Exercise WESTERN DEFENDER 2013

Soliders on exercise

To foster a competitive environment, each brigade will be training and assessed in separate locations at the same time.

Soldiers conducting patrolling, walking through the field

Ex WD is comprised of five scored events: Destroy an Enemy Observation Post; Execute an Ambush; Attack on Enemy Patrol Base; Fighting Patrol/Block; and Execute Administration.

Daily Updates

Exercise WESTERN DEFENDER  (Ex WD)is 3rd Canadian Division's first patrolling competition, which includes offensive operations testing soldiers’ war fighting skills within a contemporary operating environment.

Approximately 1,000 Primary Reserve soldiers are participating in Ex WD from August 24th to 29th, 2013.

This six-day infantry focused patrolling competition is being simultaneously conducted in three separate locations in western Canada:

  • Chilcotin, BC under the name COUGAR DEFENDER, with soldiers from 39 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG);
  • Wainwright, AB under the name GRIZZLY DEFENDER, with soldiers from 41 CBG; and
  • Shilo, MB under the names BISON DEFENDER, with soldiers from 38 CBG.

Exercise GUNNER DEFENDER, which falls under the Ex WD umbrella is also occurring in Shilo during the same time frame, however it not part of the infantry patrolling competition; rather it is a live-fire artillery exercise. 

What’s New This Year

During previous WD exercises, soldiers from the three separate CBGs trained together in one location to have their skills challenged but were not scored on performance. The new exercise format has been specifically designed to foster a competitive environment within each CBG.

Soldiers are evaluated against set criteria that assess basic soldier and leadership skills in an austere and challenging environment. Evaluated performance will result in selection and awarding of a top platoon within each CBG.

Scored Events

Ex WD is comprised of five scored events:

  1. Destroy an Enemy Observation Post;
  2. Execute an Ambush;
  3. Attack on Enemy Patrol Base;
  4. Fighting Patrol/Block; and
  5. Execute Administration.

Structure

  • Ex COUGAR DEFENDER has approximately 300 soldiers participating, broken down into four platoons.
  • Ex GRIZZLY DEFENDER has approximately 250 soldiers participating, broken down into three platoons.
  • Ex BISON DEFENDER has approximately 250 soldiers participating, broken down into three platoons.