 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
Exercise Maple Storm 2003, May 2-4
Capt Tim Fletcher
Military exercises are traditionally carried out on military property - it's easy, you don't disturb the neighbours and you can pretty do what you need to do. The downside is, the terrain very quickly becomes familiar and skills like map navigation can get rusty.
31 Canadian Brigade Group took the bold move of moving at least part of Exercise Maple Storm 2003 outside of the fence of Area Training Centre Meaford the weekend of 2-4 May. Maple Storm was a defensive exercise featuring a withdrawal to prepared positions, a Reserve Demolition and a FIBUA ("Fighting In Built-Up Area") stand. At the same time, the brigade used the exercise as the required combat readiness evaluation (CRE) which every unit must undergo regularly.
 |
The exercise put nearly 850 soldiers of 31 Canadian Brigade Group - including several dozen "Rileys", who made up one of the largest units - in the field for the final run-up training to Ex Stalwart Guardian, the area-level Militia Concentration ("MilCon") in August. It was a fully-integrated combined-arms exercise with engineers, artillery, combat service support including medical, reconnaissance and of course, the queen of battle - the infantry.
The citizens around Owen Sound and Meaford had the opportunity to see their Army Reserve up close and personal. There was a full battery of 105-mm towed howitzers and a squadron of Cougars and their 75-mm turret guns manoeuvring around the countryside in a series of rear-guard actions covering a "notional" withdrawal.
The lack of blank ammo was partially made up by a "bonus" at the FIBUA site. Regular C-7's were exchanged for special versions modified to fire the Canadian-made "Simunition®" - a low-velocity plastic training ammunition filled with a wax-like substance to mark hits. The soldiers were rotated through the Simunition® stand, using the full inventory of basic infantry skills including recce, command and control, fire and movement, cover and concealment. With the protective helmets and other gear strapped on, it seemed everyone was mimicking Darth Vader - "Luuuke… I am your father ..."!
Speaking to the highly-integrated nature of the ex, Brigade Commander Colonel Gary O'Brien told the troops, "This is the new way of training. This is what we have to do every time we come to the field. It's the power of 822 soldiers working as one team in the field!"
Oh yes - that pesky "CRE". No problem for The RHLI - we aced it. As usual! After all, our motto is Semper Paratus - Always Ready.