Exercise Arrowhead Lightning 2009: Ft. Knox, KY

Pte Louis Progosh and Pte Oliver Smith

While we were completing the Halton Canadian Forces Co-Op last year, neither of us expected any opportunities like this out of our experience. However, after Co-Op had finished, the experiences continued. From our Infantry Course in the summer to various unit exercises so far, we’ve been presented with lots of good training.

One Tuesday night a few months ago we were presented with several options for training over March break, including a large unit exercise in Meaford, Ontario, and a major joint exercise that would be taking place south of the border, at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Naturally, we both put our names through the Chain of Command, hoping that we would be one of the 4 soldiers out of the 40-plus troops in Charlie Company (of eight overall) chosen to represent the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (RHLI) in the States. Based on our performance within the unit, and our reputations as good soldiers who would conduct themselves respectably “out of country,” we were both chosen for deployment.

After a long bus ride, a forced rest in Windsor, and several stops for refreshments, we were finally in Ft. Knox. One thing we both noticed during the week was the ranges. Computerized targets registered bullet strikes and fell, and some were programmed to take more than one hit before falling, something we had never seen before. The Americans we met were very friendly, you could feel the mutual respect, and everything had a good atmosphere.

The exercise was set up to simulate workup training for a final attack on a village, similar to one that could be found in Afghanistan. Despite the serious nature of the training, morale was very high, as was professionalism. We both agree that our favorite part of the week was the days we spent doing urban operations with paintball rounds. It was an exciting time, and having enemy that shoots back allows you to get a better sense of what it’s like to manouver in an urban area.

The site we used had several training aids, including a long, narrow street with buildings on either side. It was called “Hogan’s Alley,” and it was filled with side alleys, popup targets of both enemies and civilians in addition to the live enemy force, and broken-down cars. There were many surprises each time, including hidden, electronically fired paintball machine guns, and traps like Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) – keeping us on the lookout for the unexpected.

The final attack we had been training for all week was not without its share of unexpected twists. After we got off the helicopters and into the town, there were IEDs, enemy vehicles, and a lot of close-quarters fighting. Since the whole 31 Brigade Group was represented, we had access to engineers and medics as we would overseas, opening up new options in battlefield scenarios. Once we had taken the village, we set up defensive positions, defending from enemy counter-attack, talking to the “locals” to gather intelligence, and setting up vehicle checkpoints.

After a well-needed shower, we boarded the buses back to our retrospective units. It was a whirlwind tour, and a different way to spend a March break. But neither of us would trade that opportunity for anything. If we had the option to do it again, we would - in a heartbeat.

For even more Ex Arrowhead Lightning and other training images from 31 Canadian Brigade Group go to http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/31cbg_hq/Image_Gallery.htm

Photos by Private Louis Progosh, Private Oliver Smith, and Warrant Officer Sean Fletcher (all RHLI); and Corporal Harley Taylor, staff photographer with 31 Canadian Brigade Group Public Affairs.