“This Friday, 01 Aug, will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the position of the Chief of the Defence Staff.
For most of us, its hard to imagine what the Forces were like before we had a CDS - back when the heads of the Navy, Army and Air Force each vied for the time of the Minister of National Defence; and when the Government didn't have a senior advisor for military issues.
That's the role that my 17 predecessors have had for the past half-century. They have been charged with this, and with ensuring that the Canadian Armed Forces are ready to answer the call when Canada needs us. It is humbling to think of all that they, and the forces they led, were able to achieve.
From the Cold War to Bosnia; from the Gulf War to Afghanistan; from Search and Rescue operations to providing support responding to natural disasters, the Canadian Armed Forces have been ready when Canadians have needed us.
Over these years we have continued to evolve and to adapt to changing world conditions. From the recent stand-up of Canadian Joint Operations Command to the efficiencies we're finding with the Defence Renewal initiatives, this work continues. We are applying the lessons we learned in Afghanistan and Libya, and we are ensuring that we remain agile and responsive.
As our links to past generations of Forces members are strengthened with the restoration of historical titles, ranks and insignia, we can look back with pride to the legacy of achievement, of operational excellence, and of readiness that we carry on today.
This is the bedrock of our institution, and it is what my predecessors worked to forge over the past 50 years. It is what ties the Canadian Forces of today with all those who came before us, and with those who will follow in our wake, footsteps, and flight-path.
As we move forwards we will continue to evolve and find better ways of operating. We will integrate new equipment as it comes on-line, and we will adapt our procedures as we need to. We will do this to ensure that our commitment to be ready when Canada needs us is as rock-solid in the future as it has been in the past.
This is our legacy, and this is our charge - when our nation needs us, we will be ready."
General Tom Lawson
Chief of the Defence Staff
