Lussier, Andrew: my army experience in Afghanistan (April 4, 2019)
PublicABSTRACT: Colonel Andrew Lussier reflects on his time participating in reconnaissance operations in Afghanistan. His use of the LAV Coyotes and experiences in Afghanistan provide an honest and humbling perspective on this conflict. Andrew participated in multiple operations in Afghanistan and had great care for his soldiers and the missions they undertook while overseas. His adaptation of LAV tactics gave the Canadian Forces a safer way to operate during this COIN warfare and has been adopted as a new tactic by those around him. 0:00-2:25 Growing up in a military family and joining the forces early on, training in Cornwallis as a private then to Gagetown NB for armoured corps training. 2:25-3:40 Following the footsteps of his father into the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps. 3:40-6:05 Initial basic training experiences, shock and fear he felt when he first arrived on the train in Cornwallis. Then his feeling of accomplishment and teamwork during his training. 6:06-8:37 Initial training on Lynx and 113 vehicles and initial experience with the Coyote when he was a Squadron Leader at the rank of Major. Joining a Coyote crew commander course. 8:37-10:22 The feeling of confidence with the Coyote and LAV vehicles of the soldiers. Comfortable because they were used to the LAVs and Coyotes when they arrived in Afghanistan. 10:22-11:58 Resistance to change in older soldiers who were used to the older vehicles and technologies they were used to. 11:58-14:16 Training and typical exercises for LAVs and Coyotes. Fighting mounted, Reconnaissance tactics and training. 14:18-18:10 Remembering post September 11th attacks in 2001. Reaction of fellow soldiers at Staff College in Kingston. We are going to war. Training changes to reality. Shift away from peacekeeping. 18:10-20:18 Frustration in training and not being deployed desire to put training and tactics into use. Shift from Kabul to Kandahar. 20:18- 22:30Being deployed and going directly into action. Feeling of being hyper focused to do his job. Stress of leadership in combat operations and dealing with this stress. 22:30-25:26 Impact of losing soldiers in this conflict. Difficulty dealing with the loss of soldiers under his command. “What did I do wrong” mentality, coming to conclusion that people die in war. Load of carrying those he lost on his shoulders every day. 25:30-30:00 Vehicles in Afghanistan being worn out after years of combat use. Battling the dust and sand that impacted these vehicles. Maintenance of equipment being important. 30:00-35:05 First day travelling to and landing in Afghanistan. Dealing with the heat, importance of hydration and self-care on the battlefield. 35:05-37:43 First missions and experiences outside the wire in Afghanistan. 37:43-40:00 Boredom and down time contrasted with shock and stress of combat. Their squadron being actively deployed living and operating outside the wire to complete their reconnaissance missions effectively. 187 days outside the wire. 40:30-41:57 Leave in Canada. Stress experienced when leaving his soldiers in theater. 41:57-47:07 Technologies the Coyote and LAVs were equipped with. Strengths of LAVs. Reconnaissance Equipment and Tactics. 47:07-49:45 Struggles during Operation Medusa. His feelings about lack of reconnaissance done before this operation. 49:45-53:21 Struggles during Operations Medusa. Development of Techniques, Tactics and Procedures from incidents during this operation. 53:21-59:16 Return of the Leopard tanks to the battlefield. Positive factors of having a tank on the battlefield. Pros and Cons of Both LAVs and Tanks. RPG and IED threats. 59:20-1:08:00 Changes of tactics to adapt to COIN warfare. Layering of operations. Restructuring of the two-vehicle system. Ease of making changes at a tactical level. 1:08:00-1:12:00 Future of the Canadian Forces and continued use of LAVs and benefits of Leopard tanks being used in concert. 1:12:00- 1:12:36 The team effort of winning battles. 1:12:40-1:14:00 Opinion on the loss of the Leopards tanks. Need for tanks moving forward. 1:14:00-1:16:05 Each vehicle complimenting the other. 1:16:10-1:23:02 Closing remarks. Positive and Negative impacts of Afghanistan and the Canadian Forces on his life. Pride in the job his soldiers completed in Afghanistan.
Interviewee: Lussier, Andrew
Rank: Colonel.
An interview/narrative of Andrew Lussier's experiences serving in Afghanistan. Interview took place on April 4, 2019.
Interviewer: Forsythe, Geordy
- In Collection:
- 1 sound recording (MP3)
- 33, 66
- Original sound recordings (MP3) also available.
- Canadian Military Oral History Collection
- LA_871
- Special Collections Finding Aid: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/military-oral-history-collection
- April 4, 2019
- Digital sound recording in .mp3 format at 192 kbps. Recorded in digital format by interviewer, technical and cataloguing metadata provided by JF. Interview recorded in digital format for UVic Special Collections in 2019. Migration metadata by KD and MT.
- Rights
- This interview has been posted with the understanding that it may be used for research purposes only. Should the interviewee or their heirs have any objections to this interview being accessible on the Internet, it will be removed promptly. Contact UVic Special Collections for permission if using for other than research purposes: speccoll@uvic.ca
- DOI
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