Page 185 - The Bugle 2018

TAPV Implementation and Initial Cadre Training
On 14 December 2016, 3rd Canadian Division (3 Cdn Div) released the Tactical Armoured Patrol Vehicle (TAPV) Implementation Directive, which set the wheels in motion for 2 PPCLI to receive its initial allocation of TAPVs. The TAPV is intended to partially replace the Coyote Armoured Reconnais- sance Vehicle, completely replace the Armoured Patrol Vehicle RG-31, and complement the Light Utility Vehicle Wheeled (LUVW) fleet. It is armed with a Remote Weapons System (RWS) that has a C19 Automatic Grenade Launcher System (AGLS) and C6 General Purpose Machine Gun remotely controlled by an operator inside the vehicle, offering increased protection to the vehicle crew. This vehicle will be employed throughout the spectrum of opera- tions providing both mobility and a high degree of crew protection.
Operation UNIFIER Roto 3
Article and photos courtesy of Captain Andrew Legge
Following the completion of 2 PPCLI’s Fall training cycle in November 2016, elements of the battalion were notified they would be deploying as members of Op UNIFIER’s Line of Effort 1 (LoE 1) in the Spring of 2017. The team, led by Major Chris Hartwick and Master Warrant Officer Mark Adkins, would deploy on Rotation 3 (Roto 3), relieving the Roto 2 team which was led by Major Andy Mitton and Master Warrant Officer Pete Dunwoody. This time around, the PPCLI contingent would be augmented by personnel from the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) Regiment (LdSH(RC)), 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1 CER), and 1st Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery (1 RCHA).
Theatre and Mission Specific Training started immediately following Christmas leave. In order to form a cohesive bond between soldiers who were split evenly between Edmonton and Shilo, the deploying members of 1 CER and 1 RCHA flew to Shilo for one of the coldest weeks of the winter to conduct live foreign weapons training and to meet with the personnel of 2 PPCLI and 1 RCHA. Despite the hostile weather conditions, soldiers from all four
units maximized on the bonding opportunity and emerged from it ready to deploy to Ukraine.
Arriving in the middle of an ongoing training cycle, Roto 3 members received their handover from Roto 2 and immediately moved into delivering platoon training for a Ukrainian Rotational Training Unit (RTU). Just days after the handover, LoE 1 ran their respective Ukrainian company through a live-fire, mechanized platoon attack range. It was their first look at what these soldiers and their vehicles could really do. Completing this, LoE 1 mentored the RTU soldiers up to battalion level, conducting training in collaboration with mentors from the United States Army, Danish Defence Force, and instructors from the fledgling Ukrainian Combat Training Centre (CTC). In addition to mentoring the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) members, LoE 1 soldiers used lulls in the training schedule to conduct continuation training for its members and their UAF counterparts.
During Roto 3, LoE 1’s mandate changed as the CTC assumed more responsibility for delivering the entire 55-day training cycle to the RTUs. As a result, LoE 1 took on the role of full time mentors for the CTC instructors. With this adjustment came friction borne of the fact that all of the LoE 1 members knew their jobs extremely well, but their CTC counterparts – although capable in many respects – were hampered by a lack of resources, a Soviet-era command structure prevented them from delivering high quality training. However, all members of LoE 1 once again stepped-up to the challenge and assisted their CTC counterparts to provide valuable training to the RTUs. Mentoring the CTC also freed-up personnel for other tasks. As a result, LoE 1 soldiers were deployed across Ukraine to deliver training as part of Mobile Training Teams. 2 PPCLI members also assisted with the stand-up of another Joint Task Force- Ukraine (JTF-U) training detachment in Central Ukraine. Further, Canadian personnel were also sought out by the British Task Force in Ukraine to augment their instructor pool for courses they were delivering around the country.
Despite the high operational tempo, the Canadians deployed to Ukraine still found time to relax and take part in cultural activities such as hiking Mount Pip Ivan and visiting the city of L’viv on
...STILL FOUND TIME TO RELAX AND TAKE PART IN CULTURAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS HIKING MOUNT PIP IVAN AND VISITING THE CITY
OF L’VIV ON WEEKENDS
Master Corporal Hadden (left) and Master Corporal Kidson participate in Urban Operations Training with Ukrainian instructors
THE RIFLES
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