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Message from the CEO
 From the top of TV Hill close to Camp Julien. |
In the last edition of Apropos, I mentioned that I looked forward to getting out and meeting the members of the CFPSA team where they work. My early emphasis has been on Deployed Operations. Over the past few months I have met many of the members of our Deployed Operations cadre in three different locations: St. Jean, Camp Mirage, and Camp Julien.
Let me first comment on our Deployed Operations missions in general. In August 2000, the CFPSA expanded the delivery of its programs and services beyond Canada’s borders to CF members in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The agency is now delivering a variety of amenities including the coordination and planning of Home Leave Travel Assistance (HLTA), Rest & Recreation services, sport and fitness programs, retail operations, and accounting and warehousing services.
In June 2003 we were asked to deliver the same high calibre morale and welfare programs to CF members deployed as part of Task Force Kabul. While I recognize that it is essential to support CF members stationed at bases and wings throughout Canada, I believe that the CFPSA’s top priority is to provide morale and welfare support to the men and women on operations outside the country.
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In early December, I had the pleasure of attending the closing dinner and ceremonies of the latest Deployed Operations Selection and Training course. I was immediately impressed with the enthusiasm and motivation of each of those individuals. It made no difference whether they were current employees, or new ones who had applied for a six-month rotation in Kabul, Afghanistan. It was clear that through their efforts, and those of the highly professional and committed CFPSA instructors and guest lecturers, they had gained extensive knowledge of their prospective responsibilities, and insight into the culture in which they would be working. As a result, I am convinced that Roto 3 will have another very strong CFPSA team.
Just after the new year, I joined the Chief of Defence Staff and our military representative to NATO on a visit to Camp Mirage and Camp Julien. Let me assure you that no matter how much you hear about a mission from the comfort of your own living room, or even a classroom in St. Jean, you really can’t understand it until you’ve experienced it.
 MGen Langton with Alex Montuzas, Welfare Manager Roto 2 (left) and Jeff Clements, Retail Manager Roto 2 (right) in the Queen’s Palace just outside of Camp Julien |
I witnessed first-hand the great work that your colleagues are doing while they, like their customers, are away from family and friends. They’re teaching fitness classes from before dawn to after dusk, planning HLTAs, working in the stores and ensuring that the paperwork is completed. They recognize that when your mission is to improve the morale and welfare of CF members, a positive attitude is essential, even on those days when you don’t feel very positive. To those currently deployed, those who went before them, and those who will come after, let me assure you that your great work is recognized by those you serve, their commanders at all levels, your NPF colleagues on bases and wings, and here at CFPSA headquarters. Well done to all of you.
However, none of our successes are ever due to only one person, or even one group of people. Our accomplishments are achieved through working together as an important part of the overall team. This approach is aptly illustrated in many of the articles in this edition of Apropos.
On behalf of all of you, on Feb. 4, 2005, I welcomed Gen Rick Hillier to his new position as Chief of the Defence Staff, and in our context, to his new role as the governing authority on Non-Public Property and Chair of the Non-Public Property Board of Directors. Gen Hillier brings with him not only his previous experience as a board member, but an intimate knowledge of the importance of all the elements of morale and welfare programs both on deployed operations and at home.
In whatever capacity you support CF members, know that your efforts make a difference.
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Major-General Langton
Chief Executive Officer, CFPSA
