Do you know operation LASER?
Operation LASER is the Canadian Armed Forces’ ( CAF) response to a worldwide pandemic situation.
During Operation LASER, the CAF implement certain measures on their personnel and Department of National Defence ( DND) employees to reduce the impacts of a pandemic situation. These measures are implemented in order to maintain operational capabilities and readiness to support Government of Canada objectives and requests for assistance.
The three lines of effort of Operation LASER are to preserve and protect CAF personnel, to maintain operational capabilities and readiness, and to meet the core mandates of the CAF.
Furthermore, CAF is assessin activities at home and abroad including continuity plans, protecting defence supply chains, and taking measures to limit the chance of infection of CAF personnel.
Support other government departments to ensure the CAF are ready to support the Government of Canada’s objectives and requests for assistance.
Operation LASER is the activation of Contingency Plan ( CONPLAN) LASER for the response to a pandemic of an influenza- like disease. It consists of 4 phases:
Phase 1 is the pandemic preparedness. Mitigation planning and normal monitoring of worldwide pandemic threats. This phase is permanently activated unless a higher Phase is active
Phase 2 is the pandemic alert. Active monitoring of the evolving pandemic threat, with some protective measures adopted.
Phase 3 is the pandemic response. Activated on order of the CDS, this phase is characterized by widespread and continuous transmission of the virus in the general population and the imminent risk or existence of significant absentee rates
The Canadian Armed Forces ( CAF) response will be dependent on the disease’s impact in and around the location of CAF elements and requests for assistance to civil authorities. The phase was activated on March 13.
Finally, the phase 4 is the post pandemic restoration. This phase starts when the CDS declares that the pandemic situation has concluded and it bring us back to phase 1.