"13 Platoon" Joins Recce Squadron for Exercise Brave Ram
Lt Tim Abbott, Liaison Officer, Recce Squadron, Task Force 3-09
Lt Tim Abbott, Liaison Officer, Recce Squadron, Task Force 3-09
After being afforded the opportunity to train out West for a couple of months with the entire TF 3-09 Battle Group, Recce Squadron saw Exercise Brave Ram as a chance to host another sub-unit with some good-old-fashioned RCD hospitality. "13 Platoon" (as they call themselves) from D Company, 1 PPCLI made the move from their dry heat in Edmonton to the humidity of Petawawa for two weeks in order to share training with the Squadron. During the Exercise, both Recce Squadron and our India counterparts worked hard to absorb as much knowledge from each other as humanly possible.
As soon as the Platoon arrived, the difference in humidity was noted, however, it was at first shrugged-off. It only took a day for 13 Platoon to realize that the humidity was going to play a challenging role during the two weeks. Despite this fact, they took it as just another tool to make them even stronger. During the 25mm range in the first days, the 25mm gunnery SMEs within Recce Sqn worked with I43 to help improve their mounted gunnery skills while I43 spent countless hours helping with the small arms portion. Together, both sub-units worked as one and produced amazing results. A week later, 13 Platoon proved themselves once more when they ran a spectacular M72 range with live rockets.
As soon as the Platoon arrived, the difference in humidity was noted, however, it was at first shrugged-off. It only took a day for 13 Platoon to realize that the humidity was going to play a challenging role during the two weeks. Despite this fact, they took it as just another tool to make them even stronger. During the 25mm range in the first days, the 25mm gunnery SMEs within Recce Sqn worked with I43 to help improve their mounted gunnery skills while I43 spent countless hours helping with the small arms portion. Together, both sub-units worked as one and produced amazing results. A week later, 13 Platoon proved themselves once more when they ran a spectacular M72 range with live rockets.
During the second week of training, both elements proved where their "bread-and-butter" could be found. For Recce Squadron, it is obvious that our comfort zone is surrounded by armour and has a 25mm cannon pointed to the front. Despite this, with fewer dismounts available, we are quite effective at molding our drills to fit our situation. The opposite was very true with I43. With their knowledge, they demonstrated throughout the week how joint armour and infantry operations could be conducted. Their input during simunition training in an urban environment demonstrated to Recce Squadron soldiers the importance of being able to work on the ground and away from the vehicles. With our armour support and their numbers on the ground, we proved to be quite the team! With this week focused on detailed ROC drills and walk-and-talk methods, lots of good training was completed.
Talking to a number of the Recce Squadron and 13 Platoon soldiers, the consensus was that the training was very successful. The opportunity to work alongside another sub-unit helped everyone recognize where their strengths and weaknesses were and how to properly adapt their skills to ever-changing situations. New bonds were built in the mere two weeks and everyone is hoping to work with each other again in the very near future.
Talking to a number of the Recce Squadron and 13 Platoon soldiers, the consensus was that the training was very successful. The opportunity to work alongside another sub-unit helped everyone recognize where their strengths and weaknesses were and how to properly adapt their skills to ever-changing situations. New bonds were built in the mere two weeks and everyone is hoping to work with each other again in the very near future.
13 Pl along with Maj Wayne Niven, OC D Coy
& MWO Dean Poffley, CSM D Coy.
& MWO Dean Poffley, CSM D Coy.
Sgt Rod McLeod, 13 Pl, leads a demonstration of the inverted V.
A section from I43 prepare to enter a building during simunition training.
Lt Andrew Nuttall, 13 Pl Comd, presents Maj Mark Popov and MWO Kevin Mathers, Recce Sqn Command Team, with a token of appreciation.
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Captains of Industry firing the M777, under control of 2 RCHA