Charlie Company

We no longer have the luxury of having the singular focus that characterized our efforts prior to and during our deployment to Kandahar. As we continue to "reset", we can expect our focus to be further divided between a variety of critical tasks that will contribute to the success of others. In the short-term this will be the measure of our success. The coming months will characterized by fewer resources, significant strain on instructors and undoubtedly, last-minute individual tasks. As we assist others in their preparations for deployment, we will build our team for future missions. Building our team is our mission.

I have a very clear and simple for our company: Build a team of tough, adaptive, disciplined, thinking warriors and agile, initiative-taking leaders who are prepared to deploy and dominate any battlespace we are tasked to operate in.

Everything we do must be focused on this vision. We will achieve this vision through the spirit of “giving back” to the Army, our families and ourselves. In my mind, there are three elements to “giving back”. In having transitioned from the "supported" to the "supporting" we have a responsibility to "give back" to the Army, our families and ourselves. Giving back to the Army includes passing on key lessons and assisting the Army in preparing soldiers for future deployments to Afghanistan and wherever else our nation sends us. It also includes building a team that is ready for the next operation. In this regard, we are fortunate to have in our ranks, many combat veterans, soldiers who have proven themselves in the face of the enemy. There is a significant amount of responsibility that comes with this experience. We must not relive the last fight but prepare ourselves and others for the next one. Giving back to our families needs to focus on spending time with our families and ensuring key relationships are healthy and stable. Giving back to ourselves transcends the spectrum of personal and professional domains. It includes individual professional training, attending formal courses and honing skills that have faded. It also means taking the personal time to do things we enjoy and looking after one another.

We cannot forget that we belong to an Army that is at war in Afghanistan we must retain our focus and prepare for those challenges that awaits us in the days, weeks and months ahead! We are responsible for defeating our nation's enemies in the close fight and with this reality, comes significant responsibility. In meeting our continued challenges we will not rest on past laurels. Regardless of our tasks, our future success hinges on each of us giving our best, every single day.

The opportunity to command this company is a privilege and an honour. I am proud to soldier alongside each of you!