CAF Operations making adjustments to protect military personnel

Several Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) operations around the world will now face several adjustments to protect military personnel in the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, there are more than 2,000 personnel deployed on approximately 20 different missions.

To safeguard the health of the personnel, the following measures are now effective:

• All international travel by commercial air has been restricted, including taking leave from a mission.
• Deployed Task Force will not participate in any training activities, exercises, events, and public gatherings.
• Some CAF personnel will be self-isolating on their deployment if they have either recently traveled or believe they could potentially have the virus.

Additionally, the CAF released information Friday on changes made to specific operations:

Op PROJECTION- Africa

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Glace Bay and HMCS Shawinigan will return early from their six-month deployment on Op PROJECTION in Africa due to the cancellation of two international exercises. They will return to Halifax in mid-April.

Op REASSURANCE- Maritime Task Force

All non-operational port visits and ceremonies aboard HMCS Fredericton have been cancelled.

Op CARIBBE

HMCS Nanaimo and HMCS Whitehorse will also be cutting their deployment short and will return to their homeport of Esquimalt, BC, in early April instead of mid-May.

Op UNIFIER

There is a significant reduction in the amount of personnel deployed to Ukraine on OP UNIFIER. Instead of 200, there will now be approximately 60 members.

Above images: left, HMCS SHAWINIGAN gets into position to perform a personnel transfer with HMCS GLACE BAY in Atlantic Ocean during OPERATION PROJECTION on January 31, 2020. Photo by Corporal Yongku Kang. Right, Canadian Armed Forces members observe members of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade as they practice their drills with the 2S3 artillery armoured vehicle at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre near Yavoriv, Ukraine during Operation UNIFIER, April 2, 2019. Photos courtesy of Combat Camera.