Canadian CH-146s End Three-Month Jamaica Mission

On November 15, three Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 Griffon helicopters completed a three-month training deployment to Jamaica.

THE CANADIAN Forces (CF) mission deployed in Kingston, Jamaica, formally lowered the Maple Leaf flag on November 15 to mark the end of Operation Jaguar and celebrated the successful completion of its mandate.

“Canada and Jamaica enjoy close, long-standing and historic bilateral relations. The Canadian Forces have enjoyed a productive 45-year relationship with the Jamaica Defence Force, which has been mutually beneficial,” said Defence Minister Peter MacKay. “I’m proud our Forces are building on their long-standing traditions of working with allies and making a difference in the lives of others.”

Operation Jaguar began with a request from the Government of Jamaica for military aviation and search and rescue support. Task Force Jamaica, the team deployed on Operation Jaguar, arrived at Up Park Camp, the headquarters of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) Air Wing, on August 10, 2011, with three CH-146 Griffon helicopters and 65 Canadian Forces personnel under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Christian Lalande.

“It was an honour to participate in the flag lowering ceremony today that marked the end of Operation Jaguar. We recognize those Canadian men and women who have had the opportunity to serve in Jamaica these past few months,” said Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk.

“We were privileged to have had this time to strengthen our relationships, through training and experience, with our partners in the Jamaica Defence Force. It’s my hope that we will continue to work together, both in the Caribbean and wherever we may be called upon to serve next.”

Brigadier Rocky Meade, Jamaica’s Deputy Chief of Defence, also attended. “The relationship between the Jamaica Defence Force and the Canadian Forces has been a long-standing one and is an embodiment of the mutually beneficial relationship shared over the past four decades,” he said.

“The Jamaica Defence Force would like to recognize the efforts of the Canadian Forces for their commitment to the task. Notably, Operation Jaguar serves as a testament to the continued collaborative efforts between the Jamaica Defence Force and the Canadian Forces.”

Operation Jaguar assisted in fulfilling the mandate of the JDF while enabling the Canadian Forces to conduct mission-essential training for search and rescue operations. Since August 16, when flying operations began, Task Force Jamaica supported the JDF with 29 search and rescue missions, casualty evacuation missions and medical evacuation missions, assisting 31 Jamaicans. Search and rescue training – comprising more than 445 hours as of November 14 – resulted in qualifications for 17 pilots and flight engineers.

With their mandate successfully completed, the members of Task Force Jamaica are now preparing to return to Canada with their aircraft and equipment. All CF personnel are scheduled to be back in Canada by the end of November.


Source: By Dave Allport - 15 November 2011 - Military Aviation News (www.key.aero.com)

Photo: Royal Canadian Air Force CH-146 Griffon 146422 lifts off from the airfield at Up Park Camp, Jamaica, on October 6 for a training mission over Kingston while on a three-month deployment as part of Operation Jaguar. Visible behind is Jamaica Defence Force Bell 412EP JDF-H25. Canadian Forces Combat Camera. (Photo by Sgt Matthew McGregor)

(24.11.2011)