35 GBC deploys in Saguenay
B Cie in action
By Cpl Marilou Villeneuve
The GÉNIE TENACE exercise was held on October 21, 22, 23, involving 600 reservists from the 35 Canadian Brigade Group. The exercise was organized by the Régiment de la Chaudière and took place in the Fjord-du-Saguenay RCM, at Chute-aux-Galets and the Adam-Cunningham station.
The troops had to take and defend a strategic point, conduct combat operations in an urban environment and evacuate casualties.
Everything was done to make the exercise as realistic as possible: explosion, casualty simulation, and use of simunitions (paint balls used in conventional weapons).
"The simunition is very interesting. Because blanks are not used, the troops are aware that they can be "hit," so they need to choose their position carefully," said Pte Frédéric Nadeau of the Fusiliers du St-Laurent.
LCol Claude Langlois, the Commander of the Régiment de la Chaudière and exercise director, is aware that the reservists are troops that have two careers: they are both members of the Canadian Forces and civilians. "The training schedule has to be adjusted accordingly. The intensity has to be there, and we make sure it is! We can't forget, however, that our members are accountable to another employer on Monday morning. As good commanders, we are duty-bound to take that into account in preparing the exercise."
Every fall, during the collective training period, from September to November, 35 GBC holds four "Main Training Groups (MTGs)." The last MTG for this year will be held on November 11, 12 and 13 in the Estrie region, involving some 1,000 reservists from 35 GBC.
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