By 1 CMBG Public Affairs
Wainwright, Alberta — Much of 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) descended on the Wainwright training area in mid-October to participate in Exercise Iron Ram. With nearly 2000 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members representing every 1 CMBG unit, as well as 1 Field Ambulance and 408 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, Ex Iron Ram is 1 CMBG’s largest exercise of 2017.
A member from 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI) gives the thumbs up after clearing a trench during Exercise IRON RAM. Photo: Cpl Jay Ekin
As an opportunity to be re-acquainted with living and working tactically, Ex IRON RAM is preparing 1 CMBG to fight against a near-peer enemy by challenging command and control, mobility, sustainment, and survivability.
“Canadian Army soldiers need to be able to anticipate, adapt and act in complex combat environments,” said Colonel William Fletcher, Commander, 1 CMBG. “Exercise Iron Ram ensures our troops and leaders are ready to do just that when called upon for operations at home or abroad.”
Units ran dry- and live-fire ranges of increasing complexity to enhance combined arms skill through Phase 1 of the exercise, culminating in Combat Team attacks in preparation for Phase 2 of the exercise.
As Ex Iron Ram shifts to its second phase, 1 CMBG is supporting the Combat Training Centre (CTC) in delivering four national-level individual training courses that will be conducted collectively. This phase will prepare future Canadian Army leaders to operate across the full spectrum of operations, and will involve roughly 120 students from units across Canada and 80 staff members from CTC, which is based at 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown.
