As part of Operation IMPACT, Canadian Armed Forces members
are currently deployed on NATO Mission Iraq
to help strengthen Iraqi security forces
and military education institutions.
We recently spoke with the mission commander,
Major-General Jennie Carignan,
to discuss efforts during this current rotation,
commanding the mission during COVID-19,
and diversity in the CAF in light of Women's History Month.
Operating with COVID-19 in Iraq has been a challenge.
It has added a level of complexity
to everything we do here.
However, we have learned a great deal
since the start in March and we have adapted.
So now, we are operating with COVID
in a very comfortable way.
The safety and the security
of our members on the mission
is of primary concern for me. We have implemented
a few measures to make sure that we protected
and mitigated the risks of COVID-19.
We have built redundancy and we've also implemented
a business continuity plan to make sure
that if we have people coming down with COVID
that we can actually maintain the operations.
The CAF has clearly become a more diverse organization
since I've joined because there was no way
I could have been put into the position
of command NATO mission Iraq.
However, there's a lot more work that needs to be done
to maintain the momentum in recruiting
and retention of women within the Canadian Armed Forces.
Key leadership practices to create a positive
work environment for me is based on the principle
that great organizations are made of great people.
So, to me, it's important to bring the team together
and then harness their strengths
to develop them to their full potential.
For anyone considering a career in the CAF,
I would say: "Just do it. Don't overthink it.
"Give it a shot and I think you'll be surprised
at what it is that you can do."
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