The training took place outside the military bases in areas where civilians live. This approach makes exercises more realistic and pushes soldiers out of their comfort zone.
Even the firefighters from the town of North Hatley took part in a scenario, which called for them to respond to a fictitious bus fire, an incident that resulted in one casualty. After treating the injured person, the firefighters handed him over to the paramedics for evacuation.
The more interesting the training the more participants
“Last year on the same date, we attracted 455 participants,” said Second Lieutenant Laurent Verville-Labbé, commander of C Platoon, Le Régiment de la Chaudière.“The participation rate is climbing exponentially because the exercises go beyond normal doctrine. We look for scenarios that are unfamiliar, ways of dealing with the enemy, of negotiating terrain we never get to see. All of this to say that the participants, thrilled with the challenge facing the PTAs, keep coming back and demanding more.”
Assault on mine
A member of the Fusiliers de Sherbrooke who had entered the Capelton Mine. The assault was two pronged. To begin with, a company advanced towards the mine to eliminate the enemy presence in the surrounding area and create a security cordon at the entrance. Then a second company, equipped with chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear protective equipment, stormed the mine to dislodge the last pockets of enemy resistance.
IEDs and simulated casualties
Improvised explosive devices (IED) planted around the mine and a number of simulated casualties with graphic make-up added realism to the operation. The casualties were treated and evacuated while the attack on the mine was still going on. The soldiers who entered the mine had to be decontaminated one by one by 5 Service Battalion (5 Svc Bn).“This was the reservists’ first experience with a real decontamination situation,” noted Lieutenant Geneviève Hardy, platoon commander with 5 Svc Bn Supply Company.
“Today they had the chance to visit the decontamination lines and see for the first time what goes on there.”
Article by MCpl Jean-Nicolas Minville, reporter, Army News
Photos by Cpl Isabelle Provost, photographer, 35 CBG
