Bonjour Philippe and team,
CONTINGENCY PLANNING – COVID-19
We are committed to this GOFO Design Seminar. We will need to monitor the situation with regards to COVID-19 and the potential impact on our travel to and from Israel. Like any good military planner, I would like to have a Plan “B” in case we are impacted.
I placed a Decision point for Mid-April to Go/No-Go for the serial scheduled for May. I do not think April is an option and would like to consider if we could push this to the right (potentially in June or July).
CAF, DND and OGD PARTICIPANTS
I have confirmation for 6 GOFOs for this serial (BGen Basinger, BGen Demers, BGen Macisaac, Cmdre Topshee,, BGen Whale and me). I am trying to find
out who from the Strategic Joint Staff may join us. Also trying to assemble representatives from Other Government Departments (ADM(Pol), GAC, PCO, CSE, CSIS…). Mrs Raquel Garbers, DG SD Pol, will assist. More to follow.
THEME
I have received various proposals for the theme that will be used for the course. I want to engage the OGDs and seek their input to get them to think
and contribute from the start. More to follow.
ADMINISTRATION
My EA, Capt Sébastien Massicotte, will coordinate travel plans and VCRs. You will need to make your own bookings once we are confirmed.
We are looking at flight options and a hotel in Tel-Aviv (CDA Israel, Col Thompson, to provide recommendations and organize a group booking accordingly
(potential 10-12 Canadian Participants and another 8 Foreign candidates and observers).
Do not make any bookings until we confirm that the course is a “go”. Mid-April is the Decision Point for May serial (based on COVID-19 situation).
Vr,
Simon
Simon Bernard
BGen / Bgén
🍁
Director-General Plans (DGP) | Canadian Joint Operations Command
Canadian Armed Forces
Directeur-général – Plans (DGP) | Commandement des opérations interarmées du Canada
Forces armées canadiennes
Simon.Bernard@forces.gc.ca
Tel. 613-998-4812 | BB: 343-548-3731
From: Philippe Dufort [mailto:dufort@gmail.com]
Sent: March 9, 2020 8:20 PM
To: Amos Nachmani - Defence Attaché <Defence-Att@ottawa.mfa.gov.il>
Cc: Ofra Graicer <ofragr@mac.com>; Bernard BGen JAS@CJOC HQ@Ottawa-Hull <Simon.Bernard@forces.gc.ca>; Philippe Dufort <pdufort@ustpaul.ca>
Subject: Re: Generals' Seminar in Israel
Dear Amos,
Many thanks for your email and feedback.
This project created much enthusiasm from Canadian GOFOs (and internationally). The interest in military design is increasing exponentially.
In our team, Simon Bernard is in charge of recruiting potential participants. Building a stimulating group of participants is a delicate matter.
I do not know MG Cadieu personally so I would let Simon decide on his potential participation. However, his current position makes him a pertinent participant in my opinion.
I sincerely hope the Coronavirus will be forgotten in May. However, we may have to prepare for alternative dates in April.
I would strongly recommend we make sure to include Simon, Ofra and myself in our shared communications for the upcoming months (I cc'd Simon here).
Your support is greatly appreciated.
Philippe Dufort | Professeur agrégé
École d'innovation sociale Élisabeth-Bruyère
Université Saint-Paul | 223 Main Street
Ottawa (On) | K1S 1C4
Hello Philippe and Ofra,
Hope you are both well in this crazy world of ours…
Just a short note to tell you that Corona issues aside (both the IDF and the CAF just
cancelled trips to Canada and Israel respectively for the coming month, and I fear more is pending), the proposed seminar has got
excellent traction here:
CJOC are fully on board, and their Director of Planning BG. Simon Bernard, whom I met
yesterday, told me that they are already in direct contact with you (Ofra) and are gearing up sending to 6-8 participants in May, not only from CJOC but also from INTCOM, ADM (Policy – our AVTAM) and perhaps even the PCO (our MALAL).
Bernard said that thy still need to choose a topic, but that they are totally committed
and looking forward to it.
On the other side, I also approached the SJS (Strategic Joint Staff – sort of J5 equivalent
in our structure), and the DoS there, MG. Cadieu, is extremely interested in them joining too and has designated a poc For the matter – BG. Darcy Molstad. Philippe – do you perhaps know him? I can approach him of course but was thinking how to best (perhaps,
assuming CJOC are already running the show, I can have them bring SJS in internally to the CAF).
Anyway, at some point we will need to talk practicalities and timings, and there the current
mess will have to be taken into consideration. Realistically, I do not see this happening in May as originally planned, but let’s keep our fingers crossed.
Best,
Amos
Col. Amos Nachmani
Israel Defence Attaché
Office: (613) 750-7520
Mobile: (613) 852-1966
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