Atlantic Army Reservists prepare to deploy for Canadian-led Multinational Brigade in Latvia
July 09, 2024 - Defence Stories
Author: Captain Lance Wade, 36 Canadian Brigade Group Public Affairs
Caption
36 CBG soldier conduct their final attack in an urban setting in order to be ready for the complex and asymmetrical battlespace during Ex STEADY ROBUR 24, 26 June, 2024. This training builds confidence in safe weapon handling, tactical driving skills, and builds trust in knowing your fireteam partner is as skilled as you are.
Photo credit: Capt Lance Wade, 36 Canadian Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer
Approximately, 40 soldiers from 36 Canadian Brigade Group have completed their validation training on Exercise STEADY ROBUR 24 at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown from 16 to 26 June, 2024. These reservists are part of the Force Protection Platoon, which has been given the green light to deploy on Operation REASSURANCE part of the Canadian-led multinational brigade in Latvia.
Given the complex and multidimensional nature of the current security environment, the tactics and training are based on lessons learned from Ukraine and will help them understand the asymmetrical battlespace which is currently unfolding in Russia’s illegal and unjustifiable full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Caption
Soldiers from 36 Canadian Brigade Group conduct their validation training as part of Exercise STEADY ROBUR 24 at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown from 16 – 26 June 24. Ex SR24 focused on level 2 – 3 collective training validation for the Force Protection Platoon, in order to support the expansion of NATO forward presence in EUROPE.
Photo credit: Capt Lance Wade, 36 Canadian Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer
“The tasks we’re getting on exercise are set to simulate what we will be doing in Latvia,” said Captain Cole MacEachern, from the The Prince Edward Island Regiment. “We are going through and conducting tasks such as; convoy escorts, vital point security, vehicle checkpoints, and different security tasks to protect Brigade assets such as; Drones, electronic warfare vehicles, and other intelligence collection groups.”
Op REASSURANCE is currently the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) largest overseas mission, through which the CAF contributes to NATO assurance and deterrence and defence measures in Central and Eastern Europe, it is the biggest reinforcement of Alliance collective defence since Afghanistan.
Caption
Soldiers from 36 Canadian Brigade Group conduct their validation training as part of Exercise STEADY ROBUR 24 at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown from 16 – 26 June 24. Ex SR24 focused on level 2 – 3 collective training validation for the Force Protection Platoon, in order to support the expansion of NATO forward presence in EUROPE.
Photo credit: Capt Lance Wade, 36 Canadian Brigade Group Public Affairs Officer
“I’m excited to go to Latvia,” said Corporal Aidan Hicks, from the Nova Scotia Highlanders. “It’s my first deployment, first time leaving the county, we get to lead the Brigade and also work with our NATO Allies and partners, this will give me a bunch of experience to bring back to my home unit and bring that experience back and share it with others who didn’t have the opportunity to deploy.”
“I feel highly privilege to be a platoon Commander going on Op REASSURANCE, it has always been a goal of mine to lead an organization on a deployment and I have a fantastic group of individuals going over with me and we are very excited to conduct the operation.” Said, Captain MacEachern.
Canada will complete the full implementation of persistently deployed Brigade capabilities to Latvia by 2026, at which point the Brigade will have up to 2,200 CAF members as part of the enhanced Forward Presence and supporting elements in Latvia.