Which Map Are We Using Today?

By: Cpl T.J. Hume, 32A, C Sqn
14 October 2008

The low rumble of 2 Tps engines is faintly heard on the cusp of the wind. Behind the crest lay an entire combat team comprised of grunt-filled LAV-III’s, sharp-eyed Recce Sqn and the battle hungry tankers from C Sqn. Everyone is just waiting for the word of the OC. Minutes pass, adrenaline starts pumping in for the preparation for the action ahead. “H-Hour now! Move, move, move.” The moment has finally come. The C2’s roar to life and lead the whole show into the objective. Over the next 20 minutes, everything turns into a blur, the training kicks in and gunfire shatters the morning air.

The first trace of the fall’s CTCC is a success and 2 Tp is providing an asset to the leaders of the near future. It also turns out to be a good exercise in full-scale war fighting tactics and tightening up SOP’s within the Sqn. We practised everything from combat team drills to casualty extraction, as the troop lifts Tpr Johnathan Wallace from his vehicle.

After a long day of battle, the troops are welcomed back with the rattle of red spray paint and a long night of maintenance. In order to keep these tanks running, they are check daily by the mechanics for possible preventive maintenance: six road wheels here; sprockets there. It wasn’t exactly the relaxing end to the day that everyone wanted. A week later and many plans to paint the ARV forgotten the extra work paid off and the maintenance became less of a burden.

There was no rest for the weary because battle procedure for Lt Adam Brown started right after the conclusion of the CTCC smoker for Ex Reflex Rapide. Two days of orders, prep and maintenance and the live fire combat team attacks started to tear through the sandy Wainwright sea-can villages. These attacks were a combination of everything that could be used against the enemy. Some danger close missions got called in a little too close for comfort for WO Ted Amos but thanks to some quick reaction and communication the crisis was averted. It just goes to show you that war is only slightly controlled chaos and that we have to be prepared and ready to react to everything. Each attack was finished off with CF-18’s 20mm gunfire that sprayed the objective before it was destroyed by 500lbs bombs.

As the after burners of the Hornets disappear into the horizon and the exercise comes to a finish our focus shifts to the next chapter in the long war to Afghanistan: Ex Maple Guardian.

Perseverance