CFB GAGETOWN, New Brunswick – Minister Bill Graham and members of his government visited with troops and senior officers at ASU Gagetown on January 25.
Sapper Shaun McKinnon (left) explains the benefits of a fragmentation suit to Anita Neville (centre), MP for Winnipeg South Centre, the Minister of Defence, and Larry Bagnell, MP for Yukon.
In keeping pace with the Army's mission to modernize and transform its fighting capabilities, this base upgraded both its operational and training facilities. The aerial view gave Minister Graham a unique perspective of the new maintenance and headquarters buildings being constructed for the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2 RCR).
It also showed the various ranges and training areas available to help in the training of top-notch Canadian citizens for service in the Canadian Army.
A briefing on Canadian weapons and surveillance systems currently in service today was given to the Minister which included the ACR Silver Fox Mini Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV).
"With the nature and types of conflicts that we are facing today, it's not going to be a European static war, it's going to be what the Army theoreticians call TheThree Block War where we have to be ready for combat missions and at the same time be in a peace and stabilization operations mind-set to create democracies," said the Minister.
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"It takes a different set of skills, very well trained soldiers and different equipment and that is why we are re-equipping ourselves for, because failed and failing states are where the big challenges are today," said the Minister.
"I think the visit was good, seeing the Minister of National Defence has an interest in what we are actually doing here at the Combat Training Centre was good for troop morale," stated Gunner James Lajamb, a soldier posted to the Royal Canadian Artillery Battle School.
Before departing in a LAV III (Light Armoured Vehicle) infantry troop carrier crewed by soldiers from 2 RCR, the Minister stated "I am very impressed by the quality of training…and particularly impressed by the quality of our troops."
Article and photos by Sergeant Todd Berry
