Task Force Kandahar (TFK) was the formation conducting the

International Security Assistance Force The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) was a multinational military mission in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2014. It was established by United Nations Security Council United Nations Security Council Resolution 1386, Resolution 1386 ac ...

(ISAF) mission in Kandahar Province under ISAF Regional Command South. When it concluded its mission in summer 2011, the formation included a

Canadian Armed Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...

battle group, three U.S. Army battalions (two of infantry and one of military police), an engineer regiment, a signal squadron, Operational Mentor and Liaison Teams (OMLTs), and contributions to Operational Mentor and Advisory Teams (OMATs) and the Police Operational Mentor and Liaison Team (P-OMLT).

Origin

Move from Kabul

On 29 November 2005, the Canadian base

Camp Julien Camp Julien was the main base for the Canadian contingent of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Kabul, Afghanistan. The camp was named after Lance Corporal George Patrick Julien, a Canadian Army soldier who was awarded the M ...

in southwest Kabul officially closed.

Canadian Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...

(CF) components that were in

Kabul Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...

under Operation Athena were relocated to

Kandahar Kandahar is a city in Afghanistan, located in the south of the country on Arghandab River, at an elevation of . It is Afghanistan's second largest city, after Kabul, with a population of about 614,118 in 2015. It is the capital of Kandahar Pro ...

as part of the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism known as

Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response ...

(OEF). The Canadian component was initially designated Operation Archer. The Canadian

Provincial Reconstruction Team A Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) was a unit introduced by the United States government, consisting of military officers, diplomats, and reconstruction subject matter experts, working to support reconstruction efforts in unstable states. PRT ...

(PRT) had already been at Camp Nathan Smith in

since August 2005. The PRT integrated elements from the Canadian Forces (CF), Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC), the

Canadian International Development Agency The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA; in French: ''Agence canadienne de développement international''; ''ACDI'') was a federal Canadian organization that administered foreign aid programs in developing countries. The agency was me ...

(CIDA), and the

Royal Canadian Mounted Police The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP; , GRC) is the Law enforcement in Canada, national police service of Canada. The RCMP is an agency of the Government of Canada; it also provides police services under contract to 11 Provinces and terri ...

(RCMP).

Task Force Afghanistan

In early 2006, Canada's contribution to Operation Archer increased to approximately 2300 personnel. The then-designated Task Force Afghanistan also included a Canadian-led multinational brigade headquarters, designated Task Force Aegis, and Canadian battle group designated Task Force Orion centred on 1st Battalion

Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI, generally referred to as the Patricias) is one of the three Regular Force infantry regiments of the Canadian Army of the Canadian Armed Forces. Formed in 1914, it is named for Princess Patrici ...

(1 PPCLI). This time frame also saw the introduction of the

M777 howitzer The M777 howitzer is a British towed 155 mm artillery piece in the howitzer class. It is used by the ground forces of Australia, Canada, Colombia, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States. It was first used in combat during the Wa ...

as part of the task force in February 2006. The period was highlighted by Operation Mountain Thrust and Operation Zahara (also designated the First Battle of Panjwaii). 1 PPCLI was given the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation from the

Governor General of Canada The governor general of Canada () is the federal representative of the . The monarch of Canada is also sovereign and head of state of 14 other Commonwealth realms and resides in the United Kingdom. The monarch, on the Advice (constitutional la ...

for "exceptional determination and courage during relentless combat in Afghanistan, from January to August 2006". On 31 July 2006, with the expansion of the

(ISAF) mandate, US-led Coalition forces handed command of the southern region of Afghanistan to Regional Command South. With the transfer of command authority, the majority of

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

came again under Operation Athena.

Evolution of Task Force Kandahar

Task Force 3-06 (Operation Athena Rotation 2)

On 19 August 2006, the 1st Battalion

The Royal Canadian Regiment The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) is an infantry regiment of the Canadian Army. The regiment consists of four battalions, three in the Regular Force and one in the primary reserve. The RCR is ranked first in the order of precedence amongst Canad ...

Battle Group (1RCR BG) assumed command of the Kandahar Province area of operations from Task Force Orion. In early September 2006 the task force lead Operation Medusa with the aim to clear

Taliban , leader1_title = Supreme Leader of Afghanistan, Supreme leaders , leader1_name = {{indented plainlist, * Mullah Omar{{Natural Causes{{nbsp(1994–2013) * Akhtar Mansour{{Assassinated (2015–2016) * Hibatullah Akhundzada (2016–present) ...

insurgents from a fortified position in Pashmul. For the operation, the battle group was partnered with forces from the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

, the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

Denmark Denmark is a Nordic countries, Nordic country in Northern Europe. It is the metropole and most populous constituent of the Kingdom of Denmark,, . also known as the Danish Realm, a constitutionally unitary state that includes the Autonomous a ...

and

. The Battle of Pashmul marked the first time NATO had engaged in combat operations at the battle group-level. In the citation for the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation, the battle group had succeeded "where larger forces had failed, they prevented the enemy from realizing their goals of capturing the city and weakening international resolve and cohesion". An

Operational Mentor and Liaison Team Operational Mentoring and Liaison Teams (OMLTs) were the NATO equivalent of the United States' Embedded Training Teams and were active in Afghanistan. Countries Teams from several countries provided training and operational support to the ...

(OMLT) was formed to work with the 1st Brigade of the 205 ''Atul'' (Hero) Corps (1/250 Corps), based in Kandahar Province. This surge, along with the deployment of a squadron of

Leopard 1 The Kampfpanzer Leopard, subsequently Leopard 1 following the introduction of the successive Leopard 2, is a main battle tank designed by Porsche and manufactured by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann, Krauss-Maffei in West Germany, first entering service ...

tanks from

Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) (LdSH(RC)) is a regular armoured warfare, armoured regiment of the Canadian Army and is Canada’s only tank regiment. Currently based in Edmonton, Alberta, the regiment is part of 3rd Canadian Division' ...

CFB Edmonton Canadian Forces Base Edmonton, commonly referred to as CFB Edmonton is a Canadian Forces base in Sturgeon County adjacent to the City of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. It is also known as Edmonton Garrison or "Steele Barracks". History The hi ...

, increased the number Canadian Forces in Afghanistan to 2500. With Brigadier-General Timothy Grant assuming command of the Canadian elements in Kandahar in November 2006 and the construction of Provincial Operations Centre at Kandahar Airfield, the framework for Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) was in place.

Task Force 1-07 (Operation Athena Rotation 3)

Although the battle group for TF 1-07 was based on 2nd Battalion

(2RCR) from CFB Gagetown, the headquarters for Task Force Kandahar was primarily force generated from Land Force Atlantic Area, taking on a greater responsibility than previously rotations' Nation Command Elements. The commander for Task Force Kandahar was also designated Commander Joint Task Force Afghanistan, ultimately responsible for all Canadian Forces personnel and assets deployed in southwest Asia. The task force contributed to Operation Achilles mid-April to mid-March 2007, the clearing of Taliban fighters from

Helmand Province Helmand (Pashto language, Pashto/Dari language, Dari: ; ), also known as Hillmand, in ancient times, as Hermand and Hethumand, is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, in the south of the country. It is the largest province by area, covering ...

. This offensive action was the largest

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO ; , OTAN), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental Transnationalism, transnational military alliance of 32 Member states of NATO, member s ...

operation in Afghanistan up to this point. On 15 May 2007, the Canadian OMLT took over full responsibility for the mentoring of 1/250 Corps from the United States Army. In July 2007, the

Government of Canada The Government of Canada (), formally His Majesty's Government (), is the body responsible for the federation, federal administration of Canada. The term ''Government of Canada'' refers specifically to the executive, which includes Minister of t ...

increased its diplomatic presence in Kandahar by appointing Michel de Salaberry as the Representative of Canada Kandahar (RoCK).

Task Force 3-07 (Operation Athena Rotation 4)

Both the headquarters and the battle group were generated from

5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group () (5 CMBG) is a Canadian Forces brigade group that is part of 2nd Canadian Division of the Canadian Army. It is based at CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City, Quebec. The brigade group is the formation respons ...

(5 CMBG) with Brigadier-General Guy Laroche as the commander. This rotation of the headquarters saw the "digitizing" of the task force, modernizing the command and control information systems within the task force and the standing up of Task Force Kandahar Signal Squadron. The 3rd Battalion Royal 22^e Régiment Battle Group (3 R22^eR BG), which was awarded the Commander-in-Chief Unit Commendation, was "instrumental in dismantling improvised explosive device networks, re-capturing checkpoints and returning them to Afghan control, enhancing the capacity of Afghan forces and providing guidance on community building and local governance." On 16 October 2007, the Government of Canada indicated the current mission was to end in 2011.

Task Force 1-08 (Operation Athena Rotation 5)

* Battle group – 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group * JTF-A Reconnaissance Squadron - 12^e Régiment blindé du Canada, 'D' Squadron * Provincial Reconstruction Team – B Company, 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry * Task Force Kandahar – Rotation 4 Task Force Kandahar headquarters remained (9-month tour) * National Support Element(NSE), Supply and Transportation Company, 1 Service Battalion. * Dates – February 2008 – September 2008

Task Force 5-08

Based on headquarters from

2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2CMBG; ) is a Canadian Forces brigade group that falls under 4th Canadian Division of the Canadian Army. It is currently based at CFB Petawawa. One of its three infantry battalions is administered by 5th C ...

, TF 5-08 was also part of Operation Athena Rotation 5, but as the headquarters were on nine-month tours instead of the standard six, the headquarters were no longer in sync with their respective rotation. The headquarters, although it was involved with force-generation exercises with both Rotation 5 and 6, the Commander, Brigadier-General Denis Thompson, referred to the headquarters as "Rotation 5.5". On the evening of 13 June 2008, Taliban fighters executed a raid on Kandahar’s Sarposa Prison, freeing as many as 1100 prisoners (approximately 400 Taliban). * Battle of Arghandab * 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment (United States) comes under operational command of TFK for operations in Maywand.

Task Force 3-08 (Operation Athena Rotation 6)

* Battle Group – 3rd Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group * Operation Shahi Tandar * Joint Task Force Afghanistan Air Wing stands up 6 December 2008 * Dates – August 2008 – February 2009 * A-SQN Lord Strathcona’s Horse Royal Canadians (LdSH RC)

Task Force 5-09

* Task Force Kandahar – Headquarters rotation only. Based on headquarters from 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. * Commander – Brigadier-General

Jonathan Vance General (Canada), General Jonathan Holbert Vance (born January 3, 1964) is a retired Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Forces officer who served as a General (Canada), general in the Canadian Army. Vance was the Chief of the Defence Staff (Canad ...

* Transfer of command authority 19 February 2009

Task Force 1-09 (Operation Athena Rotation 7)

* Battle group – 2nd Battalion Royal 22^e Régiment Battle Group * Dates – March 2009 – November 2009

Task Force 3-09 (Operation Athena Rotation 8)

* Battle group – 1st Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group * Dates – November 2009 – May 2010

Task Force 6-09

* Task Force Kandahar – Headquarters rotation only. Based on headquarters from

. * Commander – Brigadier-General Daniel Ménard. Relieved from his position, and Colonel Simon Hetherington was designated as acting commander in the interim. Brigadier-General Jonathan Vance returns in until TF 5-10. * At the beginning of July 2010, Canadians transferred command responsibility for

, Arghandab and Zhari to U.S. forces and control for the Horn of Panjwaii directly to Regional Command South.

Task Force 1-10 (Operation Athena Rotation 9)

* Battle group – 1st Battalion

Battle Group * Dates – April 2010 – November 2010

Task Force 3-10 (Operation Athena Rotation 10)

* Battle group – 1st Battalion Royal 22^e Régiment Battle Group * Dates – November 2010 – July 2011 * Last task force under combat operations mandate

Task Force 5-10