JTFA: 06/05 - September 9, 2005
HALIFAX — Additional Canadian Forces members will depart Halifax tomorrow to join OPERATION UNISON 2005 as part of the Canadian Joint Task Group (CJTG) now steaming towards the Gulf of Mexico.
12 Wing Shearwater will be sending a further eleven personnel to the Southern United States on September 10 th. This will provide the air detachment of HMCS Athabaskan flying two CH-124 Sea Kings with a surge capability during the first 30 days of operations. The group includes aircrew and aircraft maintainers who will be joining the ship when it arrives in theatre.
In addition, a nine-person Canadian Forces logistics team also departed Halifax on Thursday, 8 September to set up a Forward Logistics Site (FLS) at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola. They are tasked with coordinating the sustainment and resupply of the deployed units now under the command of the CJTG Commander, Commodore Dean McFadden. The first CF sustainment flight is planned for Sunday, September 11 th from 14 Wing Greenwood.
A team of medical personnel of approximately 18 people will also deploy to form small primary care teams each consisting of a medical officer, a nurse and two medical technicians capable of offering a deployed medical capability. The team will also be made up of mental health professionals and preventative medicine technicians.
The Canadian Joint Task Group that departed Halifax Tuesday Sept. 6, composed of Her Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Athabaskan, Ville de Quebec and Toronto as well as the Canadian Coast Guard Ship (CCGS) Sir William Alexander, presently headed toward the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to arrive and commence operations in the vicinity of Gulfport, Louisiana approximately Monday Sept. 12, 2005.
The first task at hand will be to disembark the humanitarian relief supplies that were loaded onboard all platforms prior to departure safely. Once this is completed, the crews of HMC Ships Athabaskan, Ville de Quebec and Toronto will then be prepared to assist humanitarian efforts already operating in the area, depending upon the need.
The CCGS Sir William Alexander, after having embarked additional relief supplies in Halifax is following the main body of the Task Group. Depending upon the movement of Hurricane Ophelia, she should arrive in the area two days later.
-30-
For access to 14 Wing Greenwood please contact Capt John Pulchny at 902-760-0265
