"... Canadian special forces are selected and trained as rigorously as other elite formations in the world, including the British SAS. "
The annual budget of JTF 2 is set at 25 million Canadian dollars, although the Defence Minister John McCallum hopes to increase it. The average age of the commandos of JTF 2 is 28 years of experience and these men are recognized as specialists to fight in cold weather, thanks to their extensive training in the Canadian Arctic.
Experience in Afghanistan________________________________________
Members of Canadian Special Forces are selected and trained as rigorously as other elite formations in the world, including the Special Air Service (SAS) and the American Delta Force. The requirements for these two units probably also apply to the JTF-2, which means that a quarter of volunteers - soldiers of the first order - are usually rejected, and a tenth of those who continue to incorporate the unit finally elite.Such training is designed to act discreetly and with deadly force in hot spots near and far. His men are driven down a rope from a helicopter to operate in isolation for months or break a combatant's hip with a kick in the femur. They should play a vital role in a possible Iraq campaign, especially in street fighting in Baghdad.Because of the silence of the Canadian authorities, most of what we know the value of JTF 2 comes from U.S. sources. During the Afghanistan campaign, JTF 2 was part of a group of special forces gathering strength from 7 different nations, the Task Force K-Bar, it took part in 42 missions of reconnaissance and surveillance, and Operations at the U.S. military described as "direct action". The members of JTF 2 have participated in commando operations that have captured 107 Taliban leaders, killing at least 115 Taliban fighters or al-Qaeda, all over a period of 6 months.
"... The only direct reference to the actions of the JTF 2 in Afghanistan was a photograph showing commandos escorting prisoners on a tarmac of Al Qaeda. "
The operators of the JTF-2 led climbing a mountain in Afghanistan to reach a vantage point high altitude. They also searched the caves in search of enemy forces and intelligence. As part of Operation Anaconda, which took place in March 2002, the Canadian commandos took up positions on the summits to educate Afghan combat units below.The men of JTF 2 are operated jointly with the U.S. Navy SEALs and with the Australian SAS. The Commander Kerry Metz of the Navy, in charge of operations for the TF K-Bar, praised the performance of commandos "foreigners" during a congressional hearing. "We were fortunate to have the best operators from a coalition of seven nations," said Metz. "We were challenged to conduct missions in some of the most hostile environments we have known. For example, we initiated reconnaissance teams in the Afghan mountains above 3000 meters, without resupply for prolonged periods. "Before that, the only direct reference to the actions of the JTF 2 in Afghanistan was an embarrassing photograph showing commandos escorting prisoners on a tarmac of Al Qaeda. It sparked an uproar and a parliamentary investigation into why the Minister of Defence, Art Eggleton, had not immediately informed Prime Minister Jean Chretien that JTF 2 was involved in the capture of prisoners in Afghanistan.
Commitment to Kosovo________________________________________
Scott Taylor, publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine, said that JTF 2 is as good as the U.S. Delta Force and British SAS. Some observers believe that JTF 2 has been deployed for some time in Kosovo, to uncover important targets and using laser pointers to guide smart bombs.When Conservative MP David Price told the Commons that JTF 2 was on the ground during the Kosovo campaign, the government has strongly denied such an undertaking - but it is a governmental response required for any covert operation, and another answer would have endangered the lives of operators. JTF 2 has almost certainly been deployed in Quebec City in April 2001 as a reserve during the violent protests that accompanied the Summit of the Americas.As for his action in Afghanistan, Scott Taylor said that "it is exactly a role for them. These guys want it. They are ready to conduct covert special operations. They are willing to risk their lives on the ground. Each of these guys committed to this goal. "David Rudd, Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies, told CBC News the soldiers of JTF 2 does not train to take a piece of land and hold it. "What they do is sneak behind enemy lines, look for key targets and destroy them. They do not come to arrest people and distribute food. They go out to shoot down targets."
