Canadian Army Conducts Simulated Exercise with U.S. Army in Washington

News Release

March 27, 2017 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

More than 150 members of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, from Edmonton, Alberta, will deploy to Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, Washington, to participate in Exercise SPECTRAL RAM. This is the Canadian Army’s contribution to the U.S. Army’s Exercise WARFIGHTER, a computer-assisted training event conducted at the Corps and Division level taking place from March 27 until April 13, 2017.

The aim of this exercise is to test readiness, responsiveness, and leadership skills in a variety of scenarios that simulate full-spectrum operations.

Additional multimedia

Indiana Army National Guard Colonel Bob Burke, 38th Infantry Division operations officer, U.S. Army Colonel; Jim Markert, III Corps operations officer; and Canadian Army Colonel Peter Dawe, 2nd Canadian Mechanized Brigade Force commander, discuss a wet gap crossing operation during exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2015, the Canadian Army’s participation on the U.S. Army’s exercise WARFIGHTER, at Camp Atterbury on January 10, 2015. Photo: Staff Sergeant Lorne Neff, 38th Infantry Division Public Affairs

Quotes

“Exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2017 is a valuable training opportunity for 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group. The U.S. Army is our closest ally and their hard-won combat experience at the division level and beyond afford us the opportunity not only to practice command and control, but to do so within a fully enabled higher-level context. We are using this opportunity to build cohesion in training prior to working together on the battlefield.” 

— Colonel Bill Fletcher, Commander, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group 

Quick Facts

  • Exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2017 provides a continuation training opportunity for the Canadian Army’s High Readiness Brigade headquarters. It strengthens its ability to deploy anywhere and at any time, while simultaneously gaining experience in working with the U.S. Army and enhancing their interoperability with a key ally.

  • Exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2017 allows participating soldiers an opportunity to hone their command and control techniques, as well as to enable information flow between subordinate and higher commands. 

  • During its time as the High Readiness Brigade this past year, members of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group have deployed in support of several international operations, including:

  • Operation UNIFIER – Canada’s contribution to support Ukrainian forces through capacity building;

  • Operation REASSURANCE – Canada’s support to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe; and

  • Operation IMPACT – the Canadian Armed Forces’ contribution to dismantle and ultimately defeat Daesh.

Associated Links

Contacts

Lieutenant (Navy) Jamie Tobin
Public Affairs Officer, Exercise SPECTRAL RAM 2017
Mobile: 902-441-3209
Email: Jamie.Tobin@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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