March 2012 The Brigade Soldiers take on the Arctic Exercise Arctic Ram Ceremonial and Community Deployments Training Honours and Awards BISON WARRIOR 12 The Brigade Editor-in-chief Col Nic Stanton Articles appearing in The Brigade reflect the opinions of the writer and are Editor Lt Donna Riguidel not necessarily those of 38 Canadian Brigade Group. For submission or Layout design Daniella Ponticelli letters to the editor please send to [email protected] Check out, Cover photo Daniella Ponticelli and bookmark our 38 CBG Website http://www.army.gc.ca/38cbg/ 38 CBG Commander’s Message As we enter the busiest part of the year with our collective training events at the unit and formation level, I would like to recognize every leader and soldier in the Brigade for demonstrating significant dedication in supporting these events, and sincerely thank you for your efforts. In particular, our very own ARCG successfully participated in Ex Arctic Ram and performed well as an integral part of 1 CMBG. The future continues to be bright and challenging for our ARCG troops, and the company will now re-role as a Domestic Response Company (DRC) in preparation for whatever Mother Nature brings us this spring. With regards to DRC’s, the Sgt- Maj and I were once again impressed with the response to our alert recall practice where more than 240 soldiers reported to their respective armouries, to exercise our initial DRC response. I am confident that should our communities call for our help in a time of need, the leaders and soldiers of 38 CBG will be there to assist. We have just completed our first (in many years) Professional Development weekend (16 - 18 March) where our leadership gathered for some great briefs and more importantly an opportunity to engage their peer groups. Running in parallel was our skill-at-arms competition with teams from each unit competing for the T. Eaton Cup; the LSSR team being the victor for this year, with 26 Field Regiment coming in second. Our main upcoming event is Ex Bison Warrior, 27 April - 6 May in Shilo, which will allow us to round out our training and practice what we have developed throughout the year. The first part of the exercise will see each corps exercise their skills sets in live and dry environments, following which everyone will move into a combined arms environment for the final phase. Your leadership at all levels has been engaged to ensure success of the exercise, however, we need everyone at all levels to get engaged and participate to really make this a good show. Following our main event we will be supporting the Royal Visit to Saskatchewan and providing the departure guard for the Royal couple. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to participate in such an event and I know our leaders and soldiers will get engaged and be on parade. As we enter the summer period, Individual Training will be the next challenge that we face, and I encourage everyone to engage their chain of command to seek summer employment and training opportunities. Tasks are out now and we are looking to fill our share of the Area and National Course tasks and train our soldiers. In closing I challenge every member of the Brigade to plug-in to our upcoming training events and also to engage their leadership to create and build challenging training environments. Progredere Ne Regredere Col Nic Stanton Commander 38 CBG 38 CBG Brigade Sergeant-Major’s Message WOW it has been very busy the last few months Master Corporal Chadwick and Bombardier Faulk who competed in the 34 Infantry Division Soldier of the Year Competition held in Fort Ripley Minnesota did well and have started a cross boarder rivalry that will be there for the years to come. Through some research this is the first time this has happened that a Canadian has competed in any of these types of events. So once again 38 Brigade is leading the way. Well done!!! Our Arctic Response Company Group went north to participate in the largest Exercise in Northern Canada to date a gruelling exercise that proved once again that soldiers from 38 Brigade can and will not stop until the job is done. With the winter serials of BMQ and collective training this Brigade proves to me that we step up to the plate and get the job done. With summer just around the corner The Brigade will have to switch gears and get ready for the Brigade Training Event that will be held from the 28 April until 6 May in Shilo Manitoba this will give our soldiers the opportunity for some very challenging training and a chance to hone their soldier skills. Once again the tasking bricks are out with the anticipation of summer IT being held in various locations across the country. Wainwright is offering Class B contracts for the summer right from the BTE through until the end of Aug and as an added bonus have put on some nice to have courses during breaks in courses. Ask your Chain of Command about these opportunities and pick your tasking. I will see you at the BTE in Shilo and Wainwright this summer A.J. (Al) Rishchynski 38 CBG Sgt-Maj MANITOBA’S ENVOY FOR MILITARY AFFAIRS BONNIE KORZENIOWSKI HAS RELOCATED BONNIE’S NEW LOCATION IS 2175 PORTAGE AVENUE To contact the office, call 204.888.7012 fax 204.0888.7346 [email protected] PRÉPARER POUR LA BATAILLE BISON WARRIOR PREPARE FOR BATTLE Exercise Bison Warrior 2012 by LCol Fraser - Ex Director From April 27th to May 6, 38 CBG will come together in For the first half of the exercise, every arm and service CFB Shilo for Ex Bison Warrior. This exercise is designed will be conducting their own training. The infantry will to be the culmination of the entire year’s training. Every conduct live jungle lanes and field firing. The armoured arm and service will get a chance to do their job in a field troops will conduct a long distance route recce through setting for an extended period of time. This will give all of southern Manitoba, and then move into the training area us a chance to do our jobs properly and in a realistic setting, to set up a screen and OP line. The Artillery will engage in fact, one of the key aims of Ex Bison Warrior is to give in a 105mm shoot followed by a 81mm mortar conversion everyone an opportunity to fully perform battle procedure at course. Engineers will be conducting hook and grapple all levels. training, as well as building and clearing obstacles. The signals soldiers will be setting up and moving the Battle With a whole range of dynamic activities for all participants, Group headquarters, as well as ensuring communications Bison Warrior should be an excellent opportunity for all of throughout the training area. The CSS units will be us to hone our skills, and for the newer soldiers to see our providing real-time support, as well as participating in such Brigade “Do it Right”. training as jungle lanes and rappelling. What will be different? The key phrases for the exercise For the second portion of the exercise, everyone will come probably indicate one major difference. “Prepare for Battle” together for a series of combined arms operations, with and “Doing it Right” are more than just slogans. For the every arm and service doing their parts, so essential to first time in years, the exercise is organized to ensure that modern warfare. Once again, the emphasis will be on sufficient time for battle procedure at all levels to be done making sure the soldiers on the ground have the time and properly has been included throughout. The main effort opportunity to do things right. Everything is geared toward of the Observer /Controller Teams (OCTs) for the exercise the troops and platoons, not the higher headquarters. will be to ensure that every soldier on the exercise will have the chance to see Battle Procedure done right, and all major When it’s all said and done, Bison Warrior will have some of activities will have an opportunity to undertake multiple the same: good, hard training, and a chance for all of us to iterations, in order to fully bring home the right lessons to show what we can do. What will be different is that we’ll all us all. get a chance to make sure we can “Do it Right”. The next thing that will be different is that every arm and Prepare for battle! service will have an opportunity to practice their craft. The exercise has two phases. PRÉPARER POUR LA BATAILLE BISON WARRIOR PREPARE FOR BATTLE 2012 APRIL 27 AVRIL - MAY 6 MAI 2012 SHILO, MANITOBA WWW.ARMY.GC.CA/IAOL/143000440000230/INDEX-FRA.HTML WWW.ARMY.GC.CA/IAOL/143000440000230/INDEX-ENG.HTML PREPARE FOR2012 BATTLEWPO 30796.5 APRIL 27 AVRIL - MAY 6 MAI 2012 SHILO, MANITOBA WWW.ARMY.GC.CA/IAOL/143000440000230/INDEX-FRA.HTML WWW.ARMY.GC.CA/IAOL/143000440000230/INDEX-ENG.HTML PREPARE FOR BATTLEWPO 30796.5 PRÉPARER POUR LA BATAILLE BISON WARRIOR PREPARE FOR BATTLE 2012 APRIL 27 AVRIL - MAY 6 MAI 2012 SHILO, MANITOBA WWW.ARMY.GC.CA/IAOL/143000440000230/INDEX-FRA.HTML WWW.ARMY.GC.CA/IAOL/143000440000230/INDEX-ENG.HTML PREPARE FOR BATTLEWPO 30796.5 Up coming events: HCol Visits Day Change of 29 April 2012 Royal Visit to Saskatchewan 23 May 2012 Command WITG Change of Command The Saskatchewan Dragoons held a Change of Command 26 May 2012 ceremony at the LCol D.V.