31 BRIGADE – EXERCISE "ARROWHEAD STORM"

Story By Capt Tim Fletcher
Photos By 31 CBG & 2Lt Jacek Wojcik, RHLI

For many Rileys, when they hear the word "Petawawa", it conjurs up images of basic training, mosquitos, excessive heat, tropical-style downpours and dust. It is all of that, and more, but it has one redeeming feature – it is big enough for realistic field training. Meaford is nice – and closer – but too small for a brigade.

31 Canadian Brigade Group held its summer training exercise at CFB Petawawa in 2011. Dubbed "Arrowhead Storm" (the brigade symbol is an arrowhead), the exercise was designed to put cadres from each of the brigade's units, plus affiliated units, through their paces in basic soldier skills, which remain the same no matter what kind of fight you might be in.

Units rotated through several phases of training, from patrolling, to assault boats, to fighting insurgents, to live-fire engaging pop-up and moving targets. Mother Nature got in on the act as well, with a couple of torrential rainstorms that - nearly - brought things to a halt with a flooded main camp.

But the RHLI carried on, and through, the difficulties, with soldiers as part of both the main composite battalion and the enemy force – typical Riley double duty. At the end of it – tired, dirty, worn but finally dry – the buses home were a welcome sight! And then – right back into it at the unit level. No rest for the Rileys!