Page 204 - Rifles 2017 Issue No 3

DESCENDING THROUGH THE ARCTIC AIR AND LANDING ON A FROZEN ICE SHELF JUST OUTSIDE RESOLUTE BAY WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING FOR BRAVO COMPANY
3 PPCLI
During 2016 the battalion’s efforts were concentrated on preparation to take over the High Readiness task, along with supporting numerous personnel deployed on operations across the world. Each of 3 PPCLI’s companies played an important role during this critical time, which ensured the battalion was well prepared for all short notice tasks received.
Alpha Company, as the specialists in maintaining and developing the Canadian Army’s collective mountain operations capability, was eager to add new challenging facets to Canada’s ability to ght in the mountains. Not satis ed with the winter conditions in Alberta, Alpha Company deployed to the United States Army’s Northern Warfare Training Center (NWTC) in February, and tackled mountain operations in the challenging sub-arctic winter of the Alaskan Mountain Range, as part of Exercise SPARTAN ASCENT 2016. This exercise saw Alpha Company, a troop of engineers from 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, a Forward Observation Of cer/Forward Air Controller (FOO/FAC) team, and sniper support come together to form the Mountain Company Group. Training at high angle live re shooting, ski movement and vertical mobility were brought together in a eld training exercise (FTX) that stress-tested and furthered the Company Group’s mountain concepts. With mountain experiences validated early in the year, Alpha Company then focused on ghting as part of the 3 PPCLI Battalion Group, in order to hone its collective skill sets and succeed at any of the tasks required of Light Forces, culminating in the battalion’s successes during Ex MAPLE RESOLVE 2016.
Bravo Company kicked off the year in January when they participated in various exchanges with the 509th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division of the United States Army. These exchanges saw 4 Platoon attached to the 509th Infantry Regiment where they rst deployed to Fort Richardson, Alaska and then Fort Polk, Louisiana to participate in annual readiness veri cation training at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC). The other end of the exchange involved 3rd Platoon, 3rd Battalion of the 509th Infantry Regiment embedded with Bravo Company for Exercise ARCTIC RAM 16. During the exercise, 5 and 6 Platoon, along with the American 3rd Platoon, demonstrated the Parachute Company’s capability to rapidly project a force over 3000km, into one of the most inhospitable environments on earth. Descending through the Arctic air and landing on a frozen ice shelf just outside Resolute Bay was only the beginning for Bravo Company. Using only the equipment they had jumped in with, the paratroopers spent the next 48 hours conducting arctic routine and undergoing training for survival in the high arctic, courtesy of 4 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (4 CRPG). Later in the year, Bravo Company conducted a number of courses including several serials of Basic Parachutist, Tactical Combat
Casualty Care (TCCC) and several driver courses in order to prepare our soldiers for deployments on a number of international operations. The spring saw Bravo Company participate in Exercise PROME- THIAN RAM and Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 2016 with the rest of the battalion, conducting three tactical jumps to secure air elds and in ltrate the enemy’s rear areas. Culminating a busy season, Bravo Company contributed to the Edmonton Airshow with two full equipment jumps and put on an awe inspiring capability demonstration for the spectators on the ground.
Charlie Company started the year down at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Centre (MCAGCC), located at Twenty-Nine Palms, California for Exercise ORION STRIKE in February. Designed as a comprehensive exercise to conduct joint live re training, members of Charlie Company worked within an urban environment by both day and night. The exercise featured a progressive training program that started with basic marksmanship in close quarters battle, and was aimed at developing and de ning the company’s skills in urban opera- tions starting with individual skills and working up to platoon and company joint operations. Charlie Company utilized the vast desert training area with realistic urban operation villages to re ne their skills by day and by night by practising individual gun ghter skills and working into section, platoon, and company level raids. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was also at MCAGCC, participating in Exercise STRIKING GANDER with their CH-47 Chinooks and CH-146 Griffons. They provided joint training opportunities, lift capabilities, and live close combat air (CCA) support for Charlie Company during their time in California. This allowed Charlie Company’s leadership to practice joint planning for airmobile operations, calling in air support, and conducting air assaults. The culminating event of the exercise was a joint company level live re raid on an urban village, with the RCAF providing support with both personnel lift and CCA. Capitalizing on their training experiences, Charlie Company was able to hone its planning abilities and soldier skills and ready itself for upcoming high readiness training that took place in Wainwright, Alberta coupled with several Primary Combat Function (PCF) courses that were completed in the fall.
Combat Support Company had a very busy year, with its Reconnaissance Platoon, Signals Platoon, Sniper Platoon, and Battalion Operations and Training staff supporting every exercise conducted by 3 PPCLI and its ri e companies. Road to High Readiness Training saw sniper elements attached to ri e companies in support of international training in Alaska, where they conducted high-angle ranges in the mountains and, in California, where they took advantage of complex urban terrain to further enhance their skills. During Exercise PROMETHEAN RAM, the snipers supported 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) and held a Gun Camp in
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THE RIFLES