A SQN COMPLETES EX DYNAMIC DRAGOON
The Dragoons of A Sqn completed their first major milestone on the road to Afghanistan. On Friday 25 September 2009, Exercise DYNAMIC DRAGOON wrapped up with a Sqn BBQ in the Regimental Canteen.
Exercise DYNAMIC DRAGOON, a three part exercise taking place over the month of September was aimed at preparing the squadron to join the 1 RCR Battle Group at the end of October. The first part of the exercise was primarily aimed at the crew and patrol level. Soldiers were given the opportunity to deploy out to the training area under the control of their respective troop leadership in order to practice basic recce skills, both mounted and dismounted. The soldiers of A Sqn had a chance to conduct OP’s, tactical vehicle movement, dismounted patrolling and generally get re-acquainted with field living. SHQ was also given a chance to shake out the cobwebs and the brand spanking used squadron command post was deployed out to Boswick Trail mid-exercise under the control of the BC in order to practice teardown and set up procedures. A clear highlight of the weeks training was the opportunity the troops had to sit down for a haybox supper with the Bouthillier family and view the Tpr Jack Bouthillier Memorial Transport.
Week two of DYNAMIC DRAGOON saw the focus of training shift from the crew/patrol level to the troop level. In order to exercise battle procedure and give the troop leaders a chance to shake out their command and control skills each of the three troops was given a specific task as part of a Afghanistan based scenario. These included the establishment of OP screens, route recce’s and point recces as well as vital point security tasks. An SHQ controlled enemy force provided more realism to the training and allowed the troops to respond to various situations in a realistic manner. The scenario generated by the OC also provided the CP a chance to work through the best way to conduct CP operations in a dynamic environment a practice controlling the squadron as it conducted its operations. Week two of DYNAMIC DRAGOON also saw an early re-deployment of the squadron in order to ensure those participating in the IRONMAN had an opportunity to prepare for the competition as well as conduct much needed vehicle maintenance prior to an early stand down for the majority of the squadron who participated in the 2nd Annual Army Run in Ottawa.
The final week of DYNAMIC DRAGOON began with a Sqn level route security task aimed at shaking out the squadron in a complex operation in preparation for the real task of the week, a Combat Team level cordon and search being run by RHQ. In true Dragoon fashion, every effort was made by Regimental Ops to ensure that A Sqn received the best training possible and the troops were soon outfitted with Weapons Effects Simulation (WES) gear in order to make training as realistic as possible. The squadron also received a number of attachments for the operations including a recce platoon, an infantry platoon, and field engineer section, a FOO and a K9 unit. The OC, Major Christian Lillington was then handed the complex task of conducting a cordon and search of the Urban Ops Village. After a days worth of planning and preparations the squadron launched Op ODIN’S THUNDER with the midnight insertion of recce platoon to provide intel about the objective area back to the CP prior to the deployment of the remainder of the combat team. At first light the remainder of the combat team deployed out of the simulated FOB and was quickly able to cordon off the village despite IED placed along various routes designed to slow down friendly forces. Once the cordon was set, I23 with the support of the engineers and K9 units was able to quickly clear compounds of interest within the objective area and by late morning the OC was sitting down with village elders to hear their concerns and reinforce our message. A successful operation, the training allowed soldiers to practice casualty handling, contact drills as well as C-IED tactics. In all it was a rewarding experience for all involved and provided many important lessons learned for the squadron. To a cap a successful months’ worth of training, the squadron sat down to a BBQ of delicious hotdogs in the Regimental Canteen.
Exercise DYNAMIC DRAGOON, a three part exercise taking place over the month of September was aimed at preparing the squadron to join the 1 RCR Battle Group at the end of October. The first part of the exercise was primarily aimed at the crew and patrol level. Soldiers were given the opportunity to deploy out to the training area under the control of their respective troop leadership in order to practice basic recce skills, both mounted and dismounted. The soldiers of A Sqn had a chance to conduct OP’s, tactical vehicle movement, dismounted patrolling and generally get re-acquainted with field living. SHQ was also given a chance to shake out the cobwebs and the brand spanking used squadron command post was deployed out to Boswick Trail mid-exercise under the control of the BC in order to practice teardown and set up procedures. A clear highlight of the weeks training was the opportunity the troops had to sit down for a haybox supper with the Bouthillier family and view the Tpr Jack Bouthillier Memorial Transport.
Week two of DYNAMIC DRAGOON saw the focus of training shift from the crew/patrol level to the troop level. In order to exercise battle procedure and give the troop leaders a chance to shake out their command and control skills each of the three troops was given a specific task as part of a Afghanistan based scenario. These included the establishment of OP screens, route recce’s and point recces as well as vital point security tasks. An SHQ controlled enemy force provided more realism to the training and allowed the troops to respond to various situations in a realistic manner. The scenario generated by the OC also provided the CP a chance to work through the best way to conduct CP operations in a dynamic environment a practice controlling the squadron as it conducted its operations. Week two of DYNAMIC DRAGOON also saw an early re-deployment of the squadron in order to ensure those participating in the IRONMAN had an opportunity to prepare for the competition as well as conduct much needed vehicle maintenance prior to an early stand down for the majority of the squadron who participated in the 2nd Annual Army Run in Ottawa.
The final week of DYNAMIC DRAGOON began with a Sqn level route security task aimed at shaking out the squadron in a complex operation in preparation for the real task of the week, a Combat Team level cordon and search being run by RHQ. In true Dragoon fashion, every effort was made by Regimental Ops to ensure that A Sqn received the best training possible and the troops were soon outfitted with Weapons Effects Simulation (WES) gear in order to make training as realistic as possible. The squadron also received a number of attachments for the operations including a recce platoon, an infantry platoon, and field engineer section, a FOO and a K9 unit. The OC, Major Christian Lillington was then handed the complex task of conducting a cordon and search of the Urban Ops Village. After a days worth of planning and preparations the squadron launched Op ODIN’S THUNDER with the midnight insertion of recce platoon to provide intel about the objective area back to the CP prior to the deployment of the remainder of the combat team. At first light the remainder of the combat team deployed out of the simulated FOB and was quickly able to cordon off the village despite IED placed along various routes designed to slow down friendly forces. Once the cordon was set, I23 with the support of the engineers and K9 units was able to quickly clear compounds of interest within the objective area and by late morning the OC was sitting down with village elders to hear their concerns and reinforce our message. A successful operation, the training allowed soldiers to practice casualty handling, contact drills as well as C-IED tactics. In all it was a rewarding experience for all involved and provided many important lessons learned for the squadron. To a cap a successful months’ worth of training, the squadron sat down to a BBQ of delicious hotdogs in the Regimental Canteen.
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