CFB WAINWRIGHT, Alberta – Soldiers preparing to deploy to Afghanistan demand realism in training and the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre (CMTC) delivers. Since April of 2006 CMTC has provided each deploying Task Force with the important last steps in training and validation of collective skills.
Canadian soldiers have always been held in high regard by our allies, and with our continued successes in Afghanistan they are beginning to look at our training methods.
One aspect of our training being studied is the CMTC experience. "I've had numerous comments from Canadian and NATO commanders on the scope and scale of the training that we do here," said Colonel Craig King, Commanding Officer of CMTC. "What they seem to be struck most about is the amount of progress that we've made in a very short period of time."
The two main bases in Afghanistan, Kandahar Airfield and Camp Nathan Smith, have been replicated in Wainwright along with some of the Forward Operating Bases. Living conditions and training scenarios are as close as possible to what the soldiers will experience overseas. Afghan Canadians are employed to portray villagers and other 'players' and are joined by another group of civilians and soldiers portraying many of the other personnel that members of the Task Force will encounter while deployed.
Col King believes the realism of training allows soldiers to be more prepared to do their jobs in the environment of Afghanistan. "The exercises run here are designed to give soldiers the opportunity to experience the kinds of things they'll be seeing when they deploy to Afghanistan, and give them an opportunity to effectively play out here what they are going to live in their mission area."
An Afghan National Army (ANA) commander in Wainwright to study Canadian Army training methods will apply some lessons learned to training ANA soldiers in Afghanistan. "What I've seen of the training centre here has really impressed me," said Colonel Abdul Basir, Commander of the 1st Brigade, 205 Corps, in Kandahar. "The exercises provide very realistic simulations of the fighting in Kandahar Province, and how to fight terrorism. It's good that soldiers also have the opportunity to learn something of our culture." Col Basir concluded. "I have also seen lot of good lessons here that will help our soldiers work well together as they continue to conduct operations side by side in Kandahar Province."
Canada produces professionally competent soldiers in a way that has drawn the attention of other nations. Comments supporting that premise are consistently heard in passing by our soldiers serving overseas. Our soldiers are world class; our allies confirm it. But, a few good words from other professional soldiers are always welcome. LCol James Mingo, Senior Reconnaissance Trainer at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin California, was proud to say, "Having seen what I've seen of the soldiers here, I would feel very confident in fighting alongside with the Canadian Forces."
Article and photos by Sgt Dennis Power, Army News Shilo
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