Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members prepared for a major operation this August in Canada’s North with a specialized training exercise at Base Borden.
Exercise ARROWHEAD TAUTUNGNIQ, led by the Grey and Simcoe Foresters and supported by Canadian Army Rangers of 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol group conducted the theatre-specific pre-deployment training at CFB Borden on July 8-10 in preparation for Operation NANOOK-NANUKPUT, an important mission to the Arctic this August.
Operation NANOOK takes place annually across Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Labrador, featuring four deployments throughout the year and comprised of a series of comprehensive activities designed to exercise the defense of Canada and to secure our northern regions.
“Members of the Joint Task Force and the Land Task Force component, led by the Grey and Simcoe Foresters, will be deployed along the Northwest Passage to provide observation of shipping while the shipping lanes are open,” said LCol David Meehan, Commanding Officer of the Grey and Simcoe Foresters and the Commander of the Op NANUKPUT Joint Task Force in August. “They will work as a team with RCAF assets under the command of Joint Task Force North, and provide Canadian Army capabilities and assets to the overall mission.”
The training exercise included live-fire shooting ranges, use of specialized equipment, and developing and testing advanced survival skills while preparing for quick response to simulated threats and domestic emergencies.
“We have a series of criteria to meet during pre-deployment training, in order to make sure that our personnel can deploy safely and effectively to extremely challenging terrain and harsh environments,” said LCol Meehan. “This exercise ensures that participating personnel all meet existing force generation requirements, have the ability to safely and effectively operate the equipment required, and continue to hone their skills as a team. All of these facets of the training here at CFB Borden ensure that we will be ready for, and successful on Operation NANOOK-NUNAKPUT.”
The 4th Canadian Division ARCG consists primarily of Army Reserve soldiers from 31 CBG. More than 200 local Army Reservists will be deployed for Operation NANOOK, including aircraft from the RCAF and ships of the RCN.
“The leadership is quite confident that the soldiers and the Task Force as a whole have situated themselves for success,” said LCol Meehan. “We have built our team with experienced, professional and capable Officers and NCOs, who will lead our junior personnel in the field; many of whom have deployed several times to the Arctic in colder conditions and for longer periods in the past.”
By Emily Nakeff, Editor
