In a heartfelt message to Canadian troops about to be deployed to Afghanistan, Governor General Michaelle Jean urged soldiers and their families to take pride in the work they are setting out to do.

Jean, who is the commander-in-chief of the Canadian Forces, flew to CFB Petawawa in her helicopter to speak to troops who had gathered for Family Day at the base. About 1,600 troops from the base will soon be deployed to Afghanistan.

"I know you will be greatly missed by your families and loved ones, but the work you will be doing over there makes us proud, so proud, because we know you are going halfway around the world to stand up for justice and freedom, to help the Afghan people break free from tyranny and oppression," Jean said.

She praised the military families who were supportive of their husbands and wives and relatives who will be risking their lives in Afghanistan, saying they make the "sacrifice out of respect for the life your loved one has chosen."

Jean suggested the soldiers will be exporting a Canadian belief in freedom and democracy to a land that desperately needs it.

"There is no greater act of compassion than to risk everything to help women and men and children you have never met, who live what seems like a world away but whose suffering cannot be ignored....What you will be defending in Afghanistan is the ideal of a fair society where every citizen has rights. A democratic ideal to which all people of this earth should be able to aspire."

Before bidding the troops "bonne chance," Jean wished the soldiers a safe return and said she will be carrying each of them in her heart.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier introduced Jean.

Increasing combat activity has made the Afghanistan mission more dangerous for the troops. However, Hillier spoke about the high level of training the soldiers have received and emphasized that they will be using the best equipment available -- from combat boots to Kevlar vests to hydration systems-- when they arrive in Afghanistan.

"We have spared no effort and no amount of money to set conditions for success," Hillier said.

He described the soldiers as "a flicker of light in a long dark tunnel," and said the deployment is "a mission for 28 million men and women in the worst days and months of their lives who desperately need some help, and they desperately need the kind of help that you can provide.

"You are the ones that bring the hope to Afghans that someday their lives will be much better."

Hillier said Canada and other NATO nations operating in Afghanistan are defeating the Taliban.

"The Taliban are losing the last few areas where they used to rest and recuperate and plan and train," he said.

While some experts argue the Taliban are getting stronger, Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor told CTV's Question Period those experts are wrong.

"I think they've met us head on and we have performed very, very well," he said.

With a report from CTV's Robert Fife