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Friday, 25 November 2011

In Depth

Your Navy Today: Friday, 25 November 2011

Your Navy Today is intended to enhance understanding & awareness across the RCN and among our Friends of the Navy. It does not constitute policy, orders or direction. This bi-weekly summary of events in the RCN and elsewhere is a personal assessment, and any errors in interpretation are solely mine.
Global Strategic & Maritime Context

The Government of Canada approved the continued deployment of Canadian warships in the Mediterranean through the end of 2012, as announced by the Minister of National Defence last Friday at the Halifax International Security Forum. Having recently concluded operations in support of NATO’s Libyan campaign, HMCS VANCOUVER joins NATO’s Operation ACTIVE ENDEAVOUR, a mission centred on the maritime interdiction of international terrorism. VANCOUVER will be relieved by HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN next year, providing to the Government a wide range of options to respond regionally to events of strategic interest to Canada. The Minister confirmed that the latter was an important consideration in deciding to approve the continued Mediterranean presence by the RCN.

Significant unrest returned to Cairo’s Tahrir Square this week, with dozens killed by Egyptian security forces in the worst wave of violence since former President Mubarak was overthrown. Recent protest action has brought together liberal and conservative elements of civil society, as reported here by Newsweek and amplified here by Foreign Policy.
For other items of strategic and / or maritime interest, please see separately attached MARPAC’s World Naval Brief for 23 Nov.

Media

Sino-American relations were very prominent in international coverage of defence and security affairs with President Obama’s visit to Asia last week. This New York Times news analysis “A New Era of Gunboat Diplomacy” was representative of American coverage.
The Halifax International Security Forum received extensive national coverage, with a focus on US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta’s remarks in which Canada’s military contributions in Afghanistan and Libya were held up as examples for NATO. His meeting with Minister of National Defence Peter Mackay was also covered prominently by the domestic press, and especially the two leaders’ firm commitments to the Joint Strike Fighter program. The Minister’s announcement that the RCN would remain forward deployed in the Mediterranean through the end of 2012 was covered prominently, as was an interview given at sea by VAdm Maddison from HMCS VANCOUVER, during which he indicated that CHARLOTTETOWN would deploy in 2012 with a SCAN EAGLE unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), used with great success by the CF in Afghanistan. Finally, the previous weekend had seen national coverage of the Victoria-class submarines with the airing of a negative CTV W5 report.

Canadian Forces & RCN Business

Comd RCN’s Guidance 2012-2016. The Comd RCN issued his planning guidance to the RCN last week, a key institutional document in which he laid out his principal strategic objectives for the RCN over the next four years, as summarized immediately below:
“In support of the DND / CF overarching strategic priority to ensure sustainable operational excellence at home and abroad: upon departmental approval, we will publish a new strategic maritime concept for the Canadian Forces; we will achieve the Victoria class ‘2+1+1’ steady-state by 31 July 2013; by 31 March 2016, we will have begun refocusing Task Group and international leadership operations around new capabilities being delivered through the modernized frigates and Cyclone maritime helicopters; by 31 March 2016, we will be prepared to conduct sustained domestic operations in the high Arctic around new capabilities being delivered through AOPS; and we will continue to advance the JSS and CSC projects through their planned decision milestones.”
“In support of the DND / CF overarching strategic priority to reconstitute and align the CF post-Afghanistan, we will complete the RCN’s transition to a permanently balanced structure by 30 September 2015, where: core processes have been realigned to pan-navy authorities for [force generation, force employment and force development]; the Naval Reserve is repositioned as a sustainable strategic reserve; and Navy transformation has been institutionalized around the need to expand our capacities and capabilities for joint and integrated effect in the littorals.”
“In support of the DND / CF overarching strategic priority to strengthen the Defence Team, we will continue:

Proactively to celebrate our distinct naval culture and its role in Canada’s military history and heritage, initially in support of the Government’s commemorations of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812, as a means of showcasing today’s RCN as a vital part of an integrated CF;

Proactively to tell the navy’s story to Canadians through our leaders and sailors, by: enabling them through effective and dynamic internal communications, and steadily expanding the navy’s constituency of interest through strategic engagement, and

Focus with compassion and empathy on the well-being of our RCN Defence team, and our families, by consistently applying the fundamental tenets of CF leadership and the RCN Divisional System; promoting diversity through tolerance and education, and improving our support of the ill and injured, and their families, especially those suffering from psycho-social ailments, whether brought on by uniformed service or not.”

Maritime Strategic Management Board (MSMB). The DComd, RAdm Mark Norman, opened last week’s meeting of MSMB by noting the release last week by VAdm Maddison of his “Comd RCN’s guidance 2012 – 2016”. He reviewed the status of the RCN’s implementation plans for the DND-wide Strategic Review (SR) and proposals for the Deficit Reduction Action Plan (DRAP), both of which have been very active files at the national level. DG Maritime Strategic Management (DGMSM), Capt(N) Richard Jean, provided updates on a range of activities, including: Navy transformation; development by Comd MARLANT of the Single Fleet Scheme of Manoeuvre, which will reflect the Government’s decision to maintain the deployment of a frigate in the Mediterranean through the end of 2012; and the Administrative Services Review (ASR), including last week’s Order-in-Council that established Shared Services Canada as a new federal agency.

The majority of MSMB was given over to a detailed review of planning (timelines / decision points) to bring HMC submarines VICTORIA and WINDSOR to operational status in 2012, as part as the broader class plan to achieve a steady-state “2+1+1” operating posture in 2013—one boat available at high readiness for operations on each coast, a third “swing boat” also available for operational taskings, and the fourth with Canadian industry for deep maintenance conducted under the auspices of the Victoria-class In-Service Support Contract (VISSC).

Strategic Planning Meeting Preparations. Preparations for the RCN’s next Strategic Planning Meeting (SPM), scheduled to take place 17-19 (or 20) January 2012, are progressing well, as we refine both the problem(s) to be examined at the upcoming annual gathering and the plan of work to achieve the desired outcomes. In general terms, we envisage conducting a global assessment of the RCN’s progress since the first SPM met in Cornwall in Jan 2010, to understand the impact of changes in the “operating environment” that have occurred since SPM1 (including those from SR, DRAP and ASR), to gauge our uncommitted versus committed capacity for change, and finally to determine the adjustments that may be required to our long-range plans and priorities to ensure full alignment of Navy transformation with the wider CF transformation effort.

Institution

In recognition of the CF’s accomplishments during the recently completed NATO mission in Libya, His Excellency the Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief, the Prime Minister, and LGen Charles Bouchard, Commander of the NATO-led Operation UNIFIED PROCTECTOR, presided over ceremonies on Parliament Hill and in the Senate Chamber to mark the completion of the mission and the return to Canada of its participants, with the exception of the ship’s company of VANCOUVER, whose continued deployment overseas on a new mission was recognized.
On behalf of Comd RCN, Comd MARLANT RAdm Dave Gardam presented this year’s Navy Centennial Award to Leading Seaman Amy Durrah onboard HMCS ST. JOHN’S. The award, instituted last year to recognize top achievement for Junior Non-Commissioned Members in the RCN, was co-presented with the President of the Navy League Nova Scotia Mainland Division, Lt(N) (Ret’d) Earl Corn, and the President of Lockheed Martin Canada, Mr. Tom Digan. BRAVO ZULU, Leading Seaman Durrah!
The RCN was recently recognized by two external organizations:

VFA Canada Corporation, a leading provider of solutions for facilities capital planning and asset management, named Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Esquimalt as a winner of the Real Property Institute of Canada's (RPIC) Real Property Awards, which honour best practices and leadership in the realty community. CFB Esquimalt implemented VFA Canada’s Capital Planning Management Solution to address the realty challenges posed by building age and condition, seismic concerns, operational requirements and heritage building preservation; and

Boeing’s IMAX film “Rescue”, sponsored in part by the RCN, and featuring the RCN’s contributions to Operation HESTIA (2010’s CF disaster response mission to Haiti), was awarded top prize in the current affairs category at the 22nd International Military Film Festival, which this year took place in Bracciano, Italy.

Relationships

Comd MARLANT hosted separate visits to Halifax by Comd CEFCOM, LGen Stu Beare, and the National Security Advisor Mr Stephen Rigby. Comd MARPAC, RAdm Nigel Greenwood met in Seattle with the Comd US Navy Northwest, RAdm (USN) Douglas Biesel, Comd US Submarine Group 9, RAdm (USN) Robert Hennegel and Comd US Coast Guard District 13, RAdm Keith Taylor. In addition, Comd MARPAC met with Ms. Roslyn MacVicar, Regional Director of the Canadian Border Security Agency and the new US Consul General to Vancouver, Ms Anne Callaghan. In Ottawa, the DComd participated in discussions between Chief of the Defence Staff General Natynczyk and the head of Colombia’s Armed Forces while the Comd RCN conducted a visit to HMCS VANCOUVER in theatre.

Outreach and Engagement

The Navy League of Canada conducted a highly successful “Navy Appreciation Day” (NAD) event on Parliament Hill on the 15th of November—a day-long program of engagements between Canada’s parliamentarians and friends of the RCN from the marine / defence industries and policy-making communities.

Credit: DND

Comd RCN, VAdm Maddison, and the Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, CPO1 Claude Laurendeau, are: LCdr Donna Barrett; Lt(N) Chris Devita; Master Seamen Kurt Swanson, Kurt Sheppard and Jarris Sampson; and Leading Seaman Scott Darbison.

Among the most successful of the elements of NAD was the “Navy Heroes” program, the highlight of which was recognition by the Navy League and the Senate of Canada of regular and reserve sailors who were selected to represent the men and women of the RCN at this year’s NAD events. A brief summary of their career accomplishments is contained in the Comd RCN’s reply to the Minister delivered at the evening reception (attached separately). Pictured above in the Senate Chamber with Comd RCN, VAdm Maddison, and the Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, CPO1 Claude Laurendeau, are: LCdr Donna Barrett; Lt(N) Chris Devita; Master Seamen Kurt Swanson, Kurt Sheppard and Jarris Sampson; and Leading Seaman Scott Darbison.

Maritime Operations (MARLANT and MARPAC operating areas except where noted)

The RCN this week has 334 personnel deployed on named international operations, and a further 1498 at sea for force generation and defence diplomacy activities, for a total of 1832 personnel deployed or 25.7 % of its trained effective strength.

EAST

This week, four Halifax-class frigates and two Kingston-class coastal defence ships sailed for Task Group Exercise (TGEX) 4-11, a joint exercise which takes place in Canadian and American training areas along the Eastern Seaboard. The primary goal of the exercise is to enhance the maritime readiness of participating units. To that end, HMC ships CHARLOTTETOWN are IROQUOIS being worked up as part of the exercise, while HMC ships ST JOHN’S and MONTREAL are supporting the Operations Room Officer Course sea phase, which involves progressively more complex and realistic tactical scenarios in which the students’ warfare management and tactical skills are tested against a wide array of allied and Canadian maritime assets. At the same time, HMC ships MONCTON and GOOSEBAY are supporting a Coastal Operations Course Sea Phase. TGEX 4-11 will also include a Command and Control Exercise with a number of US naval and air assets.