Canadian Army concludes Leaders Development Program for Latvia-bound senior military personnel

News Release

March 10, 2017 – Ottawa, Ontario – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Canadian and allied military leaders gained a better understanding of Latvia today with the completion of a Leaders Development Program in Kingston, Ontario. This program is part of the preparation for the deployment of a multi-national battle group to Latvia to enhance the NATO deterrence and defence posture.

The Leaders Development Program is a week-long seminar held at the Canadian Army Command and Staff College. It is designed to provide leaders deploying to Latvia with an in-depth geographical, political, and strategic understanding of the country and region. Military leaders from Albania, Canada, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain participated in the program.

Attendees received briefings on a wide range of topics, including strategic mission context; Latvian and regional history; as well as NATO, Canadian and Allied plans for the enhanced Forward Presence mission in Latvia. Supporting this effort were senior leaders from the Latvian Armed Forces and Government, as well as senior U.S. Army personnel who have had recent operational experience in the region.

Additional multimedia

Canadian and allied military leaders met in Kingston, Ontario as part of the Leaders Development Program to learn about Latvia today during a week-long conference which ends March 10, 2017. Photo: Corporal Miller, Imagery Technician © 2017 DND/MDN Canada
Members from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry stack up against a wall during urban operations training on Exercise MAPLE DETACHMENT 5 in Wedrzyn Training Area Poland as part of Operation REASSURANCE on January 25, 2017. Photo: Corporal Jay Ekin, Operation REASSURANCE Land Task Force Imagery Technician ©2017 DND/MDN Canada

Quotes

“The Leaders Development Program was an indispensable opportunity to bring together and train key leaders who will be deploying to Latvia. Through discussion and dialogues with our key partners and allies, we have delivered a program that elevates understanding of the Baltic region. It enables common understanding and coordination across Allies involved, and sets the battle group up for success.”

— Major-General Jean-Marc Lanthier, Commander, Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre

Quick Facts

  • NATO is enhancing its forward presence in the eastern part of the Alliance on a rotational basis, with four multinational battalion-size battle groups each located in in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland to support NATO’s deterrence and defence posture.

  • Canada is acting as the Framework Nation for the enhanced Forward Presence Battle Group in Latvia. The battle group, comprising of soldiers from Albania, Canada, Italy, Poland, Slovenia and Spain, will deploy to Latvia in late Spring of 2017. Alongside other enhanced Forward Presence battlegroups in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland, the Canadian-led battlegroup in Latvia supports NATO’s strengthened deterrence and defence posture. This NATO presence in Latvia is a clear demonstration of Allied solidarity, determination and makes it clear that an attack on one Ally would be considered an attack on the whole Alliance.

  • As part of Operation REASSURANCE, Canada will be establishing its largest sustained military presence in Europe in over a decade.

Associated Links

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

Major Krzysztof Stachura
Public Affairs Officer
Canadian Army Doctrine Training Center
Phone: 613-541-5010 ext. 4391
Email: krzysztof.stachura@forces.gc.ca

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