This article appeared in the Jan. 13, 2011 issue of the Interlake Spectator…
Approximately 90 armed forces personnel from the Arctic Response Company Group (ARCG) spent much of their weekend in Gimli and Winnipeg Beach, with all of Saturday morning spent on the frozen surface of lake Winnipeg.
The group, composed mainly of reserve soldiers, set up a command post at the Gimli Air Field RCAC Hangars, Fri. Jan 7, deploying early the next morning onto the lake to practice tactics, techniques and procedures as a preamble to their upcoming mission in the north, such as techniques in movement and long range patrolling.
Capt. Ron Taylor, the main planning person for the exercise, called ‘Exercise Northern Bison 2011’, oversaw the training of personnel from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Ontario, many of whom have never experienced conditions that far north. The group will be taking part in a 300 km journey from Churchill, MB to Arviat, NU from Feb. 19 to 27, 2011.
“We are the cold weather specialists for the army right now,” said Taylor who appeared warm after many hours in the frigid temperatures. Taylor explained that forces personnel would be equipped to deal with events such as a major air disaster, or could conduct ground search and rescue operations as far north as the Arctic.
“We have all the equipment with us that we will be using in Churchill,” Taylor said.
Indeed, the soldiers were all equipped with standard issue C7A1 automatic rifles, held on their person by sturdy straps. The C7A1 is a gas operated weapon that is not always reliable in extreme cold conditions but which will be taken nonetheless on the northern mission as one means of protection. Shot guns, for close-up protection, and Lee Enfield 303 bolt action rifles for shooting large game, such as Polar Bears, will also be taken along with them. On last year’s mission, an opportunity to use one of these presented itself when a wolf was caught ‘stealing’ army rations.
Komatiks, long wooden sleds built by the company in Winnipeg last month, were brought along, as well as fiberglass sleds carrying enough gear (clothing, hygiene kits and extra ammunition) for eight people, and rations for 72 hours. Pressure cookers included in the gear heat meals of meat loaf and chicken breast in as little as 10 minutes. The gear also included sleep-10 tents, which they later set up at the Winnipeg Beach Recreation Area.
The ‘rugidized’ tents were designed with extreme cold in mind, with a tall central pole functioning better than a square structure, which could mean poles that snap in arctic temperatures that can fall as low as minus 60 degrees Celsius.
“It takes about 10 minutes to set up a tent,” said Taylor, “If it takes them any longer, they are not working hard enough”.
The soldiers continued setting up tents many minutes past the ten, but this was time for training.
Other soldiers put up a larger “Hot Tent”, which is able to retain heat as high as 20 degrees Celsius with its portable diesel Yukon stove, even at a minus 60 degree temperature outside. The “Hot Tent” is a ‘hospital in a box’ that will find a permanent home at the Forward Grounding Base Nunalla, on the Manitoba-Nunavit border. A crew of one doctor and six medics will be along for part of the journey.
