BACKGROUNDER. Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE 2015

Transcription

1 BACKGROUNDER Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE 2015 DOC January 16, 2015 Description 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (5 CMBG), garrisoned at Valcartier Base, north of Québec City, will be conducting Exercise RAFALE BLANCE (EX RB 15) from January 19 to 27, Approximately 2,800 members will participate in the maneuvers taking place in the Valcartier training areas and in the regional county municipalities (RCMs) of Portneuf and La Jacques-Cartier. The purpose of this training is to allow Valcartier soldiers to prepare for the entire spectrum of military operations, from conventional wars to asymmetric conflicts. They will take advantage of an austere winter environment and unfamiliar terrain by combining urban and rural scenarios. EX RB 15 is a major operational readiness milestone for the troops of 5 CMBG. Movements will be on foot and by means of some 800 military vehicles of all kinds, as well as snowmobiles, snowshoes and skis. Troops on the ground can also depend on the support of their colleagues in the Royal Canadian Air Force during different training scenarios. This support will allow them to move quickly from one site to another on board Griffon and Chinook helicopters and simulate air strikes with CF18 and Alpha Jet fighter aircrafts. Throughout EX RB 15, local communities will be able to interact with the soldiers when they are off the Base. An open house is planned a few days before the end of the training (see the Open House activities section below). On that day, citizens can meet the soldiers and look at the weapons and vehicles used during the Exercise. Background 5 CMBG was identified to prepare, by July 2015, two high readiness task forces (TF), ready to respond to any type of emergency, at home and abroad, according to the needs of the Government of Canada. These task forces (TF) are respectively called TF 1-15 and TF TF 1-15 is designed to lead or carry out a major operation in the country or abroad for an extended period. It must be able to conduct long high-intensity missions across the spectrum of operations. TF 2-15 must in turn be able to deploy intervention forces in a crisis, in Canada or the world, for short periods of time. It is optimized for conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations. It can also lead low intensity contingency manoeuvres. 1

2 The mandate to defend Canada requires flexibility in the face of a broad range of threats in different situations and environments. Making use of locations that are less familiar than the training areas at Valcartier Base, as is the case for EX RB 15, lends realism to the manoeuvres and maintains high flexibility among the troops. Operating in austere winter conditions is one reality for which troops need to prepare. In cold weather, military responses are more challenging. It is therefore crucial to ensure that the tactical and operational manoeuvres during EX RB 15 are well executed on the ground, all while maintaining effective communication between the units. Training locations Military maneuvers will take place in the following locations: Valcartier Base RCM Portneuf Military training areas Area located West and North-West of Pont-Rouge Area located West and North-West of Saint-Basile Saint-Raymond RCM La Jacques-Cartier Lac-Saint-Joseph Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier General training objectives Establish contact with various stakeholders from civilian agencies Practise a large-scale movement of road vehicles and movement in a specific area of operations Conduct a winter brigade exercise in a specific area, using vehicles and on foot Specific tasks Handle personal weapons in cold weather Provide logistics support to all deployed military personnel (food, fuel, mechanical maintenance, etc.) Conduct helicopter and airborne operations Conduct long-range patrols Use equipment, vehicles, weapons and communication systems Set up and employ long-range radio communications 2

3 Navigate and travel in rural and urban settings in a winter environment Practise field craft and survival skills in a winter environment Preliminary schedule of training activities January 19 and 20, Deployment of reconnaissance and advance party, major road move and 2015 progressive departure of main body from Valcartier to the RCMs of Portneuf and La Jacques-Cartier January 19 to 27, Conduct of military manoeuvres in different areas of operations on the Base 2015 Valcartier, and in the MRC Portneuf and La Jacques-Cartier January 24, 2015 Open house with participating units (see section Schedule of Open House activities below) January 27, 2015 Gradual redeployment to Valcartier Participating organizations 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (based in Valcartier) 5 e Régiment d artillerie légère du Canada 12 e Régiment blindé du Canada 5 Combat Engineer Regiment Headquarters and Signals Squadron 1 Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment 2 Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment 3 Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment 5 Service Battalion Operational support units (based in Valcartier) 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron 5 Field Ambulance 5 Military Police Platoon Operational support units (outside Valcartier) 119 Air Battery (Oromocto NB) 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment (Kingston ON) 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron (Bagotville) 436 Transport Squadron (Trenton ON) 450 Tactical Helicopter Squadron (Petawawa ON) Integrated foreign units 4 e Régiment de chasseurs (Gap, France) Integrated into 12 e Régiment blindé du Canada 3

4 6th Airborne Brigade (Krakow, Poland) Integrated into 1 Battalion, Royal 22 e Régiment Open House activities Part of the mandate of the Canadian Armed Forces is to communicate with the Canadian public to explain its mission and its mandates. Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE is an excellent opportunity for the civilian population to see its troops in action. The units present in the RCMs of Portneuf and La Jacques-Cartier plan on taking advantage of the opportunity to meet citizens, talk to them and show them the equipment they use. Members of the public are therefore cordially invited to meet the soldiers during the open house activities that will be held on Saturday, January 24, These events, in addition to being a great activity for families, will give members of the public a better understanding of Canadian soldiers expertise. Schedule of Open House activities Saturday, January 24, 2015 RCM Portneuf Parc de Pont-Rouge Intersection of Roy Road and Pleau Street Centre-Nature Saint-Basile 1, Centre-Nature av., Saint-Basile École Saint-Joseph 380, St. Cyril Street, Saint-Raymond RCM La Jacques-Cartier Parc du Grand-Héron 4, Louis-Jolliet Street, Sainte-Catherine-de-la- Jacques-Cartier Shannon Community Center 75, Gosford Road, Shannon Display period Units on display 5 Combat Engineer Regiment Headquarters and Signals Squadron 21 Electronic Warfare Regiment 12 e Régiment blindé du Canada 5 Military Police Platoon 1 Battalion, Royal 22 e Régiment Display period Units on display 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron 5 Field Ambulance 5 Service Battalion 5 e Régiment d artillerie légère du Canada 119 Air Battery 4

5 Track the soldiers during Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE Notes to editor/news director: 30 The time and location of the Open House activities are subject to change. Reporters wishing to cover an activity are therefore asked to contact the public affairs officer below. High-resolution photos of the various military maneuvers of Exercise RAFALE BLANCHE will gradually be posted on Flickr: Contact information: Captain Mathieu Dufour, Public Affairs Officer, 5 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group, can be reached at , ext. 4688, or at (cell) or by at affairespubliques.valcartier@forces.gc.ca 5