How the military helps in evacuations

About 200 Canadian troops are on constant stand-by to help evacuate Canadian citizens from foreign countries.

The so-called NEO Company Group, or Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations company, is in a perpetual state of high-readiness, prepared to deploy anywhere in the world within 72 hours.

The ad hoc unit is currently stationed at CFB Gagetown New Brunswick, and is centred around a company of infantry soldiers from G Company, 2nd, Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment.

In September last year, soldiers from the unit deployed to Hawaii, to participate in a mock evacuation of Canadian citizens from a hostile situation in an unnamed foreign country.

Some of the soldiers training on that mission had previously participated in the very real evacuation of Canadian citizens from Haiti in 2004.

Soldiers from the NEO Company Group are trained to enter a foreign country either with or without the permission of that nation's government.

They can deploy either by land, sea or air, and work to quickly reconnoitre safe gathering-areas for Canadian citizens, before ushering them out of the country.

The unit has specialist soldiers, such as engineers and communications troops, who can help evaluate air fields and ports, and communicate with ships and aircraft waiting to carry Canadian citizens to safety.

Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations are also a specialty of the relatively new Canadian Special Operations Regiment, based in Petawawa, Ont.

Elite soldiers from Canada's Joint Task Force 2 special operations regiment would likely also have a role in any such operations.

It's believed soldiers form that unit assisted in the rescue of Canadian citizens from Lebanon during the 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah.

According to military doctrine, the soldiers support Canadian diplomats who have the lead role in aiding Canadian abroad.

Typical military tasks for those sorts of operations include reconnaissance, establishing safe areas and bases, securing airfields and ports, searching for missing citizens, and providing security.

Most evacuation operations take place with the tacit approval of the government of the nation being evacuated.

In hostile environments, soldiers can be expected to use weapons to protect themselves and the Canadian citizens they're deployed to help.

In some circumstances, special operations forces soldiers may also work undercover to help find missing Canadians and spirit them to safety.