Future Canadian Army Leaders Undertake Pivotal Training
News Release
November 10, 2016 – Oromocto, New Brunswick – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
More than 1,000 Canadian Army soldiers will participate in Exercise COMMON GROUND II at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown from November 12 to 26. This exercise brings together a number of individual training events into a single collective setting to give students a combined combat experience.
Exercise COMMON GROUND II successfully fulfills individual course assessment requirements for nine different career courses. Combining these final course activities exposes officers and non-commissioned members to combat team operations prior to returning to their home units. Conducting combined training events such as Exercise COMMON GROUND II is one way the Canadian Army ensures its members are well-trained and prepared to work as part of a larger team when on operations.
A combination of computer simulation, classroom, and practical instruction prepares the candidates to participate in this unique and comprehensive training experience. Exercise COMMON GROUND II validates the training received by the students of the Combat Training Centre in a challenging and realistic training environment while bringing together units and organizations from across the country.
Quotes
“As the centre of excellence for Army individual training, the Combat Training Centre plays a critical role in fulfilling the Army's mandate to generate combat-effective, multi-purpose land forces. The combined arms training that Exercise COMMON GROUND II provides is instrumental to ensuring that mandate is met and, in most cases, exceeded.”
— Colonel Craig Aitchison, Commander, Combat Training Centre
“The Army is, at its most basic level, a team: a team made up of Regular and Reserve members as well as civilians, all working toward the common goals of protecting Canadians and contributing to international peace and security. Exercise COMMON GROUND II is designed to conduct the training that makes those goals a reality."
— Lieutenant-Colonel Robbin Dove, Commanding Officer, Tactics School
Quick Facts
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Participation in Exercise COMMON GROUND II contributes to the operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Operational readiness allows the CAF to meet the likely tasks that the Government of Canada will assign.
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Exercise COMMON GROUND II contributes to Canadian Army readiness by exposing students to realistic scenarios using recently acquired skills.
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The units contributing to Exercise COMMON GROUND II include, but are not limited to: the schools and units of the Combat Training Centre; 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group from Valcartier, QC; the Royal Canadian Dragoons based in Gagetown, NB; and the 5th Canadian Division Support Group Gagetown, NB.
The schools and courses participating in Exercise COMMON GROUND II are:
Royal Canadian Armoured Corps School
- Squadron Sergeants Major Course
- Armoured Troop Leader Course
Infantry School
- Sniper Detachment Commander Course
- Advanced Sniper Course
- Infantry Officer Development Period Course
- Advanced Reconnaissance Patrolman Course
Tactics School
- Combat Team Commander's Course
- Dismounted Infantry Company Commander Course
- Armoured Reserve Squadron Commander Course
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Soldiers participate in Exercise COMMON GROUND II at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown, on November 14, 2015.
Photo Credit: Corporal Claude Arseneault, Tactics School, 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown
Associated Links
Canadian Army Links
- Canadian Army website
- Canadian Army on Facebook
- Canadian Army on Twitter
- Canadian Army on YouTube
- Canadian Army on Flickr
Contacts
Captain Ian McIntyre
Combat Training Centre Public Affairs
5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown
Phone: 506-260-3640
Email: Ian.McIntyre@forces.gc.ca
Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca
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