DESERT RAM - A Squadron

By: Cpl Hogemann and Tpr Wagner

 

Most soldiers will agree that when it comes to weather in CFB Suffield, nothing is out of the ordinary.  This was certainly the case on exercise DESERT RAM.  Due to heavy vehicles tearing up the roads and laneways, several areas had to be closed with the high levels of mud and water.  Small water features transformed into large lakes, making the training area even more challenging to manoeuvre.  The members of A Squadron saw this unique opportunity for training and seized it. They honed their driving, maintenance, and command skills through the ever-changing environment.  Often times, the PPCLI, our fellow brothers-in-arms, required heavier assistance to get them out of some of the tighter messes the training area had to offer.  

 

The Regiment’s maintainers were kept very busy, often being deployed in the middle of the night to provide recovery for a vehicle unable to conduct self recovery.  When not working on the tanks, A Squadron soldiers where presented with opportunities to work on their map skills.  The Squadron also plotted a Combat Team attack to a mock objective in order to see how the leaders of tomorrow would utilize all their assets.  Leading up to the live fire exercise, A Squadron spent the days doing maintenance, zeroing the 105mm guns, and driving around to sharpen their navigation skills.  The live fire exercise went off without a hitch.  Once again, the hard work and dedication of the soldiers resulted in very a successful training exercise.