Ex UNIFIED RESOLVE 19: Strathconas at the Tip of the Spear

Lieutenant Ali Mansour, 1st Tp Ldr, B Sqn

From 2 to 7 February 2019, the Regiment’s senior leadership participated in another iteration of the Brigade level Ex UNIFIED RESOLVE in Edmonton. The exercise utilized computer simulators in order to test the command and control capabilities of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG). The completion of the exercise marked an important milestone in the Road to High Readiness (RtHR) for the Brigade; the Brigade’s progress along RtHR is in preparation for domestic and expeditionary deployments.

In the fictional scenario, 1 CMBG deployed as part of a multinational division, commanded by Brigadier-General Cadieu, to force back enemy army formations occupying a sovereign nation. The Brigade itself was broken down into three separate Battle Groups (BG): 1 Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI BG) to the north, LdSH(RC) BG in the south, and 2 PPCLI BG following behind the Brigade in support. In every BG, however, Strathcona sub-units led the way. The digital return of C Sqn saw them form the front guard of the 1 PPCLI BG to the north, advancing and isolating objectives while the LdSH(RC) BG in the south did what they do best: completely destroying the enemy.

By essentially leading the entire Brigade, the Strathconas did much of the fighting. When the major urban centers were taken back from the enemy, C Sqn advanced again, this time as the guard for Division Recce, in order to set the forward screen ahead of the main defensive battle. It was no surprise to see that the soldiers of the Regiment were heavily relied upon by the Brigade to be tip of the spear during this exercise.

The next step for the Brigade, and the Regiment, culminates with the Army’s largest training exercise: Ex MAPLE RESOLVE 19. The end result of Ex MAPLE RESOLVE will see the Strathconas declared operationally ready and signify that, once again, we are ready to deploy anywhere Canada asks as part of the high readiness Brigade.