Much like constructing a city, if you are setting the foundation of a new operational support command – the lifeline for forces deployed around the globe – who better than an engineer?
From food to fuel, Brigadier-General Daniel Benjamin, a civil engineer by training, is responsible for ensuring that anywhere Canadian Forces operate, they have the necessary support. That requirement may not seem novel, but the new CF approach is.
From theatre ‘bed down’ – the process of setting up a military camp – to troop sustainment throughout a mission, and theatre closure, Canadian Operational Support Command (CANOSCOM) has the all encompassing task of ensuring mission commanders can focus on strategic objectives and not worry about support logistics.
“We provide the most effective and efficient operational support to operations anywhere in the world,” Benjamin says.
That includes activating military police services; medical and other health services; communications, both in theatre and back to Canada; logistics such as food, fuel and spare vehicle parts; and transport to and in theatre of all equipment and personnel.
“In an austere theatre of operations, those services are not there. Many of those items are purely Canadian so we have no choice but to bring them from here; others we can sustain locally,” he says. “Operational Support Command has all of those functions under one roof. I ‘own’ all of the ammunition and supply depots here in Canada so I can provide equipment everywhere.”
What sets the Canadian approach apart is it’s single command structure once services are activated.
“Some countries have done it, especially when they are in a theatre of operation. But when they reach back to their own country, they reach back in silos. Medical will call back to medical, engineer to engineer, and so on. In our case, we include the reach back. All of those functions exist in Canada to support our forces in garrison. But as soon as we receive a mission and have to establish a theatre, everything comes under my umbrella.
“It’s a big change in mentality. It’s probably something we should have done 10 or 15 years ago.
But now we have a team effect – it’s much more efficient, much more responsive.”
As the last command formed, CANOSCOM has had the least time to organize. But in a few short months Benjamin has managed to meet his first objective: ensuring current operations – 20 worldwide at present – continue to operate without any disruption in support. Now, he’s attempting to establish an operational support centre, as well as integrating his command with the other three now taking shape in Ottawa. ”That’s a challenge in itself,” he admits.
Lessons learned
During the Cold War, foreign operations were supported from bases in Germany. But with the closure of Canadian Forces Europe, much of that expertise was lost, Benjamin says. “We tried to create it out of Montreal, which was the hub for international lines of communication, but we have not been able to meet the same level of effectiveness that was achieved in Europe.”
A key component of his command will be a ‘lessons learned’ team to monitor and analyze “everything we do to make sure these lessons are turned into what is really required, in terms of training standards, equipment, readiness level, force employment and so on. I want to be a learning organization.”
He also intends to link with allied commanders faced with similar challenges to “share experiences so that when we go somewhere, we already know each other, can share our resources, and are much more efficient in establishing a theatre.”
Capturing and applying those lessons quickly will be critical, given the vulnerability of support troops in asymmetric warfare. “You definitely see it in Iraq,” Benjamin says. ”Insurgents mostly challenge the logistics, support type of trades because they are easier targets. I have to capture these lessons to ensure we are well protected.”
He notes with some envy the speed at which US forces not only adapt in the field to increasingly more creative improvised explosive devices, but also instantly adopt those lessons for training of all new recruits. ”The threat is evolving so fast that we have to be that responsive, otherwise we’re putting the lives of our soldiers at risk.”
Benjamin brings 30 years of experience to the task. Domestically, he has commanded five operations, as well as the 5th Area Support Group in Land Forces Quebec, responsible for bases in Valcartier, Montreal and St. Jean. Internationally, he has held command in two operations – one as a contingent commander in a set-up rotation.
“I’ve learned great lessons from that,” he says. “I wish I’d had a theatre activation team back then because the first month was a nightmare for me. I could not focus on the mission. I had to establish every aspect of the support functions. Being able to come in and focus on your mandate is really fundamental. I can apply those experiences as the first CANOSCOM commander. This will put a very good foundation to this command.”