Gurkas in northern Quebec

Weird and wonderful turnabout (via David Pugliese):

TRAINING OF GURKHAS FROM A TROPICAL TO A NORDIC CLIMATE

Valcartier Garrison, Quebec, March 10, 2009 – Media representatives are invited to Valcartier in order to meet soldiers of 1st Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles (1 RGR), based in Brunei (South-East Asia), following their involvement in an exercise in Northern Quebec.

Where? Valcartier Garrison

When? Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 10:00 a.m.

From March 1 to 8, 2009, approximately 300 soldiers from Valcartier and elsewhere in Quebec, also including about thirty Gurkhas (1 RGR), participated in Exercise TARRAMI UNATARTIIT, which means “Winter Warrior” in Inuktituk. This training took place in the Kuujjuaq area and encompassed search and rescue scenarios. It also included cultural activities like net fishing with the Inuits.

The contribution of Gurkhas in Exercise TARRAMI UNATARTIIT was made possible under the Small Military Unit Exchange Program allowing soldiers to enhance their skills in an unfamiliar environment. Incidentally, this program allowed sending members of 3 Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment, in the Brunei jungle in September 2008 for jungle warfare exercise alongside Gurkhas [empasis added].

Media representatives that are interested in meeting Gurkhas and other soldiers that took part in Exercise TARRAMI UNATARTIIT are invited to the Valcartier Garrison on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, at 9:45 a.m. Media credentials must be obtained from 5 CMBG Public Affairs Office at one of the numbers below.

Please note that the Gurkhas speak English. If required, officers will help with the translation from English to French. To learn more about the Gurkhas, those Nepalese soldiers serving amongst the British Army, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gurkhas.

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Information: Public Affairs Office 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Phone: (418) 844-5000, extension 4688 Pager: (418) 260-3082

More on Gurkhas who fought alongside the CF in Afstan:

Kukhris rule