Colonel David Barr may represent a key portion of Canadian Forces transformation, but he admits it’s sometimes the last thing on his mind. Despite the challenges of standing up a new command, he is constantly drawn back to his first priority.
“I have to remind myself that job one, even before going ahead with the transformation, is to ensure we maintain a no-fail capability, particularly domestically, in case there is a requirement to conduct a hostage rescue or counter terrorism,” says the commander of Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM). “I have to maintain that capability throughout. We are doing operations abroad, we’re in Afghanistan. It’s a huge responsibility to make sure those forces are well supported. Transformation, as important as it is, is my second job.“
Barr is tasked with assembling under one integrated command the various special operations forces throughout the CF, including Joint Task Force 2, special operations that formerly supported primarily JTF2, and all elements of 427 Special Operations Aviation Squadron. He also must assimilate the Joint Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (JNBC) Defence Company.
“The most obvious new capability is the Canadian Special Operations Regiment. We’re building it from scratch to fill a void that we had in the past. Previously, JTF2 operated on its own or had to rely on conventional forces, people they had not worked with or trained with. And they might not have had complete confidence in their ability to interoperate seamlessly. I can’t emphasize enough the value of having a complete special operations team that has worked so closely together as opposed to being put together on an ad hoc basis.”
“Once complete, we’ll have highly trained troops that can complement and support JTF2 in the conduct of special operations. The Special Operations Regiment will also be able to do independent operations, but their primary purpose will be to add that additional part of the special operations team that we didn’t have. JFT2 provides a very precise capability but still needs to have supporting, enabling components.”
That means not only enhancing existing capabilities – with more personnel, technology and equipment – but also creating new capabilities. Special operations, in fact, is expected to double in size.
“The expansion of 427 Squadron will be a new capability,” Barr says. “We’ll look to them to provide support not only to domestic counterterrorism but also to develop the capability to provide support to special operations outside of Canada.”
Does expanded capability mean more operations? “Since 9/11 and the campaign against terrorism, there has been high demand for special operations missions,” he acknowledged. “That’s what generated the requirement for the increase in special operations capabilities in the CF, ergo the creation of CANSOFCOM. The demand for the capability has generated capability that will then seek missions.”
A former deputy commanding officer of JTF2 with experience in the Balkans, Barr believes the most obvious challenges in the transformation process are people and equipment. Without an increase in personnel, the growth of CANSOFCOM “will be at the expense of someone else within the CF. The quality of the people that we’re looking for are there in the army, navy and air force. We’re not going to lower any standards. But we need to bring in recruits and get them trained so that we can then draw from the those services without causing a real void.”
On the equipment front, he says one specific piece would raise CF capability. “We need a new medium or heavy lift helicopter to support special operations abroad. We’ve got a great helicopter in the Griffon and world-class crews to support domestic counterterrorism, but we need something for international operations.”
Transformation isn’t likely to mean any significant changes in training or leadership development for special ops, but Barr does stress the needed to ensure new elements of CANSOFCOM share a common mindset and are interoperable not only with JTF2, but also with allied special operations forces and with law enforcement agencies in Canada.
“Credibility is hard earned in special operations, but without it you truly cannot lead special operators,” he says.
To those who might question the creation of a standing integrated special operations force, Barr notes that allies such as the US, UK and Australia have all gone down this road in recent years.
“They saw there was a problem if you tried to do special operations, particularly high-end, precise special operations, in an ad hoc manner. Those lessons were learned the hard way, as early as 1980, during Operation Eagle Claw at Desert One (the aborted rescue of US hostages in Iran). Based on these and other lessons, they have all built Special Operations Commands. In proceeding with the overdue initiative of creating CANSOFCOM, Canada not only catches up with its main allies, it also enhances the overall relevance, responsiveness and effectiveness of the Canadian Forces.”
