Joint Task Force 2

Coordinates: 45°07′49″N 75°56′46″W / 45.13028°N 75.94611°W / 45.13028; -75.94611
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Joint Task Force 2
Deuxième Force opérationnelle interarmées
Founded1 April 1993
CountryCanada
Type
Latin for 'deeds not words')
Engagements

 • NATO intervention in Bosnia

 •
Libyan Civil War
  •  • Operation Mobile
    • Decorations
    Latin
    for 'everywhere')
    Commanders
    Notable
    commanders
    Insignia
    HeaddressTan beret

    Joint Task Force 2 (JTF 2) is a Canadian special operations unit mandated with protecting Canadian national interests, combating terrorism threats both domestic and abroad, and hostage rescue.[6] JTF 2 serves under the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command of the Canadian Armed Forces and is typically compared to American Delta Force and SEAL Team Six, and the British Special Air Service and Special Boat Service. Most information concerning JTF 2 is classified and is not usually commented on by the Canadian Armed Forces or the Canadian government.[7]

    JTF 2's team of assaulters specialize in counterterrorism,

    hostage rescue, maritime special operations, special protection, and special reconnaissance often employed in complex, classified and dangerous missions against high-value targets
    backed up by specialized teams of supporting personnel.

    History

    Major-General Nicolas Matern (right), former commander of Joint Task Force 2 and deputy commander of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command

    In 1992, Deputy Minister of Defence Robert Fowler announced he was recommending to Governor General Ray Hnatyshyn that he disband the Royal Canadian Mounted Police's Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) and create a new military counter-terrorism group. The decision was made largely because the Canadian Forces offered a greater pool of recruits for the program than civilian police forces, and it stemmed the public uproar about police being taught to use primarily lethal means.[8]

    In early 1993, the unit was activated with just over 100 members, primarily drawn from the

    DC-9 aircraft on the grounds for use in training.[8]

    Its first scheduled action was Operation Campus, the protection of highways and water treatment plants around the

    Oka crisis. However two daily newspapers in Quebec revealed the operation just days before it was to go into action, and it was cancelled.[8]
    The federal budget of December 2001 allocated approximately $120 million over six years to expand unit capabilities and double its size to an estimated 600 personnel, as part of the overall plan following the attacks of September 11, 2001.[9]

    On September 13, 2024, new buildings are undergoing construction at JTF 2's Dwyer Hill headquarters to modernize their facilities with older buildings being scheduled to be torn down, which is contracted to EllisDon Corporation.[10] A bridge will be constructed to Franktown Road, which will only be used by JTF 2 to transport their equipment.[10] It's expected to be completed by 2027.[10]

    Operations

    Bosnia

    JTF 2 forces were inserted into

    sniper alley.[8] They were scheduled to free approximately 55 hostages in Operation Freedom 55, but the mission was cancelled as the Bosnian Serbs released all the prisoners voluntarily.[8]

    Haiti

    In 1996, JTF 2 deployed to

    weapons smugglers in Port-au-Prince.[8]

    According to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,[12] JTF 2 was also in Haiti at the time that Haitian president Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ousted from power in 2004. They protected the Canadian embassy and secured the airport.

    War on Terror

    In the aftermath of the

    Green Berets targeting a Taliban command node almost ended in disaster when a Chinook carrying JTF 2 operators was forced to make a hard landing near the target site.[13] While serving with Task Force K-Bar, Harward also stated that the JTF 2 team under his command was his first choice for any direct action.[16] JTF 2 was based at the time in Kandahar Air Field.[17]

    Several months later,

    Special Forces operational detachment-A (SFODA) killed a group of al-Qaeda terrorists hiding in a hospital ward; JTF 2 also carried out numerous operations with the New Zealand Special Air Service. JTF 2's first rotation was completed when they returned to Canada in May 2002, to be replaced by a second, shorter term, deployment until October 2002.[18]

    In 2004, an estimated 40 members of JTF 2 serving with Task Force K-Bar were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation by the U.S. government for service in Afghanistan.[16] Very little is known on JTF 2 operations in Afghanistan, but during a conference the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Rick Hillier, stated that JTF 2 was in "high demand" and that they were considered to be "world class". He went on to say that the unit was providing direct support to the Afghan government and was targeting the Taliban leadership in southern Afghanistan. He stated that "trying to help neutralize those leaders is a key part of their role and that's what they will continue to do."[17]

    On 26 November 2005, members of the terrorist group

    British and Canadian Christian Peacemaker Team that were being held hostage in Iraq. Involvement of JTF 2 was not confirmed by Canadian officials.[22]

    There has been much speculation in the Canadian media on possible JTF 2 operational deployments. As of 2001, the unit had 297 members, but by the end of the year, with the War on Terror becoming a reality, the federal government announced their intentions to increase it to 600 members within four years.

    As of 2014, the unit was believed to be in Iraq as training personnel, under the Canadian Operation Impact which is part of Operation Inherent Resolve.[23][24][25] The Canadian government has not denied or confirmed JTF 2's involvement.[26]

    In June 2017, it was reported that a JTF 2 sniper in Iraq had shot and killed an

    anti-materiel rifle commonly used by snipers in an anti-personnel role. The Canadian Forces designation is the C15 Long-Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW).[27]

    Other actions

    Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden also confirmed that JTF 2 would take a role in securing the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympics.[28]

    JTF 2 has also acted as bodyguards to Canadians travelling abroad, notably accompanying Lieutenant-General Maurice Baril and Raymond Chrétien to Zaire in November 1996.[8] When photographs provided to the media were revealed to show the faces of JTF 2 forces, they were redacted and reissued with the faces removed.[8] In 1998, they accompanied General Roméo Dallaire to Tanzania where he was due to testify against a Rwandan Hutu official accused of complicity in the 1994 genocide.[8][29] They similarly accompanied war crimes prosecutor Louise Arbour into Kosovo.[8] In early November 2000, Conservative Defence Critic David Price stated that JTF 2 had been deployed to Kosovo, however, this was denied by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Defence Minister Art Eggleton.[30]

    The unit was believed to be operating with the Special Air Service and

    2011 Libyan civil war.[31]

    In August 2021, JTF 2 and CSOR operators were deployed to Afghanistan to evacuate staff from the Canadian Embassy in Kabul.[32]

    In May 2022, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Ukraine to show solidarity and to witness the war for himself, alongside members of the cabinet. As part of the security detail, they were accompanied by members of JTF 2.[33]

    In October 2023, JTF 2 and other CANSOFCOM elements were deployed to Israel to help with security at the Canadian embassy.[34] In March 2024, JTF 2 operators were deployed to Haiti to protect the Canadian Embassy and staff.[35]

    Unit accountability

    On 21 December 2006, a Federal Court judge rejected a request to proceed with a court martial against an unnamed JTF 2 officer, accused of assaulting and mistreating a subordinate. Because court martial requests require that the accused be named, the judge suggested that they explore other avenues to proceed with the court martial.[36]

    JTF 2 has acknowledged the death of one member. Master Corporal Anthony Klumpenhouwer, 25, died on April 18, 2007, after falling off a communications tower in Kandahar, Afghanistan.[37] In 2010, the investigation into Klumpenhouwer's death was completed, and revealed that he had been knocked unconscious by a surge of electricity.[38]

    Equipment

    Operators use a range of weapons including:

    JTF 2 uses the

    DAGOR (Deployable Advanced Ground Off-road) vehicle by Polaris Defense was awarded the Ultra-Light Combat Vehicle (ULCV) contract to provide 78 vehicles to CANSOFCOM.[52][53]

    See also

    References

    1. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions - Joint Task Force 2". Department of National Defence. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
    2. ^ "Joint Task Force 2". Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. 26 January 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
    3. ^ Pugliese, David (6 June 2014). "JTF2 to stay in Ottawa for at least another five years". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 5 July 2014.
    4. ^ "What were members of Canada's special forces doing at the Freedom Convoy occupation?".
    5. ^ "Biography BGen Ray R. Romses, OMM, CD". Army Cadet History. Army League of Canada. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
    6. ^ Command, Canadian Special Operations Forces (26 January 2018). "Joint Task Force 2". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
    7. ^ "Canada's Ongoing Involvement in Dirty Wars". Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
    8. ^
      ISBN 978-1-89486-429-9
      .
    9. ^ "JTF 2: The Future". Department of National Defence. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
    10. ^ a b c https://ottawacitizen.com/news/national/defence-watch/construction-of-new-buildings-underway-at-ottawa-special-forces-base
    11. ISBN 978-2-89431-669-6
      .
    12. ^ "Joint Task Force 2: Canada's elite fighters". www.cbc.ca. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 August 2021.
    13. ^
      ISBN 978-1-4728-0790-8
      .
    14. ^
      ISBN 978-0-67006-722-0
      .
    15. ISBN 978-1-57488-953-6
      .
    16. ^ a b Woods, Allan (25 April 2010). "'Canada's elite commandos and the invasion of Afghanistan'". The Star. Toronto. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
    17. ^ a b "JTF 2 scopes trained on Taliban elite". Ottawa Citizen. 28 March 2007. Archived from the original on 2 January 2011.
    18. ISBN 978-1-4728-0790-8
      .
    19. ISBN 978-1-250-00696-7
      .
    20. ISBN 978-1-49870-689-6
      .
    21. ^ "Swords of Righteousness Brigade". Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium.
    22. ^ "JTF2 Rescue". CBC News. 23 March 2006. Archived from the original on 26 September 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
    23. ^ Makuch, Ben (19 January 2015). "Canadian Special Forces Shot At ISIS Terrorists In Iraq". VICE Canada. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
    24. ^ Fisher, Matthew (28 April 2015). "'The Canadians are among our most important guys': Peshmerga praise elite commandos in fight against ISIL". National Post. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
    25. ^ Pugliese, David (18 December 2015). "Canada's biggest test yet: CF-18s, special forces help fight off massive ISIL surprise attack". National Post. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
    26. ^ Lester, Normand (22 December 2014). "Feds deny Canadian JTF2 snipers fighting Islamic State". Toronto Sun. Postmedia Network Inc. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
    27. ^ Fife, Robert (22 June 2017). "Canadian elite special forces sniper makes record-breaking kill shot in Iraq". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
    28. ^ "Counter-terror to secure the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games". GlobalTV.com. Retrieved 7 June 2011. [dead link‍]
    29. ^ Hennessy, Michael A. "Operation "Assurance": Planning A Multi-National Force for Rwanda/Zaïre" (PDF). Canadian Military Journal (Spring 2001): 11–20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2008. Retrieved 7 June 2011.
    30. ^ "Chrétien denies Canadian commandos in Kosovo". CBC News. 10 November 2000. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
    31. ^ Cohen, Tobi (2 March 2011). "Canadian warship en route, JTF2 sent to Libya". Ottawa Citizen. Archived from the original on 9 March 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
    32. ^ Graham, Karen (13 August 2021). "Canada sending special forces to close Afghan embassy". Digital Journal.
    33. ^ "How Justin Trudeau's people arranged his whirlwind visit to a Ukraine at war". CBC News. 9 May 2022.
    34. ^ "Small team of Canadian special ops deployed to Israel after Oct. 7 attack: sources". Global News. 29 October 2023.
    35. ^ Barghiel, Naomi; Stephenson, Mercedes (22 March 2024). "Canadian military aiding embassy in Haiti includes elite unit: sources". Global News. Archived from the original on 24 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
    36. ^ MacCharles, Tonda (22 December 2006). "'Secret' soldier can't be charged". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007.
    37. ^ "Secret ramp ceremony for Canadian soldier who died in fall". CBC News. 20 April 2007. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
    38. ^ "Klumpenhouwer awarded medal for sacrifice". Listowel Banner. 9 June 2010.[dead link‍]
    39. ^ a b c d e f g h i Domisiewicz, Rafał (July 2007). "Czarne Diabły ruszyły na wojnę" [Black Devils moved to war]. Raport Magazine Online (in Polish). Archived from the original on 19 July 2011.
    40. ^
      ISBN 978-1-47388-101-3
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    41. ^ "New rifles delivered for Canadian Forces sniper teams". 10 December 2020.
    42. ^ a b Pugliese, David (8 October 2005). "Canada: JTF2 buys new guns; regular troops make do". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
    43. ^ Taylor, Scott (17 October 2005). "Don't just equip JTF-2". Esprit de Corps. Archived from the original on 19 October 2007.
    44. ^ a b "DND 101 - Canadian Forces Small Arms – Specialist Weapons – A Visual Guide". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016.
    45. ^ Brewster, Murray (30 June 2021). "Pistol misfire that injured soldier was an unpredictable accident: Special forces report". MSN.
    46. ^ canada.ca (29 June 2022). "Canadian Special Operations Forces Command statement on bringing weapon fleet into service following the unintended discharge of a holstered pistol during training". canada.ca. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
    47. ^ "Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) Weapons (Canada)". Military Factory.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021.
    48. ^ "לכוחות מיוחדים: צבא קנדה רכש טילי ספייק של רפאל". 21 November 2019.
    49. ^ "More of the Same". canadianarmytoday.com. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
    50. ^ Pugliese, David (26 November 2014). "Special Ops: Wishlist of new gear". Esprit de Corps. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016.
    51. ^ "Special Operations Vehicles (Special Reconnaissance and Quick Reaction vehicles) - Notice of Proposed Procurement". Canadian American Strategic Review. August 2008. Archived from the original on 1 April 2016.
    52. ^ "Polaris Wins Canadian Special Forces Ultra-Light Combat Vehicle Contract". Polaris (Press release). 20 December 2016. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
    53. ^ Pugliese, David (15 December 2016). "Canadian special forces get new ultra light vehicles". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 2 April 2017.

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