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.
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:
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.
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.
Ex WD is comprised of five scored events: