CANADIAN TODAY SPRING 2020 | VOL. 4 | ISSUE 1 THIS ISSUE • Interview: LGen Michael Rouleau • Op Unifier: Mission shift • NOREX: Arctic response • Confronting Ariana • Feeding JAWS • MSVS in Latvia • Gimme shelter • Fibit challenge Is your project FITE fit? The Future Integrated Training Environment CANADIAN GENERAL DYNAMICS IS DELIVERING TODAY THE BRIGADE AS A PLATFORM. IN THIS ISSUE THE BRIGADE AS A PLATFORM. SPRING 2020 | VOL. 4 | ISSUE 1 THEME 14 IS YOUR PROJECT FITE FIT? by Chris Thatcher How the Army’s vision for a Future Integrated Training Environment could affect most equipment projects and training programs. 22 REALISTIC EFFECTS by Ken Pole Considered the crown of FITE, the Weapons Effects Simulation midlife upgrade will be central to how the Army conducts live, virtual and constructive training. 26 CONFRONTING ARIANA by Ian Coutts In the Army’s largest computer-assisted exercise, contractors such as ADGA and Calian are critical to the reality of the brigade’s experience. 32 UNIVERSAL LESSONS by Chris Thatcher Even as warfare changes, staff officer courses remain resilient. But the Army Command and Staff College is adapting to technology and the possible implications of FITE. DEPARTMENTS 42 RESERVE FORCE by Allan Joyner NOREX 20: The demand for support to civilian agencies is increasing. NOREX validated the ability of an Arctic Response Company Group in a sub-Arctic scenario. 76 IN PROFILE by Ian Coutts Door gunner: Sgt Matthew Pagliaro trains 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron’s door gunners. He explains the role, the new specialist badge and working with the Royal Canadian Air Force. 79 SCIENCE & TECH by Katherine Banko, Peter Gizewski and George Nikolakakos Climate adaptation: As the Army responds to more floods, fires and other natural disasters, strategies are being identified to help it prepare for climate change. 82 ON THE HORIZON Testing future soldier tech: Last fall, defence scientists gathered soldier feedback on laser aiming devices, laser rangefinders and cognitive workload. VISIT gdmissionsystems.ca/land On the Cover: gdmissionsystems.ca/land A candidate on the Combat Diver Course emerges from the water after a TO SEE HOW. helocast on George Lake at 5th Canadian TO SEE HOW. Division Support Base Gagetown in October. Photo: Cpl Genevieve Lapointe [email protected] [email protected] CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2020 3 ST Land Systems_Bronco 3 Canadian Army Print Ad Mar 2020_FA Path_HR.pdf 1 4/3/20 2:57 PM CANADIAN TODAY IN THIS ISSUE SPRING 2020 | VOL. 4 | ISSUE 1 FEATURES 36 MANOEUVRE IN THE INFO DOMAIN by Chris Thatcher The Canadian Armed Forces faces a constant battle in the information domain. LGen Michael Rouleau explains what that means for a force employer like Canadian Joint Operations Command. 46 FEEDING JAWS by Chris Thatcher How a data-gathering exercise by DRDC scientists could fuel artificial intelligence applications for Joint Fires and ISR modernization. 52 MENTOR AND ADVISE by Tim Dunne As the mission of Operation Unifier in Ukraine has shifted from teaching to mentoring and advising, professionalizing the NCO corps is a key focus. 56 GEMME SHELTER by Richard Bray The Army has just started taking possession of a new Headquarters Shelter System, but already it’s setting a new standard for deployability in any environment. C 60 COMBAT LOGISTICS by Chris Thatcher M With its first overseas deployment in Latvia, the MSVS-SMP truck is marking a key milestone on its road into service. Y 64 HEAVY LOAD by Ken Pole CM MY They may just be bulldozers, backhoes and excavators, but replacing them has become a complex, Forces-wide megaproject. CY 66 THE AGILE EIGHT by Allan Joyner and Chris Thatcher CMY With the M113 and LAV II Bison combat support fleets at the end of the road, the Army is leveraging K the versatile LAV 6.0 for eight replacement variants. 70 FUTURE FIRE by Ian Coutts As the artillery begins preliminary planning for what replaces its current guns, ammunition will be the real weapon in future indirect fire systems. 72 MAKING A MORTAR PLATOON by Allan Joyner When two units of 41 Canadian Brigade Group were tasked with standing up a mortar platoon, the mission task included preparing for their first operational deployment with the new capability. 74 FIGHTING FIT by Andrew McLaughlin What one Army Reserve unit is learning by integrating the ubiquitous Fitbit device into their training. 4 CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2020 CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2020 5 CANADIAN CANADIAN TODAY TODAY EDITOR’S NOTE CONTRIBUTORS As this issue went to press, the coronavirus had Publisher & Editor: Christopher Thatcher upended the lives of millions of Canadians. Health Contributing Editor: Ken Pole authorities were urging the general population to Contributing Editor: Ian Coutts adopt self-isolation and struggling to contain a Contributing Editor: Allan Joyner pandemic. Contributing Writers: Richard Bray, Tim Dunne, Katherine Banko, Across the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), Peter Gizewski, George Nikolakakos, Andrew McLaughlin members in non-essential positions were banned Photographers: Allan Joyner, Daniel Rogall from travelling and were working from home. Contributing Photographers: Pte Jordyn R. Anderson, Cpl Ken Beliwicz, Steven Contingency planning was also well under way Berry, Pte Jessica Blackburn, MCpl Malcolm Byers, Cpl François Charest, Cpl for what might be required next. Jeffrey Clement, MCpl Gerald Cormier, Cpl Julia Currie, MCpl Jennifer Evans, In the weeks before, CAF health services and others had been at the forefront Avr Melissa Gloude, Capt Cynthia Kent, Pte Robert Kingerski, Cpl Stéphanie of an initial response to the COVID-19 outbreak, establishing a quarantine site Labossière, Cpl Genevieve Lapointe, Sgt Jean-Francois Lauzé, Avr Jérôme J.X. for passengers airlifted from Wuhan, China, the epicentre of the outbreak. Lessard, MCpl PJ Létourneau, Cpl Brandon James Liddy, Cpl Ian Miller, Pte Whatever else is asked of the CAF, response to domestic emergencies is Sarah Morley, OS Jeremy Morris, Cpl Ryan Moulton, Cpl Myki Poirier-Joyal, a role the Force is increasingly prepared to do. According to the Chief of the MCpl Charles A. Stephen, Capt Chris Tucker, MCpl Kurt Visser, Cpl Djalma Defence Staff, there has been a 1,000 percent increase in domestic deployments Vuong-De Ramos, Cpl Brett White-Finkle in recent years. “The CAF must have the capabilities to maintain resilience as Content Coordination: Directorate of Army Public Affairs a nation,” he said. Graphic Design: Stoneway Creative Inc. That would not be possible without a robust Reserve Force. Web Development: Wavelength Media In the Fall issue, we shared the story of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Social Media: Allan Joyner Productions Regiment’s (1 RCR) response to Op Lentus in Constance Bay, Ont., by all Advertising: Christopher Thatcher accounts a model for how an Immediate Response Unit (IRU) should marshal resources to support overwhelmed civilian agencies trying to cope with flooding. CONTACT US The article, however, did not include the vital role of the Reserves who proved LOOKING FOR MORE? essential to mission success. As Major Adam MacInnis, the commanding officer We welcome article ideas and feedback. of Bravo Company of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, told us, “this was Phone: 613-983-8141 a great example of the Regular and Reserve Forces coming together in a Email: [email protected] Visit Canadian Army Today online combined effort to assist the Ottawa Region with disaster relief.” Mail: 300 Greenbank Road, Unit 2, Ottawa, ON, K2H 0B6 MacInnis, the officer commanding for 31 Domestic Response Company (DRC), Web: www.canadianarmytoday.com The only magazine dedicated to covering the Canadian Army. had over 160 soldiers deployed to Ottawa within 24 hours of receiving the notice to prepare to support 1 RCR. Find news, features, videos, photos and more. “As Reservists, we are not on the same IRU standby status as the Regular FOLLOW US Force and a lot of Reservists were able to gain extremely short notice leaves of absence from their employers, schools and families to support the disaster relief effort,” he wrote. “This civilian support to grant soldiers time off (especially on such short notice) sometimes goes overlooked, yet is critical to operational CdnArmyToday @CdnArmyToday success and supporting fellow Canadians in their time of need.” Added LCol Gord Scharf, the commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders SUBSCRIPTIONS of Ottawa and commander of 33 DRC: “[We] had over 165 soldiers on the ground helping stabilize the situation in Cumberland. We also were the lead [email protected] canadianarmytoday.com in addressing the critical situation at the Lemieux Water Facility, which provides Canadian Army Today is published by Cremona Ink over 50 percent of the freshwater supply to Ottawa.” ISSN 2561-584X (Print) • ISSN 2561-5858 (Online) The role of the Reserves should never be underestimated or overlooked. Canadian Army Today is an independent publication and does not represent the views of the Canadian Army, the Canadian Armed Forces or the Department of National Defence. Editorial does not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. All material published remains the copyright of Cremona Ink. No part of this publication may be Chris Thatcher, Editor reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher. CanadianArmyMag CdnArmyMag CanadianArmyToday Printed in Canada. Publication Mail Agreement Number: 43470516 Photo: Canadian Forces Combat Camera 6 CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2020 CANADIAN ARMY TODAY | SPRING 2020 7 BRIEFING ARMY INCREASES COLT C6 ORDER The $96 million order from Colt anticipated for late-2020. armaments, but slaved to the same Canada under the Munitions Supply The C6A1 FLEX ( exible) features sighting system and with a different Program follows a 2017 contract a durable polymer butt stock rather loading mechanism. award for 1,148 machine guns, and than the current wooden style, In interviews last fall, Gendron includes related equipment such as M1913 picatinny rails for pointing and procurement of cials said the a cleaning and repair kit, spare parts, devices and optical sighting systems, requirements included “sniper- and carrying slings.