Operation ARGUS

Operation ARGUS is the team of strategic military planners the Canadian Forces maintains in Kabul to help the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan develop key national strategies, and mechanisms for the effective implementation of those strategies. This team is called the Strategic Advisory Team Afghanistan , or SAT-A.

With about 15 military and civilian members, the SAT-A includes:

• a small command and support element,
• two teams of strategic planners,
• a defence analyst,
• a strategic communications advisor, and
• a development expert.

The composition, size and capabilities of the team are adjusted to meet current and emerging needs.

The SAT-A co-operates closely with Ambassador Arif Lalani and Head of Aid George Saible at the Canadian Embassy, and a senior representative of the Afghan government, to provide direct planning support to government ministries and working groups responsible for development and governance. To date, the SAT-A has worked extensively with the Afghan government’s Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development, and with working groups on national development strategy, public administration reform, and gender equity policy in the Afghan Civil Service.

The members of SAT-A planning teams bring a wide range of training, education, experience and strategic planning skills (both civilian and military) to bear on complex civil problems. They embed with Afghan government ministries and agencies and work under Afghan direction to help Afghan government officials integrate the substantive ideas of international experts and their own national leadership into cohesive strategic plans.