The deaths of four Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan - two of them reservists - have painted a grim picture for soldiers preparing for duty in the dangerous, war-torn country.
The four were killed Saturday when a roadside bomb ripped apart their G-Wagon north of Kandahar, bringing to 15 the number of Canadian soldiers killed since Canada first became involved in Afghanistan in 2002. A Canadian diplomat was also killed. Cpl. Bart Armstrong of Halifax, who became a full-time member of the Canadian Forces last month after years as a reservist, expects to travel to Afghanistan in 2007.
He said the dangers he will face are part of the job.
"It sucks, plainly, but this is a job that we picked and this is what happens," Armstrong, 39, said Sunday from Gagetown, N.B., where he is currently stationed.
Armstrong volunteered for duty in Afghanistan before becoming a full-time soldier.
"I was going to go anyways with my reserve unit, but at least here, I'm working on my pension and working on a career," said Armstrong.
Reservists must serve at least 30 to 45 days each year and attend basic military training. They're paid based on their rank, starting at about $2,100 per month plus benefits.
Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, said Saturday that reservists are part of "every job" the military does, domestic or foreign.
He said about 20 per cent of a mission's personnel consists of reservists.
Armstrong expects to join up to 1,000 soldiers from Atlantic Canada - including 200 reservists - who will likely be sent to Afghanistan early next year.
While Armstrong's stay-the-course conviction echoes the common refrain of military officials in the face of tragic news, his mother was decidedly less at ease.
"I'm really thinking to myself that he's really planning on going, and there's always that great, great fear," said Barbara Armstrong.
"I'm certainly going to worry and everything that comes along with it - everybody does - but I would never let him see me be against it, because I know it's something that he wants to do."
Military officials are still narrowing the list of reservists and full-time soldiers who will head to Afghanistan next year.
Many of the potential reservists took part in a massive training exercise in the Maritimes over the weekend, aimed at preparing them for foreign and domestic duties.
With blank ammunition and flares in place of bombs, about 800 soldiers in full camouflage simulated combat not unlike what they could face battling the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The latest Canadian casualties cast a cloud over the exercise, but one reservist said the trainees are resolute.
"The guys, they're just saying 'it's getting pretty tough over there,' but they're all pretty determined to go," said Chad Garrison, who has volunteered for duty in Afghanistan.
"It's definitely something I think about, but it's not going to deter me any. I expected it to get worse this year."
At least 45 soldiers have been selected for duty in Afghanistan from the Victoria Park (Sydney) Garrison in Cape Breton.
Lt.-Col. Ken Butterworth, commander of the garrison, said when soldiers are killed overseas, it's often the families of soldiers destined for battle who react the strongest.
"When you hear about soldiers who have been killed, you often put yourself in their shoes and the family gets alarmed," he said.
Butterworth recalled speaking to a mother who pointed out that her son joined the Forces to be a peacekeeper and not to go to war.
"My message to her was that the world has changed, and we're now involved in situations that are very dangerous," said Butterworth. "We don't sugar-coat anything. We want to make sure they make a conscious decision if they are going to leave their families and their jobs."
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n042351A.xml
The four were killed Saturday when a roadside bomb ripped apart their G-Wagon north of Kandahar, bringing to 15 the number of Canadian soldiers killed since Canada first became involved in Afghanistan in 2002. A Canadian diplomat was also killed. Cpl. Bart Armstrong of Halifax, who became a full-time member of the Canadian Forces last month after years as a reservist, expects to travel to Afghanistan in 2007.
He said the dangers he will face are part of the job.
"It sucks, plainly, but this is a job that we picked and this is what happens," Armstrong, 39, said Sunday from Gagetown, N.B., where he is currently stationed.
Armstrong volunteered for duty in Afghanistan before becoming a full-time soldier.
"I was going to go anyways with my reserve unit, but at least here, I'm working on my pension and working on a career," said Armstrong.
Reservists must serve at least 30 to 45 days each year and attend basic military training. They're paid based on their rank, starting at about $2,100 per month plus benefits.
Gen. Rick Hillier, Canada's chief of defence staff, said Saturday that reservists are part of "every job" the military does, domestic or foreign.
He said about 20 per cent of a mission's personnel consists of reservists.
Armstrong expects to join up to 1,000 soldiers from Atlantic Canada - including 200 reservists - who will likely be sent to Afghanistan early next year.
While Armstrong's stay-the-course conviction echoes the common refrain of military officials in the face of tragic news, his mother was decidedly less at ease.
"I'm really thinking to myself that he's really planning on going, and there's always that great, great fear," said Barbara Armstrong.
"I'm certainly going to worry and everything that comes along with it - everybody does - but I would never let him see me be against it, because I know it's something that he wants to do."
Military officials are still narrowing the list of reservists and full-time soldiers who will head to Afghanistan next year.
Many of the potential reservists took part in a massive training exercise in the Maritimes over the weekend, aimed at preparing them for foreign and domestic duties.
With blank ammunition and flares in place of bombs, about 800 soldiers in full camouflage simulated combat not unlike what they could face battling the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The latest Canadian casualties cast a cloud over the exercise, but one reservist said the trainees are resolute.
"The guys, they're just saying 'it's getting pretty tough over there,' but they're all pretty determined to go," said Chad Garrison, who has volunteered for duty in Afghanistan.
"It's definitely something I think about, but it's not going to deter me any. I expected it to get worse this year."
At least 45 soldiers have been selected for duty in Afghanistan from the Victoria Park (Sydney) Garrison in Cape Breton.
Lt.-Col. Ken Butterworth, commander of the garrison, said when soldiers are killed overseas, it's often the families of soldiers destined for battle who react the strongest.
"When you hear about soldiers who have been killed, you often put yourself in their shoes and the family gets alarmed," he said.
Butterworth recalled speaking to a mother who pointed out that her son joined the Forces to be a peacekeeper and not to go to war.
"My message to her was that the world has changed, and we're now involved in situations that are very dangerous," said Butterworth. "We don't sugar-coat anything. We want to make sure they make a conscious decision if they are going to leave their families and their jobs."
http://start.shaw.ca/start/enCA/News/NationalNewsArticle.htm?src=n042351A.xml