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Younghusband
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Younghusband

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December 8th, 2004

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More recognition for JTF2

UPDATE: As noted in the comments, there are numerous stories out there regarding the long distance record for sniping. Read the whole story in Macleans (May 15th 2005): We were abandoned

JTF-2 Joint Task Force 2 is the Canadian military’s semi-secret special forces unit. They were deployed to Afghanistan within weeks of 9/11 and were broiled in a minor PR spat with the Canadian government after what is thought to be a long distance sniping record, hitting an enemy gunman at a distance of 2,430 metres. The US government decided to award the team a bronze medal, the highest honour for foriegn soldiers working with US military, but the Canadian goverenment refused in fear that Canadians back home would think that Canadians soldiers were actually killing people overseas.

Canadian JTF-2 force gets American citation

Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Canada’s special operations military unit, Joint Task Force 2, has been awarded the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation for heroism in battle.

It’s just the second Canadian military unit to receive the honour. U.S. President George W. Bush made the presentation in California to the American commander of the multinational force in Afghanistan of which JTF-2 was a part from October 2001 to April 2002.

The citation, first awarded after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour on Dec. 7, 1941, is given to units of the United States and allied nations “for extraordinary heroism in actions against an armed enemy.”

Read more

Comments to this entry

Younghusband
December 8, 2004
1:42 pm
Another interesting story on JTF2:

" *JTF 2 members leaving unit to work in Iraq* ":http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1081475935368_13?s_name=&no_ads=
Bobby Brown
December 8, 2004
6:22 pm
Everytime I read this I just feel inspired to say FUCK South Park, FUCK anti-Kanuck sentiment in the US, I LOVE CANADIANS, BROTHERS IN ARMS!! A few wacko leftists and Frenchies don't stop us lovin' each other!!
Mutantfrog
December 8, 2004
8:31 pm
Why are they JTF 2? Is #1 totally secret or something?
Peter
December 8, 2004
11:21 pm
Yes, can't let the Toronto Globe & Mail readers think that killing people is to be glorified. Afterall, if it's from 2.4km away, it wasn't "fair" for the other guy.

JTF 1 - kill bad guys
JTF 2 - ...
JTF 3 - Profit!
Elwood Blues
September 12, 2005
2:00 am
The majority of Canadians are naive. Do you honestly think that Canada isn't invloved in taking down these diaper headed cowards? JTF2 personnel are among the most coveted special forces staff in the world. They are highly trained, highly motivated and highly successful. Popping a round through a terrorist's pumpkin from 2.4 Km is fabulous. Keep it up. Give them more money. They deserve it. I'd rather my tax dollars go to the military than cough it up to feed scum bags, dope addicts and losers.
IJ
September 12, 2005
8:26 am
Which direction does Canada want to go militarily?

On the one hand, the nation favours "international intervention for humanitarian purposes":http://www.iciss.ca/report2-en.asp. On the other, "its spending on the militarily is low":http://www.cominganarchy.com/2005/08/19/canada-command/.
Mattimeo
September 20, 2005
4:17 pm
I am a Canadian citizen. I am proud of this record, and am very angry at our government. I am angry that they are not putting enough funding into our military and not accepting this award. We are known for our peacekeeping, but also known for our very good skills and tactics. If more canadians new about this award they would be proud of it, not disapointed.
Younghusband
September 21, 2005
1:45 am
"This just in from CTV":http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1127234936056_73/?hub=Canada:

bq. *JTF2 captured, killed enemies in Afghanistan: DND*
The Chief of Staff for Canadian Forces operations confirmed that Canadian soldiers have engaged Taliban and al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan, in an unprecedented look at the secretive commando unit. ... Ward added that, in some circumstances, capture proved impossible. "We have to expect that in those circumstances casualties do occur," he said. "We have not suffered any casualties at this point, but casualties occurred on the other side."
Curzon
September 21, 2005
2:52 am
Combined with the information in this post, that is unintentionally hilarious.
ComingAnarchy.com » Blog Archive » Happy Birthday To Us!
September 30, 2005
3:38 pm
[...] Sir Francis Edward YOUNGHUSBAND Battle of the Books: Reviewing America’s Secret War and the Pentagon’s New Map—reviewed in turn by Dr. Barnett. Religious Freedom Guaranteed: A report from the ground on religious minorities in Iran. Anjoman-E Padeshahi Iran: One of the only English sources on the web about London’s Iranian dissident group. RYP: The Anti-Traveler: A profile of a brother-in-arms. Parrish and the Canadian Military: The straight dope on the Canadian military. Cambodia’s Landmine Museum: Seeing some hope in all the anarchy. Confessions of a Thug: Rollin’ wit my 19th century niggaz! Chinese Turkestan 2004: Some photography from China’s Muslim regions. More recognition for JTF2: Canada’s secret commando unit gets some props, but not from the Canadian public. Hijacking the American Language: Stop playing with my mind! Younghusband’s true colours are shown in the debate on cognitive science. [...]
Kanadiana
January 10, 2006
3:22 am
The mentioned snipers were not JTF2 but a team from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
Bally
May 5, 2006
1:06 pm
The current record for longest range sniper kill is 2430 metres (7,972 ft), accomplished by a Canadian sniper, of the third battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), during the invasion of Afghanistan, using a .50 BMG (12.7 mm) McMillan bolt-action rifle. This meant that the round had a flight time of four seconds, and a drop of 44.5 m (146 ft). The previous record was held by Carlos Hathcock, achieved during the Vietnam War, at a distance of 2250 m.
Ehran
May 19, 2006
10:40 pm
to mutant frog
there is no jtf1 as far as we know.

to younghusband
jtf2 was not awarded a presidential citation the 40 odd operators attacked to tf kabar were. they were denied the right to wear the honour because in doing so they would have told anyone who recognized the gong that they were jtf2 personnel. this would have violated unit security pretty massively.

to bally
didn't hathcock set the prior record using a ma deuce hmg? an extra 18" of barrel helps the accuracy a bit but he was shooting through rather denser air as well. i believe those canadian snipers own 7 of the 10 longest shots on record currently. one shot pulled off was only 1800 metres but it was at a target 100 + metres higher on the ridge across the valley and on a breezy day to boot. head shot by the way.
leafy
May 20, 2006
6:24 pm
JTF1 was a mixed Canadian and American Unit created in WW2 and was disbanded shortly after. The canadians have severel "special Forces" which include JTF2, combat engineers, pathfinders, and snipers which are all different and non affilitated with each other.