November 1999

Story written for the Royal Canadian Military Institute monthly newsletter "Sitrep"

Summer Training focuses on the attack [page 5]

Approximately 700 soldiers from 32 Canadian Brigade Group took part in Exercise Steadfast Warrior '99 this summer at CFB Petawawa. The soldiers were drawn mainly from the Toronto area, plus units and sub-units from Aurora, Barrie and Owen Sound. The focus of this year's training for the armoured, engineer and infantry units was "The Advance to Contact". For the soldiers of 7 Toronto Regiment RCA, this was the second year they had the opportunity to fire their new C3, 105mm Howitzer. The C3 is an upgraded version of the C2 gun that had been in service since 1950s. The new gun has a longer barrel, increasing its range up to 13,000 meters.

Soldiers from the Queen's Own Rifles, The Royal Regiment of Canada, the 48th Highlanders, the Grey & Simcoe Foresters and the Toronto Scottish Regiment were pooled into a three company, light infantry battalion commanded by LCol Julian Chapman.

Signals, now referred to as "Communications" because of the different techniques they use to forward information, were co-ordinated by 709 Communications Regiment. These soldiers provided military radio, field telephone, fax, e-mail, and satellite phone services to the Commander. This was the first time that they had used a portable satellite up-link system, called IMARSAT, on a major exercise. At a cost of $8 per minute per circuit to provide five voice lines, plus a data link, it was only going to be used if all other systems failed. Gone are the days of semaphore, morse-code and carrier pigeons.

One of the highlights of summer training for new infantry soldiers is the opportunity for their first helicopter ride. After a familiarisation on the load and unload drills from a Griffon helicopter, it is time for contour flying. Zig zagging along in single file, at or below tree top height, with the doors wide open they deploy to their LZ. The helicopter lift was provided by both 427 Tactical Helicopter Sqn based in Petawawa, and 400 Air Reserve Squadron based at CFB Borden. Both units us the CH-146, twin-engined helicopters, capable of transporting 10 soldiers each.

LFCA Commander, BGen Walter Holmes wanted to maintain his roots as an infantry soldier. He spent a morning as a rifleman under command of section commander, MCpl Marianteles Najlas of The Royal Regiment of Canada. Shedding his staff and other hangers-on, he cammed-up, blended into the ranks, and prepared for the advance to contact as a light infantry soldier. Asked how the General did, she diplomatically said, "General Holmes was a checked-out rifleman. He was highly motivated and fullfilled all the jobs any other rifleman would have done in his position".

 
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