PCF/EX STEELE LANCE 24
By Lt Mark Snetzko
March 2024 saw A Sqn kicking things into high gear with our PCF cycle and Ex STEELE LANCE 24.
Though the wind proved to be too much for some of our mod tents, nothing was able to stop the drivers on the D&M portion of our course cycle. Sixteen new drivers were able to be qualified in rough terrain, the difficult weather providing an excellent professional development opportunity in operating and maintaining the Leopard 2A4s in adverse conditions. Lt Larissa Bear and WO Jesse Bolzan were able to guide the students through an effective course, setting the remainder of the PCFs up for success.
The crew commander and gunnery students eagerly arrived at the range to clear skies and little wind. Despite the negative twenty temperatures, spirits stayed high and the students were able to get a quick start to their static shooting. Kudos to the maintainers, turning wrenches through the night to ensure the firing line was never missing a vehicle. FPO WO David Young and the RSO Lt Liam “Still” Misner created a smooth firing schedule that always had something in motion for the students.
“An army runs on its stomach” was never proven truer than it was during this Ex. The kitchen staff did an excellent job providing delicious and filling meals for the entire team. Cpl Kelsey Pethrick went above and beyond in creating unique and delectable deserts that raised the Squadron’s spirits despite the often-brutal temperatures.
The departure of the Gagetown students and the Mobile Training Team instructors saw the return of the colder weather. Snowstorms and lows into the minus 40s greeted A Sqn once the conduct of Level 2 shoots began. Newly qualified crews got the opportunity to prove they knew how to turn on the heaters and several whiteouts caused delayed or cancelled ranges, thankfully the flex days came in handy!
The Squadron relished the opportunity for the cold weather PD and persevered through their static and stab shoots in both day and night conditions. Thanks to some efficiencies along the way, the Squadron was able to have several Troop shoots as a last hurrah prior to the end of the exercise.
All told, the guncamp was able to successfully qualify twenty-seven Leopard 2 PCF crews and validate all A Sqn crews up to Level 2 live in preparation for the upcoming exercises the fall will bring and the deployments beyond. The Squadron proved it was ready to face problems as a team and was able to develop some much-needed esprit de corps and camaraderie that only the field can bring. While the challenges to be faced by A Sqn may be unknown, we now know we can face, and overcome, them together.