Towards High Readiness

News Release

The Minister of National Defence visits Canadian Armed Forces troops

29 May 2015 - Ottawa Department of National Defence

Today, during a visit to Wainwright Garrison in Alberta, Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence, met and observed troops from 2 Canadian Division as they conducted a live fire exercise.

During his visit, Mr Kenney was able to watch a combat team of roughly 350 members of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group take part in Exercise Reflexe Rapide. This live-fire exercise, held following Exercise Maple Resolve, is the last stage in the training that a task force must undergo to be certified ready for possible deployment.

Quick Facts

Exercise Reflexe Rapide, held from 23 May to 5 June 2015, is a company group manœuvres and live-fire exercise that brings together core combat capabilities, including infantry, armour, artillery and field engineering.
Exercise Reflexe Rapide is the third in a series of exercises that earlier involved Exercises Maple Caravan and Maple Resolve. Together, these exercises are designed to confirm the operational capacity of 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group should the Government of Canada deploy it on a mission within the coming year.
Exercise Maple Resolve, the largest annual exercise of the Canadian Army, represents the culmination of the training leading to Army high readiness. This year, Exercise Maple Resolve took place in an environment of international interoperability and involved some 6,750 military personnel, including 1,000 allied troops from the US, France and Britain.
Exercise Maple Caravan is the first nation-wide Canadian military logistics exercise. It involved some 60 American tractor trailers and two Canadian National trains making a return trip between Québec and Alberta to transport the Canadian military vehicles required for exercises Maple Resolve and Reflexe Rapide, travelling roughly 4,000 km.
This task force is specifically designed to direct or carry out major operations within Canada or abroad over an extended period, and to conduct high-intensity missions across the full spectrum of operations. It comprises some 2,000 military personnel drawn primarily from 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group.

Quotes

“The high readiness of troops is an integral part of the Canadian Armed Forces mandate. I was glad to be able to witness the outstanding work done by our troops and their dedication to the service of Canada.”
Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence

“Exercises Reflexe Rapide and Maple Resolve 2015 are designed to confirm the operational readiness of our troops and the Canadian Army’s commitment to generating and maintaining well-trained, well-equipped and well-led units ready at all times to fulfill the requests of the Government of Canada.”
Lieutenant-General Marquis Hainse, Commander of the Canadian Army

“2 Canadian Division is now ready to meet the challenges that await it over the coming year, irrespective of the geographical, climatic or environmental conditions that its members might face.”
Brigadier-General Stéphane Lafaut, Commander 2 Canadian Division and Joint Task Force (East)

Canadian Army Links

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Resource Persons

Lauren Armstrong
Office of the Minister of National Defence
613-996-3100
lauren.armstrong2@forces.gc.ca

Media Relations

Department of National Defence
Telephone: 613-996-2353
Tool-free: 1‑866‑377-0811
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