Ex STRONG CONTENDER drives camaraderie
February 23, 2023 - Tim Bryant, Western Sentinel
After a two‑year absence, Exercise STRONG CONTENDER returned to 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton this year.
Running from Feb. 13 to 17, the exercise brought together all the units within 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG), as well as 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, to compete against each other in various sports. At the end of the week, bragging rights and pennants were handed out to those who emerged at the top of the pile.
“To have this back right now is a big plus,” said Colonel Phil Bourque, Commander 1 CMBG.
The brigade currently has troops in myriad places around the globe, he explained, and the troops taking part in Ex STRONG CONTENDER include those who have already been deployed overseas, have just returned, or are members of “the home team.”
“For them to get together and to do this is amazing,” Col Bourque said.
A large component of Ex STRONG CONTENDER is building camaraderie amongst the troops. It’s a sentiment emphasized by the participation of the two Shilo, Man.‑based units—2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery—that do not visit Edmonton on a regular basis.
“They’re here now to compete with us,” Col Bourque said. “From a brigade perspective it’s a big exercise in cohesion.”
Among the soldiers competing in Ex STRONG CONTENDER was Master Corporal Colin Vanthournout with Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians), who agreed the exercise is integral to brigade unity.
“I think it’s super important as a brigade … to come together once a year to show some esprit de corps within the units and show off that competitive nature that is within the Canadian Armed Forces,” he said.
Robert Schwartz, 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Imaging
MCpl Cass Moon, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs
MCpl Cass Moon, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs
Speaking after his unit won its semifinal match in the volleyball tournament, MCpl Vanthournout said it “depends who you’re asking” whether the results in whichever sport you’re playing ultimately matter.
“Everybody’s just happy to get out and get on the floor and have some fun,” he said.
However, when looking at the volleyball tournament in particular, he had his eyes on the prize.
“This year it matters a lot to us because we think we’ve got the team that can win it.”
Col Bourque acknowledged the different opinions on whether winning or losing during Ex STRONG CONTENDER is important.
“It matters a lot to the soldiers right now,” he said. “[But] to me as a commander … they’ll get so much out of this that it doesn’t matter who wins and who loses – it’s the whole experience that everyone benefits from.”
Those benefits also include simply giving the troops a break and a distraction. Often soldiers get into a rhythm of deploying, training and coming back from training, Col Bourque said. Ex STRONG CONTENDER helps to break that up and offer soldiers a different kind of obstacle to overcome.
“Having challenges like this just improves the whole experience for a soldier,” he said.
As brigade commander, Col Bourque took time during the week to take in some of action. He said some of the highlights he took away from the exercise included the variety of athletes competing, both in terms of where they were from and their age from younger soldiers to veterans. He was also impressed by some of the personal bests he saw the troops achieve.
“Many troops hit their personal record because of the venue,” he said, singling out one soldier who deadlifted 727 lb. “It just shows how much the venue gets soldiers to challenge themselves and to push themselves.
“I get a lot out of that.”
Overall results
Powerlifting
- 1 Service Battalion
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron
Tactical Athlete
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
Volleyball
- Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
- 1 Service Battalion
- 1 Combat Engineer Regiment
Indoor Soccer
- Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
Ice Hockey
- 1 Service Battalion
- Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
Grappling
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- 1 Service Battalion
Aggregate champion
- 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry
- 1 Service Battalion
- Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians)
Robert Schwartz, 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Edmonton Imaging
Capt Ryan Bartlette, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer
Capt Ryan Bartlette, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer
MCpl Cass Moon, 3rd Canadian Division Public Affairs