Newsletters - Volume 53

C & E Branch Leader Message

Article written by Major-General Thibault

‘Our signallers are outstanding soldiers - innovative, incredible miracle-workers – absolutely essential to our mission success’
- BGen Jon Vance, Comd Joint Task Force Afghanistan

‘I was absolutely blown-away by the amazing accomplishments by the J6 staff in an incredibly complex operational environment’
- MGen Dave Fraser, Comd JHQ(R) re: OP Podium

‘Absolutely no doubt that many Canadian soldiers’ lives have been saved thanks to the critical work of the SIGINT and EW community in CFIOG’
- BGen Mike Day, Comd CANSOFCOM

MGen G.R. Thibault In the Canadian Forces, there is no greater measure of success of our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women than the testimonial of our operational commanders – as can be seen by these comments, I think you all have every right to be proud of your individual and collective accomplishments in a very challenging period for the Canadian Military.

Over this past year, I, along with our Colonel Commandant, Branch Advisor and Branch CWO, have had the absolute privilege to get to see first-hand the outstanding work of C & E Branch members from Afghanistan to Vancouver and everywhere in between. As has been the case throughout our 107 year history, today’s military communicators continue to apply their technical knowledge and expertise to solve the increasingly complex C2 operational and tactical problems in support of our commanders and staffs. This is done with a quiet professionalism, often without a lot of public recognition, but with the assured satisfaction of being an essential part of the all-arms team.

We are in an era of great change in DND/CF given the nature of the new threats we face at home and abroad. The conduct of our operations is being altered as a direct consequence of many factors including the amazing technological advances we are witnessing in terms of information technologies, networking, C4ISR and the emergence of new war-fighting domains in Space and Cyberspace alongside of our traditional Land, Maritime and Air environments.

While I cannot predict the future, what I can say with a great deal of confidence is that members of the C & E Branch have a critical enduring role in support of the CF, and I believe that our skills, knowledge and competencies will only increase in importance. The computer network fight is ours, and we need to lead and shape the thinking, development of new capabilities and conduct operations in the cyber domain. This is clearly a great time to be a communicator in the CF. While our branch leadership team, including Director Signals, Air C & E Advisor, SIGINT Advisor and Commandant of CFSCE, need to continue to adapt our training, professional development, education, structures and technology to the evolving CF network fight and cyber warfare requirements, we cannot lose sight of the fact that our strength is, always has been, and always will be, our people. As our former CDS said on many occasions – we have world class soldiers, sailors and airmen and women. This is certainly true about our C & E Personnel. “Jimmies” belong to a great military family, with an outstanding legacy, traditions and a very bright future. I am proud, and honoured to be serving you as your Branch Leader.

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