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Ai 4 - The Canadien Champion, Fniday, September 8, 2006 Serving in Afghanistan Milton soldierfightingfor peace in Kandahar By Stephanie Thiessen CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF F rmoiC anadtans, the tsess tu tlg anai is somecthtng we have th uuvof turuing a hlid eve to \vxben it becomies uncomnfortable - with citber the flick oif a s\vitch or tunii ol a page. But lor a tnativ e \liltonian serving in the \ at-ltoin couintrv anîd is famîilv ai home. sut h obli-vron isn't an option - thev're living it es erv dav, wliether tui person oithruough dieu Iovcd one. Fi o tht' pasi ifirc moritis. Aduian Burton, 34. bas been serving iii Kandahar, Atghanisiari as part of ciperation Archer. the C.anadian IForces' contribution to Operaton lrîiditnnig Frecdotîr A fexv \vcks ago. The C.hampion tnade contact \;itlî L. Burton and discusscd ihe pos"rbilirv of dotng an article. .Arîd ,so ani interv iew via e-maril N aý .itranged. It began wirh a caution fromi Lt Burton. Thcre w cre miari\- thrngs, hc \?vouldi bx able ro distîr"' - and spcrfics hc «wo-uld- nit bc able to proNide - for securt reasons. The cleni rearis our'news on the 'ier too.' he uaid. Trc ro his sN-ord. Lr. Burton coutldn'r div utge much wvhen asked whai he dois in Kandahar. What he could sav was bis; com- mander of a platoon tirais worktng siîh local Afghan nationals. the Afghan National Army and coalition soldiers regularlyv Some of tire dunes of Canadran soldiers include providing secur'. stabihizing a frag- ile economy, reconstruction, and educatrng and trrarnng the local Afghan nationals. Vearc helping the weak and unfortu- nare wiro can't help thems-elvecs.- I-tr Burton said He made no efforts to htde ihe ugîs\ parts ofîthe mnission, Injunie, one of the men ru bis plaroon - from ittawa - was se' erelv, wounidcd ru a rockct aiiack But Lt. Burton sard he wanted 10 focu", on rire posiie - namnelv the braser, of the Tenews ta sço deprcssîing lusi talkrung about ho\, troops are dyrug.- he satd. --bis great country formed its identin- on the labour" of ouir brav e men and we are dorno' rr agaîn here ru Afghanrsran Faxnill optîmisuec His moirer. longrîme Mrltouian Fave Burton. said she also rnes te0 look on the bnighî sîde. Vie\\ aIl ti ro have a positive aitude and be optimistic about tire suhole thing.- she .aid. Vi\e're concernied. but hopefulis bts %afe - ire and evervone eLse rirere "rire follows tire nrgbrls neiwsreroul bc-cau'e;, itt ofren ber onl\ source of informa- trou. she saîd. addrng is not alwavs comfoou- mgý 1 do fee) ver' nernous -Nheu 1 scc tbe nesut and 1 -c Canadran soldiers and other "o1dier" cîrrug krilled,- shc 'aid Burton 'aid she %vasu r surprtsed vears ago- su heu ber, -ou n rld ber be wauied 10, ioo the anus, alrhough ni vas difficuli i', atcepr at tirntý because; of tire ruherent danger. -He was alwavs fasctnaied wrrhi the arm\.i she explained. addrug even rhougb sire and 1-t. BurtonS faiher. Roger. didn't gise hrm weapous ro plas, -wth, he alwavs euded up pretendtng he was ru tire armnv Li. Burton ta rthe voungesi of fis-e siblrngs. but his moirher said irsalwavs irad a protec- tive arude tow-ard rirose ire caries for. liýs upsemning wiren sorte people sav Canadrans shouldifi be ru Afghzamstan, she said, since ber son is making personal sacri- fices te, help the people there. -He's there for a reason - ro bring peace.Im very proud of hlm.' Lt. Burton grew up iu Milton and then attended Sheridan College in Oakville, wvhere he studied law and secuity. After graduation, he joîued the armn for "a -,crse of adventure, Lt. Burtotn said. He traveled across Europe, thce. and C arrada as a non-commtssioned member of tîre Royal C anadiani Regîmeni (au rufanirs regimieni of the C anadian Forces). ihird batr taion. Ii hec vears itito tlie expericnccý 1 tý Burton satd hc decîded to movc on antd wotl'-ed lu the healrh and fîrness udurstrv. Neser one ico remaîn stagnant. Lt. Burrton detided afier a fesu more vears he \7,-iutcd io loin rIre m-ilitar' once agaîn. hut w arrrcd to puirsue ît part-rime so, he could w rrrk to\Nard othrer goals. lie moved around Halton qurle a bit dur- ing ibis time. spendtng a vear tn Buirirugion and \vorkitîg tru Oaks-ille for a couple of vears. Airbomne unir exciting He jorued the Lorue ScoLs regîmeni in Oiaksille and ihen mos ed to Toronto wý.here lie becamie pari of the Queens Owu Rifles (if Canada. This ns a lîght infantrv regîmeni tif the Canadian Forces Reserve s%-ith the flexi- bility te, quîckly drive. jump or chopper ieo combat as opposed to the more slow moving armor or mecharnzed iufanu'v. -I wuas a natural fit,' he said. lbhev are an airborne unir. so I joined the ranks of para- t.roopers and started jumping oui of planes. i was and stl ta a rush. - Wiren he returus home. probabiv in Detemiber. Lt, Burton "aid bis, gcrug to speud uime wrtb hîs famîls and fuiends. CLareer-wt%-se. he said be night loin the armsi full-trme or go ruro the puvare sector A, fr souug people tbinking abo-ut yinu- ing the ar ms; Lt. Burton sard is nothrug to _Iump ruto hirii * The places w e- arc goiug nosi cari bce ser' hostile, so thes ueed ro kunos what thes are getîîng înto esaid. addrug recruirs need ro be_ mentalîs and pbs sicails i rcam oneured and flexible. Benefits rutlude a chance to sec the %world. learu dîffereni languages - Lt Burton ta learntng Pasto. one of two national languages in Afghanitaan - and be exposed teo difereni cultures. he said. This opportuutrv bas grveu me sucb an ex-penence I shahl nor -soon forget.- be saîd. Žriephante Thrressen can bce Y£ached ai .ihiiessrtnCrniionanadran hiainpion Lm oA' tDp, Mîbttor, solder Ajriari B8c'tor - vvs"lDs c.'rently se,ý- -taqvls *tt- hts -eavy gea, aicr D nc'oý5 d'1t-core'td ,DaOti s'ae "c c ie as Bj'tcr - avIga'e 1 'c-i- as "el~"' a-- c a-i cuxe)iI Hea,,e * 1' p'05 cr ý abo ' e Y"s ag alis 's 'roing Io tie DaC, i, Miton -IV C'ý,sp'mas