2008-10-30

"The Afghans are in a lot of ways 200 years behind us, but its coming"

“(The objective) is getting influential members of the community onto the base…so they can better understand the military community here,” Lt.-Col. Moore said. “We’ve got lots of resources on the base we’d love to share. (The meeting) helps to promote communication within the community as well.”

Lt.-Col. Moore said people have a general interest in knowing more about the challenges and successes the troops experience.

Besides the tragedies that are portrayed in the media, Col. Milner said troops are making progress with both reconstruction and humanitarian efforts, including the construction of a dam, polio education and general education in Afghanistan. He said troops have built more than 50 schools, continue to supply educational materials and aid in the training of teachers. “…A lot of the things we take for granted here in Canada,” he said.

“(The Afghans) are in a lot of ways 200 years behind us, but its coming.”

He said the troops also continue to reinforce security in the country with efforts such as paving the roads to prevent insurgents from planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and training the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Afghan National Police (ANP).

“If we make (the ANA and ANP) good enough then we can leave and not worry about security,” he said.

“The place has been a very difficult place to sort out,” he said. “Do I think we can do it? I think we can, yes.”

Besides the Afghan mission, the luncheon also focused on the relationship between the base and surrounding communities.

Lt.-Col. Moore said there are approximately 13,800 people who make up the military community, including 5,500 troops, 1,300 civilian employees and 7,000 family members.

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Of the 13,800 people, he said about 9,000 live locally, mainly in Deep River, Pembroke and Petawawa. He said the military community also pumps more than $500 million into the local economy.

In the past 12 months, he said troops from CFB Petawawa have participated in approximately 100 community events.

“We’re very proud of the high profile we have within the community,” he said.

He said the base also supports local charities, including the Phoenix Centre for Children and Families, the Canadian Blood Services and the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

With focus on the recent deployment of 2,500 troops from CFB Petawawa, Lt.-Col. Moore said his priorities include supporting the task force overseas, supporting military families, connecting with the community, investing in ranges, training areas and garrison infrastructure.

Both Lt.-Col. Moore and Col. Milner spoke about the communities’ role in supporting the troops, especially when soldier’s return from a tour dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.

Lt.-Col. Moore said the Pembroke Regional Hospital plays a vital role in providing care for the troops upon return.

Col. Milner said he has worked in Petawawa three times throughout his career, and said it strikes him how the bond between the base the community continues to grow.

“It’s become more interactive and better every time I come back,” said Col. Milner. “There are a lot of things the community is doing to help our guys. The more the community grows the better.”

“The connection with the community is better than I’ve ever seen and it will continue to grow,” he added.

Next summer, there will be another influx of troops preparing for the 2010 deployment to Afghanistan.

“Everything is coming to this brigade in 2010,” Lt.-Col. Milner said, adding the base will also be supporting the G8 Summit set to take place in Huntsville, Ontario. “We’re very keen to support anything the community is doing.”

In attendance was Petawawa Mayor Bob Sweet, who said the meeting gives local business people the opportunity to better understand the troops’ role on the world stage.

“(The meeting) shows the outreach that both the base has made and the community has made,” he said. “(The meeting) gives a sense of any potential impact that the base may have on their business.”

Andrea Hoffman of CNR Bookkeeping in Pembroke said she found the meeting very informative. “I learned a lot that I didn’t already know, like how it’s going to affect the local population,” she said.

Gloria Neville of Century 21 agreed. “I learned more about what is actually happening in Afghanistan and how it affects business,” she said. “I thought the presentation was very good and very informative. It’s good to hear that there is help for the injured now when there wasn’t before.”

Source: http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1258398