Vanguard Magazine

by Capt. Graham kallos Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre Public Affairs D DEfEnCE www.vanguardcanada.com DeCeMBer 2016/JANUArY 2017 35 w ainwright and Novem- ber. Two words that, when uttered to a mem- ber of the Canadian Army, will usually result in a long-distance stare and a grimace. The fourth annual Canadian Patrol Concentration took place from Novem- ber 18 to 27, 2016 where 26 teams, each comprising of eight soldiers, were de- ployed to the Wainwright Training Area in order to participate in a grueling test of their ability to conduct a patrol behind simulated enemy lines for up to 48 hours – all while being hunted by fellow Cana- dian Army soldiers playing the role of an enemy force. Chief Warrant Officer Michael Forest, a Canadian Army Infantry soldier with over 26 years of service, including multiple international deployments, is currently serving as the Sergeant Major for the Op- erations Group of the Canadian Manoeu- vre Training Centre. He defines a patrol as "a detachment sent out from a unit to perform an as- signed mission of reconnaissance or com- bat, or a combination of both. Patrols vary in size from as little as three personnel up to a company in strength. Patrolling is carried out by day and by night, in all types of operations." This provided the opportunity for Cana- dian Army soldiers to operate in all forms of terrain, some of which cause issues for military vehicles, so they must be capable of operating independently of their unit, and on foot. "Mountains, the Arctic, and other such environments can cause barriers to mobil- ity, as well as logistical issues for resupply and medevac for deployed units," said CWO Forest. "The Canadian Patrol Con- centration provides an opportunity for soldiers, be they from the Infantry or one of the affiliated Combat Arms enablers, to test the skills required to conduct a patrol with minimal mechanized support." Located in a remote area of eastern Al- berta, the Wainwright Training Area mea- sures over 600 km² and contains all the elements required to make it a challeng- ing area in which to navigate and oper- ate. From terrain that varies significantly in elevation, vegetation, and moisture, to the unpredictable seasonal weather pat- terns that come with being in the Canadian Prairies, the Wainwright Training Area pro- vided an exceptional venue for testing the mettle of the 2016 Canadian Patrol Con- centration participants. Participants were scored on their ability to conduct the battle procedure, issue or- ders, how they carry out their insertion into "enemy territory," and how they overcome challenging tests placed along their patrol route. Once stressors such as time restric- tions, weather and terrain were added, the basic tasks that they carried out while on their roughly 35 km patrol became that much harder. "This patrol concentration is designed to be tough. Without the use of GPS, partici- pants need to deal with obstacle crossings, reconnoitre an objective, conduct meet- ing engagements with friendly and enemy forces, engage with direct and indirect fire and administer first aid and manage casual- ty extraction," stated CWO Forest. "They need to rely on discipline, camouflage and concealment, security, basic field skills and communications – all of which are essential building blocks that every Canadian Army soldier should be good at." The typical rank-spread of a patrol ranges from Private to Sergeant. The experiences gained from working through the Cana- dian Patrol Concentration as a team will pay dividends down the road with partici- pants returning to their home units better soldiers for having participated in the con- centration. "Some of the key leadership skills we wish our Non-Commissioned Members to possess were challenged throughout the concentration. Motivating, guiding, mak- ing smart decisions despite being tired, cold, and hungry, challenged the forti- tude of every member of the patrol," said CWO Forest. "I have learned that if you are able to be strong in body, mind, and spirit, you will be able to push through the adversity. Canadian PaTrol ConCenTraTion puts soldiers' skills to the test

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