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Topic: Afghanistan - 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment - 2007 (Read 13582 times)
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Regt Adjt
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http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/553868.html
Taking on the Taliban
1,160 soldiers ship out from Atlantic Canada for Afghanistan
By CHRIS LAMBIE Staff Reporter
An Amherst soldier is anticipating a hot reception when he arrives in Afghanistan at the end of the month.
Capt. Dave Nixon is one of 1,160 soldiers based in Atlantic Canada who will be part of Canada’s 2,500-member force in Kandahar.
"At this point, there’s not much in the way of hostilities," Capt. Nixon, 40, said Friday.
"But we’re just getting into the warmer season, so we’re expecting things to possibly heat up."
This is his second tour of Afghanistan but he knows Taliban tactics have changed considerably since he was last there in 2003.
There will be some overlap with Canadian troops who have been on the ground for the past six months.
"We don’t go in blind," said Capt. Nixon, who is with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment.
"They’ll hold us by the hand, basically, for the first little bit until we get to see what’s going on."
Forty-four soldiers, including seven Nova Scotians, and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002. The majority of those casualties came last year, and some expect insurgents to unleash another bloody campaign this spring in Kandahar, where the Canadians will be stationed.
Capt. Nixon, a married father of two, has explained the situation to his eldest daughter, Kaylee.
"My five-year-old is very aware of what’s going on," he said. "We were watching some ramp ceremonies when they were bringing home some soldiers from previous tours, and she turned around to me on the couch and asked me, ‘Daddy, do all soldiers who go there die?’ And I had to tell her, ‘No, but sometimes . . . they have to stop bad people from doing bad things to good people, sometimes they get hurt and sometimes they die.’ And she was OK with that."
His other daughter, Talia, 2, is too young to grasp what’s happening.
"She just knows Daddy is going away again," Capt. Nixon said. "She’s a little bit clingy, but she’s good. She’ll get over it and she’ll just fall right into Mama’s arms."
During one tour of Bosnia, Capt. Nixon wasn’t able to communicate with his wife, Marcie, for a two-month stretch.
"I’m taking everything I can take with me that might be able to contact home and not break operational security," he said.
"The funniest one is I’ve purchased a (PlayStation Portable) system . . . because I’ve heard that the Americans have opened up wireless Internet over there. So if I can e-mail my wife and kids from inside my light armoured vehicle somewhere out in the middle of nowhere out in the Panjwaii district, I’ll do it."
Capt. Nixon has loaded photos of his wife and daughters into the device.
"I’ve got everything I need that can remind me of home," he said.
The other crucial items he’s taking to a country where the temperatures will hit 50 C before his six-month tour is over: goggles and a scarf.
"You’ve absolutely got to be able to cover your face and your neck in the wind and sandstorms," he said. "As long as you can cover up like that, you’re good to go."
Capt. Nixon is the light armoured vehicle captain with Hotel Company, one of the rifle companies heading to Kandahar.
Thousands of people gathered Friday on a field at CFB Gagetown in Oromocto, N.B., to show their support for soldiers heading to Afghanistan. They used red placards to form a huge Canadian flag on a background of fresh snow.
"That was quite something," said Capt. Greg Vander Kloet of Wolfville, who leaves for Kandahar on Jan. 26.
"It just blew my mind."
Capt. Vander Kloet, 29, a platoon commander with Hotel Company, expects to spend weeks at a time at forward operating bases outside the relative safety of Kandahar airfield.
"The most dangerous part is differentiating enemy from friendly when you’re out conducting operations," he said. "The enemy obviously don’t dress in conventional uniforms like we do, so to pick them out from friendly or just the civilian population itself is going to be the most challenging task once we’re there."
Capt. Vander Kloet, a married father of two, expects his wife, Dayna, their five-year-old daughter, Taylor, and three-month-old baby, Koen, will have a tough time without him.
"If anyone told you life was going to be easy in the absence of one of the parents, they’d be pulling your leg," he said. "But my wife’s been fully prepared and there’s an awesome support network here (at Gagetown)."
The possibility of getting hurt or killed is on his mind.
"But that’s a good thing in the sense that it keeps you on your toes," he said. "It keeps you realizing that the situation is real. That makes you pay attention to what’s going on around you."
Warrant Officer John Blackmore of Glace Bay bought a laptop computer for the trip. He plans to load it with photos of his wife, Sandra, and their children, Richard, 13, and Rebecca, 11.
"Plus, I’ll have some photos in my wallet when I go overseas."
Warrant Officer Blackmore, 38, has completed five tours of duty, including stints in Cyprus and Bosnia, but this is his first trip to Afghanistan.
"I think this is going to be quite a bit different," said the platoon warrant with India Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment, noting that he expects this deployment to be his most dangerous.
While he knows the tempo could pick up as the weather warms, he believes NATO forces now on the ground have taken away the Taliban’s ability to fight.
"I have 100 per cent trust in all of our training and I think we’ll be able to defeat whatever they put towards us," he said.
( clambie@herald.ca)
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b.woodward
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May you all come through this safe and back to your families.
My prayers and thoughts are with you all.
Pro Patria
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Paulette Tedford
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Jan. 20th/07
Our family sends their love, faith and hope to each and every soldier heading to Afghanistan. we are so proud of all of you. our best friends son is heading out in Mar.- Cpl. Chris barron. he grew up with our son Sgt.Darcy S Tedford who left us Oct.14th/06 God be with all of you, stay safe. Pro Patria
Paulette & Robin Tedford
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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I am sure you will all go and do the best job that is humanly possible.. do your best to keep as safe as you can...ranrad
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Don Marche
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I know they will do the job to their best ability, but do it just as safe and come home the way you went. Pro Patria fellow Royals and may God be with you.
Don
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1964-1965 RCR Depot North West Canada Pl,
A Coy 2 RCR London
1965-1968 B Coy 2 RCR Fort York Germany,
Promoted to Cpl 68.
1968-1973 D Coy 1 RCR London,
Promoted M\Cpl 69
1970 Cyprus
Promoted to Sgt 73
Took my release in Sep 1973 Rank Sgt
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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CanadaEast
Soldiers leave for Afghanistan
By MICHAEL STAPLES
staples.michael@dailygleaner.com
Published Saturday January 27th, 2007
Appeared on page A1/A2
There were no marching bands, balloons or fireworks at the Greater Fredericton Airport on Friday as the first major movement of troops from this area left for Afghanistan.
There were just yellow buses that transported more than 120 soldiers directly onto the airport's tarmac, where they boarded a charter aircraft.
Most were members of India Company from The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR), part of the overall battle group which numbers 1,150.
Prior to that, there had been a private gathering at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown for the departing soldiers and their families.
"The hardest thing is leaving my family behind," said Cpl. Vincent Wilcox, 30, a member of the 2RCR. "I have three little girls - one who was born on Dec. 30."
Maj. John Fleet, with the National Support Element, flew into Fredericton from CFB Petawawa to catch the flight to Afghanistan.
"I am just anxious," he said. "I am looking forward to getting there. We have been training for a long time and it is a bit of a relief to just get on with it now and to get over there and do the job."
Fleet said he didn't expect the job ahead of him to be an easy one.
"What's going to be the challenge is doing it safely and bringing everybody home."
With soldiers being transported directly to the plane, only a few family and friends showed up at the airport.
Arden Langille of Burton, a former warrant officer in the military, said he had a couple of neighbours who were going to Afghanistan.
The only advice he said he could offer them was to use their training and trust their instincts.
"I feel everyone should support their troops when they are going over, even though it is war," said Karen Painter, whose friend, Pte. Brad Eatman, was among those who left. "Everyone is concerned about what is going on over there."
Col. Ryan Jestin, the commander of CFB Gagetown, said the mood at the farewell gathering was somber, but the troops were anxious to get on the plane and finish the task facing them.
"They feel ready and they feel prepared from an experience perspective," he said. "Their families are sad to see them go, but the soldiers are anxious to go and do the job they are trained to do."
On Friday morning, Dave Grossman spoke to the battle group. He's a retired lieutenant-colonel in the U.S. military and head of the Arkansas-based Killology Research Group, an organization that examines how culture and society change when one human being kills another.
Master Cpl. Scott Seeley, who leaves CFB Gagetown on Monday with about 120 other members of the 2RCR battle group, said he found the lecture useful. He said it covered what the departing troops may face once they arrive in Afghanistan and how unaware the public may be to that aspect of the mission.
"He was basically saying that we train on physical fitness all the time, we shoot all day on ranges, but we spend only a few days a year on mental (preparedness)," Seeley said.
Seeley said Grossman opened up a lot of doors that a soldier may have heard of before but never really paid a lot of attention to.
Jestin, meanwhile, said the lecture was just part of the normal deployment preparations.
"I don't think we are trying to make anybody into killing machines. We are just trying to make sure everybody is ready - psychologically, mentally and physically."
http://www.canadaeast.com/ce2/docroot/tool_print_article.php?articleID=96249
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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God speed all you genuine heroes..ranrad
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Gerry Connors
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Lot of names I recognize: come home safe troops! Wer'e thinking aboutyou, and wish you well!
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1RCR Duke's Coy '82 - '87; Cyprus '84 / '85
LOTPed medic 1988; CFH Halifax '88 - '90
119 AD Bty medic, CFB Chatham '90 - '95
2RCR medic '95 - '00; SFOR Bosnia, 2RCR Roto 4 '99;
42 Hlth Svc Gagetown '00 - '02
CFRC Gagetown / Fredericton '02 - '06; 'retired' Aug '06
HMCS Jolliet, Sept-Iles QC, medical staff / 'tiffy' (reserves)
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Taliban warn of summer offensive
Sat Jan 27, 8:36 AM ET
The Taliban is gearing up for a massive summer offensive, with more than 2,000 suicide bombers ready for action and even more preparing, a senior commander said on Saturday.
The warning comes a day after a top U.S. diplomat warned Afghanistan was in for a bloody and dangerous spring after the bloodiest year since the hardline Islamist Taliban was ousted by U.S.-led forces in 2001.
"The Taliban will intensify their guerrilla and suicide strikes this summer," Mulla Hayat Khan told Reuters from a secret location. "This will be a bloodiest year for foreign troops."
He said 2,000 suicide bombers were ready -- about 40 percent of the total suicide force -- adding numbers were so high it was sometimes hard to find enough explosives and targets.
"Our war preparations have been completed to a large extent and we're waiting for summer to set in," Khan said.
More than 4,000 people died last year, a quarter of them civilians, as the resurgent Taliban fought back with what NATO generals said was surprising ferocity.
Calling the guerrillas virulent and tough, U.S. assistant secretary of state for south and central Asia Richard Boucher on Friday warned the spring would be bloody and dangerous after the traditional winter lull in fighting.
"I think we will face a strong offensive and will have a difficult and dangerous and bloody spring," he told BBC radio as NATO foreign ministers discussed Afghanistan's future at a summit in Brussels called by Washington.
"But we are also better set up to deal with it."
While urging NATO allies to do more, the United States has extended troop tours of duty -- effectively boosting its forces by 2,500 -- and announced $10.6 billion in extra aid for Afghan security forces and reconstruction.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
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Ron [Andy] Andrews
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More great news there Mike, not about the summer offensive, but that we will be ready and it may be an end of it. I am not one who believes it will go on forever. I really think the next push is the last big one they can muster, if then. Their own people are getting to the soft core of the Taliban, and money well spent now on jobs may put a stop to the" big " offensive.. thanks Mike, ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Fresh Canadian troops depart for Afghanistan
Last Updated: Saturday, January 27, 2007 | 1:43 PM ET
CBC News
Two more groups of soldiers have left Canada for a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan as part of a troop rotation that will see their counterparts in the country's war zone return home over the next two months.
About 40 members of the First Canadian Field Hospital were given their final briefing on Friday at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in Ontario before shipping out, while around 130 reservists and military personnel flew out of CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick.
In a drill hall at CFB Petawawa, Col. Dennis Thompson offered warm wishes, but also a warning to soldiers bound for Afghanistan.
"In 2006, Canada lost one diplomat and 36 soldiers, 15 of whom were from this base."
A total of 44 Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since 2002.
Hundreds of other soldiers from Petawawa will be deploying to Afghanistan over the next few weeks.
Continue Article
Chief of Defence Staff Rick Hillier recently said the soldiers should anticipate a spring offensive from the Taliban.
At Friday's departure ceremony, the medics said they're aware of the dangers they'll face.
Warrant Officer John McDonald, who'll serve in an artillery unit, said they're ready. "Drop the puck. It's time to go. We've been here. I want to get going."
McDonald has never been to Afghanistan. Neither has Master Bombardier Christian Jax, who said he has been told the majority of Afghans want the Canadians' help.
"There's of course a small percentage who don't want us there. And so we're going to have a little bit of turbulence," he said.
About half of the new wave of 2,500 soldiers heading to Afghanistan comprise military men and women belonging to units from Atlantic Canada.
Others will come from the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Worry follows soldiers to Afghanistan
Jennifer Taplin
CanWest News Service; The Daily News
Sunday, January 28, 2007
HALIFAX -- As the next contingent of Canadian soldiers leaves for Afghanistan Monday, the ones they leave behind worry for their safety.
While fighting has come to a lull in that war-torn nation, experts predict a spring offensive by the Taliban is inevitable.
Some of the 2,500 soldiers have already started their journey to Afghanistan to relieve their comrades, who are ready to come home after six months of duty. The staggered flights will continue throughout the next six weeks.
Since Canada sent troops to Afghanistan in 2002, 44 soldiers and one Canadian diplomat have been killed in the country. The Canadians are currently stationed in the south, which has seen much more Taliban unrest than other regions of the country.
On Monday, 120 soldiers will leave from CFB Gagetown near Fredericton, N.B., mostly from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment battle group.
But before they go, the families of the soldiers have much to prepare for.
Sometimes those preparations involve trying to reconcile differences in political beliefs with wanting to support a loved one, said Bernie Mullin-Splude, who works in deployment services at the Military Family Resource Centre in Halifax.
"There have been some concerns with 'What do I do when I don't agree with our country's decision to be there, and my family member is going there, and what do I do with that?'"Mullin-Splude said.
"Although you may not agree with the politics, it's a good thing to support your family member. To look at it in that respect: that they're trained and proud of what they're doing."
Mullin-Splude said she's seen more of this concern coming from parents of soldiers than from partners.
At the home of Mike Dolan, preparation comes in the form of a map in his eight-year-old son Liam's room that highlight's Afghanistan.
That's where his father is going to be living for the next six months.
Liam knows about the mission, and he said he's worried about his dad getting hurt. His sister, 21-month-old Felicia, is frequently shown pictures of her father, who is often away on training.
"Just so she knows and she remembers his face," said Karla Dolan, Mike's wife.
For Karla Dolan, the challenge is to suddenly become the sole parent. She has learned how to drive and they recently squared away the details of their will and life insurance.
Karla said she's trying to put her own worry in perspective.
"I don't really think about what could happen or might happen because to fill your head with that kind of stuff is not helpful and it's not going to keep me strong in the long run."
Melissa Hunt is two months pregnant with Andrew Ward's child. They met at a bar coat check nine months ago and little did she know at the time that she'd be expecting a baby while he was heading off to Afghanistan.
Hunt, 23, is originally from Ontario but is now living in Halifax to study. While Ward, 25, is away, she'll have the support of friends and his family in Dartmouth, N.S.
"I'm worried about going through this alone but I'm still really excited and I have a lot of other support systems too," she said.
jtaplin@hfxnews.ca
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Troops ship out with little fanfare
2,500 soldiers headed to Afghanistan
By CP
FREDERICTON -- More than 120 Canadian soldiers bound for Afghanistan boarded a plane at the Fredericton airport Friday night and left without fanfare.
The soldiers -- most of whom are members of India Company from The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment -- were transported by yellow buses to a chartered aircraft.
Of the roughly 2,500 troops heading to Afghanistan for the latest rotation, close to 1,200 are from Atlantic Canada -- mostly from New Brunswick's Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.
Before they left the Fredericton airport, there was a private gathering for the soldiers and their families at CFB Gagetown.
Col. Ryan Jestin, the commander Gagetown, said the mood at the farewell gathering was sombre, but the troops were anxious to board the plane and get on with the mission.
"They feel ready and they feel prepared, from an experience perspective," he said. "Their families are sad to see them go, but the soldiers are anxious to go and do the job they are trained to do."
Maj. John Fleet, with the National Support Element, flew into Fredericton from CFB Petawawa to catch the flight to Afghanistan.
"I have three little girls -- one who was born on Dec. 30," said Fleet. "I am just anxious. ... We have been training for a long time and it is a bit of a relief to just get on with it now and to get over there and do the job."
Fleet said he doesn't expect the job ahead of him to be easy.
"What's going to be the challenge is doing it safely and bringing everybody home."
Because the soldiers were taken directly to the waiting plane, only a few family and friends showed up at the airport.
"I feel everyone should support their troops when they are going over," said Karen Painter, whose friend, Pte. Brad Eatman, was among those who left. "Everyone is concerned about what is going on over there."
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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What will be, will be'
While Dad's away, local military family is going it alone
JENNIFER TAPLIN
The Daily News
Tears, hugs and goodbyes will be flowing at CFB Gagetown tomorrow.
There's a flight leaving the Fredericton airport with about 120 soldiers mostly from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment battle group on board. They're heading to Afghanistan to replace their comrades, who are ready to come home after six months in the violence-wracked nation.
Some of the 2,500 soldiers - including regular forces and 105 reservists from Nova Scotia - have already started their journey to Afghanistan. The staggered flights will continue throughout the next six weeks.
But before they go, there's a lot of preparation to do besides training. Here, families tell of their plans and their stories as the waiting game begins.
There's a map in Liam Dolan's room that has a special point on it. Afghanistan is where his dad, Mike Dolan, is going to be living for the next six months.
The eight-year-old knows about the mission, and he said he's worried about his dad getting hurt.
Earlier this month, Mike left his Timberlea home on the first part of the journey that will take him to Afghanistan for six months. He said saying goodbye was difficult, but it's an important mission.
"It's just something I've always wanted to do. To serve my country and all that stuff, but it's a rare opportunity for reservists on the Atlantic coast, especially for the artillery," said Mike.
For the military partners left behind, it can be a challenge to suddenly become the sole parent.
Karla, his wife, has learned how to drive; they bought their house in Timberlea; and they got their will and life insurance all squared away.
"It kind of gets you to do the things you need to do that you kind of put off," Karla said. "I know how to pay bills and deal with banks and all those other types of things you don't think about until half of you is gone."
She said she's trying to prepare the kids for her husband's departure. He was away on training for months, so they are accustomed to his absence.
Karla said she shows 21-month-old Felicia pictures of her father frequently.
"Just so she knows and she remembers his face."
They explained to Liam what his dad will be doing and the situation in Afghanistan.
Karla said she's trying to put her own worry in perspective.
"I almost think, 'What will be, will be.' I have to have faith that things are going to turn out all right," she said. "I don't really think about what could happen or might happen, because to fill your head with that kind of stuff is not helpful, and it's not going to keep me strong in the long run."
jtaplin@hfxnews.ca
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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Mike Blais
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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Former OHS athletes ready to fight Taliban
By MICHAEL STAPLES
Published Monday January 29th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
For years, Scott Seeley, Chuck Mitchell, Russell Moquin and Vincent Wilcox were known for their ability to work like a Trojan - pitting themselves against the best the other side had to offer.
Their heroics on the wrestling mats of Oromocto High School were the things local sporting legends are made of.
Now the four scholastic heroes are about to face their greatest opponent ever, and only time will tell if they will once again come out as victors.
The four close friends are among 1,150 soldiers from The Second Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown heading for wartorn Afghanistan.
Wilcox left for the central Asian country on Friday, while Seeley and Moquin are scheduled to leave today. Mitchell leaves Feb. 10.
"It's definitely unique - four from the same community, who wrestled on the same team, going to Afghanistan (as soldiers)," said Mitchell, a corporal with the 4 Engineer Support Regiment.
The four soldiers gathered Friday morning for what will be their last cup of coffee together before hooking up again at the Kandahar Airfield, or at a forward operating post deep within the Canadian area of operations.
The mood was a bit pensive, but they took comfort in the fact they would be leaving Canada as a band of friends.
That, they said, would make the next six months a bit easier to deal with.
Wilcox, 30, said that while soldiers can approach each other at any time should they need anything, it's good to know his old buddies will be in theatre with him. He said he will need them because he will be missing his family.
Moquin, 27, a corporal with the 2RCR, said having his close friends in Afghanistan will help him relax.
"You can talk about things you did years ago and don't necessarily have to talk about shop," he said. "It's easier to tell a (long-time) friend that you need something done or need help."
All four soldiers, meanwhile, are graduates of Randy Smith's wrestling program at OHS.
Seeley went on to become a member of the University of New Brunswick wrestling team, while Moquin, Mitchell and Wilcox were active members of the Black Bears Wrestling Club. All were champions at one time.
Smith, known for his tough-love approach to coaching at OHS, challenged his people to work hard and play hard.
That helped create character, said Seeley, the oldest member of the foursome. He has three overseas deployments under his belt.
"He got kids to work hard who had never been exposed to it before," said the 31-year-old master corporal, an assistant coach with the UNB wrestling team. "He motivated people in a different way."
That dedication to excellence remained with members as they entered adulthood and then pursued careers in the Armed Forces.
Those experiences are particularly important now, Seeley said.
"I have confidence in the unit and the level of training that we have received. Once there, we'll just worry about one thing and that's doing our job."
Moquin, who will be leaving with Seeley later today, said he also feels confident about the abilities of the group he is leaving with. This will be a return trip to Afghanistan for Moquin, having spent time during a previous deployment in Kabul.
All four said they will be leaving the community with a good feeling because of all the support that has been shown in the time leading up to their departure.
"The community support is obvious," Wilcox said. "Everyone wants to shake hands with you."
Once in Afghanistan, Seeley, Wilcox, Moquin and Mitchell will need to tap in on all their life experiences as they face-off against their toughest opponent yet - the Taliban.
"Wrestling has taught me about values, hard work and perseverance - and how to get through hard situations," Seeley said.
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1RCR 1977-79 Depot (Italy PL), B Coy, Mortars, Pioneers, D Coy (CFB London)
3RCR 1979-82 M Coy, Pipes & Drums, Sigs, Mortars. (CFB Baden-Soellingen)
1RCR 1982-88 Mortars. Dukes, Cyprus-Welfare NCO 84-85, Injured, WO&Sgts Mess, (CFB London)
1988-92 Med-remuster to HELL/ 35 DU, CFB Baden
1992 Medical release. God Bless you all!
Pro Patria
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ranrad
Ron [Andy] Andrews
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Geez ,great stuff here Mike, thanks much for getting it up. Yes ,for sure a very unique foursome, going over as buds. May they have a great tour of duty and all come home safe and sound.. ranrad
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RCAF,CAF, converted RCR?,1RCR 74-77 CD: SSM (Nato);CPSM,;UN-Cyp.; UN- Golan
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Mike Blais
SSM (NATO Bar), CPSM, UN-Cyp, CD
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A ROYAL CANADIAN "NEVER PASSES A FAULT"
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atest wave of Canadian troops leav | | | |
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