Tim Hortons Brier
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1947 - 2017 Shilo Now you can shop Stag at home with WE WILL MATCH... CANEX.ca ADVERTISED PRICES ON ELECTRONICS, CAMERAS, Magasinez maintenant COMPUTERS & MAJOR APPLIANCES. DETAILS ARE AVAILABLE INSTORE OR ONLINE AT WWW.CANEX.CA Your source for Army news in Manitoba à partir de la maison Volume 58 Issue 5 Serving Shilo, Sprucewoods & Douglas since 1947 March 7, 2019 INSIDE This Issue CA trains Latvians using new artillery. Page 2 TIM HORTONS BRIER Popcorn, pizza served to Base volunteers. Page 4 Army helps with rare owls It was military appreciation day March 4 at the Tim Hortons Brier held at Westoba Place. Team Canada skip Brad Gushue takes aim at CFB Suffi eld. Page 8 (top) with his rock during the 7 p.m. draw. Canadian Army mascot Juno takes a selfi e with a Tim Hortons staffer outside the venue, where free coffee was served to curling enthusiasts. For more photos, see page 6. Photos Jules Xavier/Shilo Stag 2 Shilo Stag CELEBRATING 72 YEARS PROVIDING ARMY NEWS March 7, 2019 CA gunners train Latvians on newly acquired M109 self-propelled howitzers Aviator Jerome Lessard those skills. Stag Special Students de-confl icted indirect fi res on the map with things like close air support and unmanned Ādaži, Latvia – The Latvian aerial vehicles, ensuring all fi res Army received a huge boost in were safe and properly coordinat- indirect fi re capability when it re- ed. ceived its fi nal M109 self-propelled They were also tasked with de- howitzer last fall. veloping fi res plans in support of Recently, with some help from the commander’s intent and inte- the Canadian Army (CA), it has grating them into the manoeuvre been developing its ability to use plan to ensure the success of the this powerful tool to defend Latvia. overall mission. The close work between the Roy- “Our objective here was to assist al Canadian Artillery (RCA) school in the development of the Latvian and the Latvian National Armed indirect fi re capability, by train- Forces has gone further than help- ing gun line tactics, techniques ing develop Latvia’s indirect fi re and procedures, and the planning capability. This strong bilateral and coordination of fi res within an effort has increased the interoper- FSCC,” explained Maj Cutting. ability between these two NATO He added, “The courses lever- allies — a key factor in defending aged our experience to provide a Latvia and deterring aggression. progressive training environment. The Latvian Army acquired 47 We taught them ways to support of the howitzers from Austria as a brigade on operations through a result of a bilateral agreement the de-confl iction and integration between the two nations in April of fi res, as well as moving and sus- 2017. The last one was received taining the individual fi ring units last October. These howitzers aug- Gunners from the Latvian National Armed Forces’ Combat Support Battalion Fire Company par- ticipate in a bilateral dry-fi re artillery exercise featuring one of Latvia’s self-propelled M109 155 as part of the overall fi res plan.” ment the Latvian Army’s existing Maj Cutting spoke highly of the mm howitzers in Ādaži, Latvia last November. The day of training aimed at developing the Lat- indirect fi re capability provided by students’ soldier skills. He said 81mm and 120mm mortars. vians’ indirect fi re capability and was overseen by MWO James Aucoin, Sergeant Major of the he was impressed with their out- With the arrival of this indirect Mobile Training Team from the Royal Canadian Artillery School at 5th Canadian Division Support standing detachment-level drills, fi re capability came the need to Base Gagetown. This photo has been digitally altered for operational security. even prior to training them fur- develop and refi ne the tactics, tech- Photo Aviator Jérôme Lessard/Task Force Latvia HQ ther towards operating as a bigger niques and procedures to employ team. the self-propelled howitzer in an the autumn of 2018. “For the gun line course, our job all-arms defence, and to integrate their fi res at the bri- The training was based on the Canadian Armed Forc- was to help them bring it from a detachment to a troop gade level. es’ (CAF) Gun Area Troop Sergeant Major, Battery Ser- and battery level, as well as give them some exposure to For the last three months of 2018, a Mobile Training geant Major and the Fire Support Coordination Centre sustainment,” said Maj Cutting. Team from the RCA school at 5 Div’s CSB Gagetown (FSCC) Warrant Offi cer courses. “Our goal was to show them how to conduct rapid shared their artillery experience with Latvian artillery As part of the FSCC course, eight students took turns troop and battery deployments to ensure that manoeu- soldiers during two courses taught in Ādaži that aimed during a command-post exercise in which they each vre units receive the fi re support they need while miti- to help them develop their ability to use this new tool. played key roles. They started with theoretical lectures, gating the threat of counter-battery fi re.” Maj Craig Cutting, Capt Matt Stickland, MWO James and built on them through practical training with the Aucoin and WO Jason Williams took 2Lt Edgards Eglitis guns, reinforcing lessons learned and further developing and his troops through two concurrent 35-day courses in See MWO page 3 Pet of the Week Pet of the Week ARIES Pet of the Week Corey Morton says his family pet Aries is a playful Petcompanion. Ariesof likes to the Week run, and toss snow. She may destroy her toys, but she will be sure to save the squeaker. Do you have a photo of your pet — cat, dog, PEACEFUL VALLEY PET CREMATORIUM bird, snake, hamster — you’d like to share with our Stag Pet “Aof treasured the memorial Week for readers? If so, e-mail it to us via [email protected] your cherished pet.” www.peacefulvalleypetcrematorium.com Pet of the Karen & Rob Gardiner Pet of the204-748-3101 Week • Virden March 7, 2019 CELEBRATING 72 YEARS PROVIDING ARMY NEWS Shilo Stag 3 MWO James Aucoin (above), Sergeant Major of the Mobile Train- ing Team from the Royal Canadian Artillery School at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown oversees a group of gunners from the Latvian National Armed Forces during a dry-fire artillery exercise featuring the Latvians’ self-propelled M109 155 mm how- itzer, in Ādaži, Latvia this past November. The training day aimed at developing the Latvians’ indirect fire capability. Photos have been digitally altered for operational security. Photo Aviator Jérôme Lessard/Task Force Latvia HQ CFB Shilo’s Military Family Resource Centre MWO no stranger to M109 is looking to fill the following position: Veteran Family Program Co-ordinator shares his gun expertise Under the direction of the executive director, this position provides support to medically releasing Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, medically released veterans and their families as they transition to post-service life. You will be re- From page 2 sponsible for developing and co-ordinating the Veteran Family Program. Responsibilities Include: Following a series of lectures and studies of Canada’s artillery operations and stan- • Assist medically releasing CAF members, medically released veterans, and dard operating procedures, the time soon came for 2Lt Eglitis and other members of their families in their navigation of, and access to, relevant community programs the Latvian Combat Support Battalion Fire Company to train in the field with the new- and services, facilitate referrals to appropriate agencies/organizations as needed; ly acquired howitzers. • Initiate and maintain partnerships with military units, civilian community Last November, MWO Aucoin saw them deploy two of the howitzers to chew up the agencies/ stakeholders, provincial and federal organizations related to program sandy grounds of Ādaži’s training areas during a day of dry-fire — without ammuni- services; tion — and reconnaissance-based training. • Collaborate on the co-ordination and provision of general information briefs “We were there for about three months to assist the Latvian Army and support them for chain of command, CAF and VAC personnel and community agencies and while they went through the development of some of their tactics and capabilities, partners. particularly in regards to sustainment and deployment with the M109 howitzer,” said Desired Knowledge, Experience and Education: MWO Aucoin. • Undergraduate degree in psychology or social work is preferred. Other social In the past, the Latvian Army had other howitzers, but not-self-propelled ones, and science degrees or social service diploma had not used them in the capacity that the CAF had used them until 2005. with relevant experience may be consid- “Years ago when [the Canadian Army] used to employ the M109s we had a constant ered; supply system that was running all the time,” added MWO Aucoin. • Minimum of two years of recent and rel- “The howitzer operators never had to worry about replenishment or ammunition evant client contact experience; because it was always being taken care of through every step of the supply chain, • Ability to assess individual and family starting with the battery echelon. That’s the piece that [the Latvian Army] were really needs and provide appropriate information looking forward to developing.” and referral services; During dry-fire training, Latvian artillery soldiers focused on the basics. From rapid • Demonstrated ability to deal with both deployment of the M109s and scouting suitable gun positions to live-firing procedures, confidential and sensitive information in a 2Lt Eglitis and his team have learned the skills to operate a standard Latvian battery professional and tactful manner; of eight M109 howitzers.