Page 83 - AGC Journal 2018

AGC JOURNAL 2018

Exercise Prairie The detachment of

4 Armoured Close
Storm One Support Battalion
Royal Electrical
and Mechanical
Engineers

By Corporal Isthiaq Shafiq
Exercise Prairie Storm is one of the British Army’s
largest overseas training activities which takes place

in British Army Training Unit Suffield, Canada.

The Aim
The aim of this training is to develop
the skill set of soldiers and officers,
enabling them to operate within a
Battle Group environment and enhance
their integrating capabilities alongside
learning synchronised, co-ordinated
approaches to accomplish objectives
set by high level command. 4 Armoured
Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers deployed as
the lead Combat Service Support Battle
Group.
Pre Deployment

Prior to deploying to Canada, we
participated in numerous Combined
Arms Staff Trainer exercises on Salisbury
plain where we had the opportunity Canada
to further develop our soldiering skills detachment
and undertake preparation for our
deployed role. Whilst deployed, many
of us adopted additional roles such as Adventure Training
Protective Mobility fleet commanders Integrated Working
and Land Rover drivers. Trails End Camp offers some of the
Exercising as part of the Combat Service Support best adventure training packages in
Group Headquarters was an excellent experience. It
Experience demonstrated at first hand the Commanding Officer’s the British Army. After having been
planning processes, and it taught us how he managed isolated from the rest of the world
Prairie Storm was a challenging yet rewarding his battle space whilst providing support to the Lead for over a month, it was a great
experience, and out of the seven individuals who Battle Group. The Battalion had individuals and assets opportunity for a few us to undertake
deployed from the department, only three had prior that were both attached and detached, which gave us horse riding and mountain biking.
experience of participating on an exercise on the a great opportunity to integrate with other units. This
Prairie. This was a first time experience for me and integrated working made every day in the field more Summary
it would be fair to say that my expectations were dynamic and interesting. When I took on the role of a
minimal. Luxuries were very few and far between with packet commander leading a convoy, it enabled my The varying experiences presented
anything that didn’t come out of a 24-hour ration pack knowledge to develop. on the exercise were very important
considered a bonus. Additionally, the weather was in demonstrating how warfare has
highly unpredictable on the Prairie and there were Camp Crowfoot evolved and helped us understand
days where the temperature fluctuated by 30 degrees, the capabilities of our enemies. This
allowing us to experience all four seasons in a single Support from Camp Crowfoot, was provided by was a true eye opener and every
day. At the beginning of the Exercise, Corporal Tania Sergeant Maxine Poyner who brought forward individual gave one hundred percent,
Elangwe, Lance Corporal Lateef Abudu and Private supplies to enable us to operate seamlessly in the adapting and undertaking roles well
Kwadwo Asumeng were given the chance to take the field and ensured morale remained high throughout out of comfort zones. Moreover, the
exercise a step further by participating in the live fire the exercise. She organised the adventure training post exercise adventure training was
training package. This was a fantastic opportunity and packages for the whole Battle Group and the flights a welcome reward to everyone who Isthiaq Shafiq

a fitting introduction for those who had not been on back to the United Kingdom for the Combat Service Kwadwo Asumeng on worked hard to ensure the successful getting route
the exercise before. Support Battle Group. adventure training delivery of Exercise Prairie Storm. clearance

82 83