Ex STEELE WINTER 2019

Lieutenant Joshua Horlings, 2nd Tp Ldr, B Sqn

Any armoured soldier worth their weight in spent sabot casings knows that proficiency in winter warfare is a necessary set of skills for a Canadian soldier. Despite high tempo training in preparation for Ex ORNERY RAM and Ex MAPLE RESOLVE, B Sqn found time for a short but valuable winter warfare exercise from 6-7 March.

Upon departure for Ex STEELE WINTER soldiers quickly remembered the realities of warfighting in the winter as they hauled their full rucks and toboggan groups down the runway to the Sqn harbour. After establishing camp, soldiers set out on Tp level patrols back into the wind blown training area. In order to give soldiers exposure to winter ops, 1st Tp conducted presence patrols along contested critical infrastructure to combat insurgent IED threats. Concurrently, 2nd Tp conducted a raid on insurgents collecting weapons from a cache and 3rd Tp conducted recce patrols of an enemy hide. Following Tp level training, the Sqn prepared for a force-on-force attack that pitted 1st and 2nd Tp against 3rd Tp. While 3rd Tp prepared its snow defenses, 1st and 2nd Tp rehearsed their plan of attack. Launching the attack on H-hour, the assaulting Tps quickly found themselves the victims of a devious Admin Tp who set out on their own mission to attack the rest of the Sqn.

Despite the double-crossing actions of Admin Tp, the Sqn came together in the evening to share a meal and enjoy some time together. With the knowledge that the next few months will hold many weeks of exercises and training, the soldiers of B Sqn took an opportunity to relax and enjoy some camaraderie prior to turning into their tents. On the morning of 7 March, the Sqn quickly packed up camp and returned to B Sqn lines. With winter warfare complete the Sqn now looks forward with anticipation to getting back into their turrets and bringing the rumble of a Sqn of Leo 2s back to the barren fields of Wainwright.