You would think that Canadian troops would atleast be eating Canadian beef??
Nicolas Van Praet
CanWest News Service
August 11, 2004
CAMP JULIEN, Afghanistan -- Canada has scaled back its peacekeeping commitment in Afghanistan and rented out excess space at its camp to international military forces hungry for a bit of Canadian hospitality.
Canada has reduced its forces by roughly two-thirds, leaving some 800 personnel supporting NATO's International Security Assistance Force peacekeeping mission to Afghanistan.
But Canada stays on as owner of the military camp it built here in the southwest section of Kabul.
International demand for the accommodations the Canadians vacated was so great the Armed Forces could easily have rented out twice as many spots as it had, said Col. Alain Tremblay, former commander of the Canadian military contingent in Afghanistan who oversaw the base for the last six months.
It's not hard to understand why.
Camp Julien is a secure self-contained sanctuary in an unpredictable, dangerous city whose basic infrastructure has been decimated by more than two decades of war.
The camp has five kilometres of roads, more than 325 hectares of land, 3.2 kilometres of fortified walls, 750 networked computers, more than 300 telephones, modern kitchens and food reserves, purified bottled well-water, gym and recreation facilities, electrical power generators, a gas station, waste treatment system, post office, laundry, fire hall, small weapons firing range, hospital, prayer rooms, general store, vehicle maintenance and repair shops, emergency bunkers and accommodation for 1,900 people.
It took three months to set up, everything has its place, and nothing has been built without a purpose.
"No Canadian base has rivalled this in the last 20 years that's for sure," Tremblay said.
"It's almost better than my place at home."
The camp is completely autonomous, Tremblay said.
"We could theoretically shut the gates and continue on with no change in our work and living rhythm. We have sufficient reserves."
For some American soldiers of the 76th Infantry Brigade, who were unpacking their gear Tuesday in preparation for a one-year stay, Camp Julien is a welcome luxury compared to some of the accommodations they've experienced.
"We could've been in tents eating MRE's (meals ready to eat)," said Capt. Mike Simpson, a new American arrival. "This is real nice. Course we'll have to get used to not carrying our guns around all the time."
Ottawa has invested $40 million worth of infrastructure in Camp Julien, and the federal government spends millions more to run and stock it.
Ten tonnes of supplies are flown, then driven to the camp every day, and 90 per cent of what's consumed here is imported from outside the country.
MOST OF THE MEAT COMES FROM ARGENTINA, Tremblay said.
Three months ago, the Canadian Forces faced a catalogue of options for what to do with Camp Julien, including moving remaining Canadians and selling the camp.
In the end, the military decided to keep it and lease excess capacity.
Canada is renting out some 900 spots here to troops from Norway, Hungary, Belgium, and the U.S. at an approximate cost of $96 Cdn per-person, per-day, according to information provided by the Canadian Forces National Support Element.
The vast portion of that cost is food.
Canada is not making a profit on the rent, Tremblay said.
"It made sense to keep the infrastructure given the investment we made," Tremblay said.
"It would have been a bit counterproductive to sell and rebuild. The longer we can use the camp, the better return on investment we'll get."
Keeping the camp also gives the Canadians a base in the event it decides to ramp back up its peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, Tremblay said.
The renters are here for one year until Canada's current NATO commitment to Afghanistan ends next fall.
Nicolas Van Praet
CanWest News Service
August 11, 2004
CAMP JULIEN, Afghanistan -- Canada has scaled back its peacekeeping commitment in Afghanistan and rented out excess space at its camp to international military forces hungry for a bit of Canadian hospitality.
Canada has reduced its forces by roughly two-thirds, leaving some 800 personnel supporting NATO's International Security Assistance Force peacekeeping mission to Afghanistan.
But Canada stays on as owner of the military camp it built here in the southwest section of Kabul.
International demand for the accommodations the Canadians vacated was so great the Armed Forces could easily have rented out twice as many spots as it had, said Col. Alain Tremblay, former commander of the Canadian military contingent in Afghanistan who oversaw the base for the last six months.
It's not hard to understand why.
Camp Julien is a secure self-contained sanctuary in an unpredictable, dangerous city whose basic infrastructure has been decimated by more than two decades of war.
The camp has five kilometres of roads, more than 325 hectares of land, 3.2 kilometres of fortified walls, 750 networked computers, more than 300 telephones, modern kitchens and food reserves, purified bottled well-water, gym and recreation facilities, electrical power generators, a gas station, waste treatment system, post office, laundry, fire hall, small weapons firing range, hospital, prayer rooms, general store, vehicle maintenance and repair shops, emergency bunkers and accommodation for 1,900 people.
It took three months to set up, everything has its place, and nothing has been built without a purpose.
"No Canadian base has rivalled this in the last 20 years that's for sure," Tremblay said.
"It's almost better than my place at home."
The camp is completely autonomous, Tremblay said.
"We could theoretically shut the gates and continue on with no change in our work and living rhythm. We have sufficient reserves."
For some American soldiers of the 76th Infantry Brigade, who were unpacking their gear Tuesday in preparation for a one-year stay, Camp Julien is a welcome luxury compared to some of the accommodations they've experienced.
"We could've been in tents eating MRE's (meals ready to eat)," said Capt. Mike Simpson, a new American arrival. "This is real nice. Course we'll have to get used to not carrying our guns around all the time."
Ottawa has invested $40 million worth of infrastructure in Camp Julien, and the federal government spends millions more to run and stock it.
Ten tonnes of supplies are flown, then driven to the camp every day, and 90 per cent of what's consumed here is imported from outside the country.
MOST OF THE MEAT COMES FROM ARGENTINA, Tremblay said.
Three months ago, the Canadian Forces faced a catalogue of options for what to do with Camp Julien, including moving remaining Canadians and selling the camp.
In the end, the military decided to keep it and lease excess capacity.
Canada is renting out some 900 spots here to troops from Norway, Hungary, Belgium, and the U.S. at an approximate cost of $96 Cdn per-person, per-day, according to information provided by the Canadian Forces National Support Element.
The vast portion of that cost is food.
Canada is not making a profit on the rent, Tremblay said.
"It made sense to keep the infrastructure given the investment we made," Tremblay said.
"It would have been a bit counterproductive to sell and rebuild. The longer we can use the camp, the better return on investment we'll get."
Keeping the camp also gives the Canadians a base in the event it decides to ramp back up its peacekeeping force in Afghanistan, Tremblay said.
The renters are here for one year until Canada's current NATO commitment to Afghanistan ends next fall.
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