PNCT prepares for deployment
Stephanie Burr
Staff writer
December 10, 2007
CFB Esquimalt is sending 10 members from the Pacific Naval Construction Troop (PNCT) to Afghanistan in January to help rebuild Kandahar city and maintain the Canadian camp at the Kandahar airfield.
The PNCT are going as part of the sixth rotation in support of Operation Athena. “This is the first time the PNCT has sent troops over as a group for a full tour,” says Lt Sophie Nadeau, PNCT Troop Commander. “We have five personnel going as part of the Engineering Support Unit, and four others and myself will be going as part of the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT).”
Based in Kandahar Airfield, the Engineering Support Unit’s main role will be to maintain and improve to the main camp. “The camp is already set up, but they will be completing any required projects as well as repairs and upkeep needed to keep the camp running smoothly,” says Lt Nadeau. “The PRT is based out of Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar city. Their main role is to help locals rebuild the city and improve city infrastructure.”
While in Kandahar, the PRT will receive work requests from the Civil Military Cooperation (CIMIC).
“CIMIC is in contact with the locals and finds out about the work needing to be done; for instance, if a school needs to be rebuilt. Then the work orders are brought to PRT and the jobs are prioritized, and the appropriate plans are drawn up for the jobs at hand,” says Lt Nadeau. “A statement of work is created and this is opened up to local contractors. The jobs are bid on and awarded to local companies. PRT personnel become the project managers for the jobs, supervising the work completed by the local contractors.”
Locals are paid a wage and do the work. “The great thing about this set up is the locals are paid to work as well as learn. We teach them how to create a working infrastructure, and how to build and organize according to what their society needs,” says Lt Nadeau. “We help them set things up to suit their needs. And we try and do so by Canadian standards, so the workers are treated fairly, and safety regulations are taught and carried out.”
Although personnel from the troop have gone on individual taskings and the group has been deployed on multiple technical advisory visits, this is the first time the PNCT has sent a group as part of a rotation. They will undergo extensive training for their roles as ESU and PRT.
Training begins in January with ESU going to CFB Petawawa for three weeks to brush up on basic soldier skills such as marching. They will complete the Battle Fitness test, a 13-kilometre march and fireman carry.
They will also do some mission specific training and learn about the area where they are going.
While ESU is in Petawawa, the PRT’s training will begin in Moncton, NB. “The PRT will be there to get a comprehensive Project Management Course, where they will become familiar with the job they will be doing in Kandahar,” says Lt Nadeau. “They will also be training with the specialist Engineering group based out of Moncton.”
In March, the two teams unite in Jamaica to perform the same duties they will be carrying out in Afghanistan. “We’ll be rebuilding Jamaica and in a way, role-playing as practice for Kandahar,” says Lt Nadeau. “It’s a great opportunity for both countries. Jamaica gets our help, and we get to refine our skills. The exercise is called Tropical Hammer and is the Canadian Forces' annual deployment of a construction troop to Jamaica to support the Jamaican Defence Force with infrastructure construction.”
After Jamaica the rest of Roto 6 will come together in Wainwright, AB. “We’ll meet the rest of the Battle Group and will merge into one. From there the next step will be leaving for Afghanistan where we’ll be from August 2008 until February 2009,” says Lt Nadeau. “I am very excited to go. I think it is a great operation and am really looking forward, as part of the PRT team, to playing a role in the rebuilding of Kandahar city.”
