....new roto in africa

[enderr]

...maybe this is just a rumour, but i heard that guys from 2rcr, are going to ethiopia, or eritrea..any confirmations

[garett]

Yeah Hotel Company is leaving shortly along with Recce Platoon. Some guys from my company are painting vehicles white in Gagetown. I think Golf Company is going next if they need them. We'll see how this UN mission to Africa goes.

[FNG]

Elements of 2RCR is currently training in Gagetown for UNMEE. Check the DND website's Photo Gallery 'new images' page.

[enderr]

are they taking reserve augmentees...?

[garett]

I really don't think that they are taking any reservists because I would of heard about it by now because of my units close proximity to Gagetown. I know enough 2 RCR troops that I would of heard them bitching about not being able to go but reservists are going. I guess all that riot training was useless because I've heard they aren't going to bother bringing their riot gear after all. Can't wait to here about the hot spots to check out in Kenya (good R and R spot) since I'm planning on heading there next Christmas. Already heard a couple from an ex-CAR Sgt. that works with our unit.

[Enfield]

I was thinking of Reserve augmentees too.. Eritrea would be a great tour. I don't think they'll take reservists, at least for the first roto, due to the high-risk of the situation.
Who else is sending troops?

Enfield

[TonyM]

It's a Holland-Canada joint force. about 700 or so Dutch and 150 of us. Apparantly the Dutch have a union for their army. Maybe the RCR guys will come back with a whole new plan.

[Cree Warrior]

I think its only a one shot deal. As in after this Coy + thats it.

Sua Sponte

[TonyM]

AMSTERDAM, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The Dutch government has agreed to send 1,100 men and women to join the U.N. peacekeeping force along the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea, whose armies fought a two-year war before signing peace in June.

A government spokesman said on Friday that after a 12-hour debate in parliament on Wednesday, a majority also supported the plan to send four heavily armed Apache helicopters to the area.

The Dutch forces should arrive in the area in December, the government said in a statement published on the Internet.

The Dutch embassy in Addis Ababa stated earlier today that the decision to participate in the U.N. mission followed a request from U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in the two-year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea but there have been no ceasefire violations since the June peace accord.

Under the deal, U.N. peacekeepers are to create and patrol a buffer zone between the two armies.

(C) Reuters Limited 2000.


Most people don't know it but the Dutch have a military similar in size and budget to ours, yet they have Marines,SBS, Special Forces, Commandos AT teams, and Apache helicopters.

[garett]

Yeah well they probably put their damn money where it should go, not into big new buildings that aren't necessary.

[TonyM]

Actually, I have no idea how they do it, but we could take a lesson or two. I saw the Navy/Marines base at Den Heder and it's pretty new and modern. Looked like Esquimalt, except newer. Lots of warships around, but not being a swab jockey, I can't tell a destroyer from a u-boat. While we were jumping, some F-16s were doing air-ground practice next island over, while 2-3 Bell 412s were flying around (watching?). That's more activity than I ever see at Esquimalt, unless it's putting on another refugee reception party.

[Enfield]

The Netherlands isn't the only example - Australia and Belgium are comparable too. I can understand the European countries, because they have alonger martial tradition ta Canada - I guess when 2 world wars roll over your country and Warsaw Pact loomed for 50 years, you put more $$$ into defence.
But Australia has a similar history to Canada, and they have high-speed units, and aren't afraid to use their troops - Vietnam, East Timor.
Oh well.

Enfield