CF Reserves training in Virginia

A story from the US National Guard (via Spotlight on Military News and International Affairs):

Canadian troops exercise with National Guard at Fort Pickett

FORT PICKETT, Va. — Soldiers from the Canadian Army Reserve conducted their ninth major field training exercise at the Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center at Fort Pickett Feb. 13-22.

Exercise Southbound Trooper IX, commanded by Lt. Col. Rob Knapp, Commanding Officer of the Princess Louise Fusiliers, involved 450 Soldiers from the 36 Canadian Brigade Group from across Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

The purpose of the Exercise Southbound Trooper IX is to prepare Canadian Army Reserve Soldiers for possible mobilization and deployment to Afghanistan, said Capt. Colette Brake, 36 CBG public affairs officer. The 36 CBG consists of light infantry Soldiers, engineers, military intelligence, signal, military police and civil affairs personnel. Approximately 45 of the 36 CBG are veterans of operations to the Afghanistan Kandahar Province, where approximately 2,500 Canadian personnel are currently stationed, she said.

The scenario-based exercise replicates an environment similar to conditions in the Kandahar Province, Brake said. Missions involve a peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan with approximately 300 Soldiers conducting cordon and search operations near a simulated village. The mission to find and cease the operation of a bomb maker who has been targeting friendly forces near the village requires Soldiers to hone their military training, she said.

All movements are conducted tactically to replicate actual operations in theater. Canadian Soldiers have the chance to confirm individual and collective training undertaken over the past year and to practice these skills within a larger group context. Soldiers conduct patrols, establish aircraft landing zones, construct bridges, perform medical evacuations and hone basic soldering skills during the exercise.

“The tangible military reasons that we have been coming to Fort Pickett for nine years are straight forward”, said Maj. Vic Grandy, the deputy commander of Task Force 36. “This installation offers excellent urban training facilities, a superb range complex, and access to aviation and air assets. We conduct joint international operations with our allied partners with whom we stand shoulder to shoulder in Afghanistan. Fort Pickett is the place where we initiate our training for deployment.”

Fort Pickett also offers Canadian Soldiers the unique opportunity to train in a coalition environment. Here they can conduct operations in the United States with international forces. The Exercise Southbound Trooper multi-national task force includes units from the United States Army, the United States Navy, the Army National Guard, the United States Air Force, the United States Marines, and a contingent of Royal Marines from Great Britain...

Photos here at Milnet.ca, and this one:

Trooper Training

Filed under: Canada, Training — OUT @ 12:32 pm
Tags: Exercise Southbound Trooper IX

A Canadian army soldier exits a U.S. Navy MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter during Exercise Southbound Trooper IX on Blackstone Army Airfield, Fort Pickett Va., Feb. 14, 2009.

U.S. Army photo by Spc. Charles W. Gill

See the Photo Essay here.

Here's a post on last year's exercise. Always remember the reservists are absolutely critical to carrying out the Afghan mission.