Amy Sanders kisses her husband, Sergeant Dave Sopkow of CFB Shilo, as he departs on Nov. 29, for a six-month mission in Latvia as part of Operation REASSURANCE. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)
K-J Millar
Shilo Stag Media
Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) soldiers and Military staff were escorted from CFB Shilo down the highway by a motorcade of Firefighters, Police, and RCMP on Nov. 29 as the first of three deployment groups left for Latvia.
More than 500 soldiers from the Shilo Base are deploying overseas for six months in the next rotation to assist with Operation REASSURANCE. Operation REASSURANCE refers to the military activities undertaken by the CAF since 2014 to support NATO’s deterrence and defence measures on its Eastern Flank.
CFB Shilo Base Commander Lieutenant-Colonel David Cronk told Shilo Stag News that this deployment is the largest contingent of members from the Base since the end of the Afghanistan mission and is a significant event for the Shilo community.
“Both 1 RCHA and 2 PPCLI have been working exceptionally hard the last few months in preparation for their departure to Latvia and we are wishing all of them the best of luck as they deploy in the coming weeks,” he said.
There are currently more than 1,900 CAF members stationed overseas in support of Op REASSURANCE, making it Canada’s largest international Military operation.
“The impact of Canada’s and CFB Shilo’s contribution to these NATO deterrence operations are significant, having recently returned from a two-year employment at NATO Multinational Division Northeast in Elblag, Poland, I know personally the appreciation that Canada’s contribution to multinational operations in the region can have with our NATO Allies, particularly those in Poland and the three Baltic Countries who protect NATO’s Eastern Flank,” LCol Cronk said.
“The NATO Multinational Battlegroup Latvia will transition from the Latvian Mechanized Infantry Brigade to a Canada-led brigade, reporting directly to the Multinational Division Headquarters – North (MND-N). Canada will complete the full implementation of persistently deployed Brigade capabilities to Latvia by 2026, at which point the Brigade will have up to 2,200 CAF members as part of the enhanced Forward Presence and supporting elements in Latvia,” the Department of National Defence states on its website.
Canada is the framework nation for the NATO Multinational Battlegroup Lativa, which supplies a land task force of which CFB Shilo soldiers are part. Under Op. REASSURANCE, the CAF has also deployed a maritime task force that contributes ships to the Standing Nato Maritime Group and an Air Task Force that provides logistical support out of Prestwick.
LCol Cronk explained as a Base the goal is to provide as much support as possible to the teams as they get ready to deploy.
“Once in Latvia we are focused on maintaining support on the home front to their families. We know that both the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services and the Military Family Resource Centre have expanded their programming during the deployment to offer tailored services to support the families here in Shilo,” he said.
CFB Shilo soldiers board the bus for their deployment to Latvia on Nov. 29, for a six-month mission as part of Operation REASSURANCE. (Photo: K-J Millar/Shilo Stag Media)