadian</strong> Cancer Society.The new “norm” of functioning in a post 9/11environment shall continue to challenge 14 CES in theyears to come – in what <strong>for</strong>um has yet to be determined.Undoubtedly the squadron will be called uponto support other air <strong>for</strong>ce and CF operations in thefuture, be they in response to a threat to domestic security,national sovereignty, natural d<strong>is</strong>asters or whateverthe government of Canada deems necessary.Checking out the livestock.
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