CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - Army Reservists of the Canadian 38 Brigade Group conducted annual training on Camp Ripley March 11-21, including an air assault/squad movement exercise with a Minnesota National Guard aviation unit.
“As usual, Camp Ripley provided an environment where soldiers of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment (LSSR) were able to achieve their required challenging and complex training goals,” said Canadian Army Maj. Jim Davis, Deputy Commanding Officer LSSR.
In one of the more exciting events, soldiers of the regiment trained with Army aviators from the Minnesota National Guard’s 2nd–147th Assault Helicopter Battalion March 20-21. The event included instruction and cold-load training on boarding the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and how to safely and tactically exit the aircraft once it touches down in a landing zone. For many in the regiment, this was the first time training with equipment they would likely work with overseas.
“The opportunity to cross-train with our American counterparts allowed for a training environment more typical of deployments,” Davis said.
The exercise went full-speed March 21 as three UH-60 Black Hawks landed just north of the Camp Ripley cantonment area. The helicopter crew chief and Canadian squad leaders used hand signals to communicate as soldiers of the regiment began loading under the spinning rotary blades.
Within minutes, the first chalks of personnel were loaded and the aircraft lifted off the ground. Fifteen minutes later, the signal was given to prepare to land as all three aircraft negotiated the snow-covered landing zone.
As safety straps released and troops exited the aircraft to secure the landing zone, the helicopters lifted off, leaving the LSSR to tactically move onto the range and begin the next phase of training.
“We are observing and learning a lot,“ said Warrant Officer Matthew Sherwood, a pilot with 2-147th. “It’s a benefit for us to understand how other nations communicate and operate through many different scenarios.”
Training opportunities on Camp Ripley are no different than many other installations in Canada or the United States. But the units from Thunder Bay and Winnipeg travel over the border because of the proximity to Camp Ripley’s ranges, year-round billets and customer service.
“The big appeal comes from Soldiers and officers of the regiment being able to train, billet, store equipment securely and continue training, all while reducing time on the road between homes station,” said Maj. Brian Mollison, training coordinator with the LSSR.
“Our time on rifle ranges and out in the field is already limited being a reserve unit, but with a long distance between Thunder Bay and our bases in Canada, the better option was to travel to Minnesota,” said Cpl. Rob Neron, transportation soldier with the 38th Service Battalion.
The Canadian 38th Brigade Group is an Army Reserve Formation of the 3rd Canadian Division, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, with units throughout Northwestern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“We appreciate the partnership with Camp Ripley and the Minnesota National Guard. We appreciate the hospitality both on and off post,” said Davis.
Canadian Armed Forces training in Canada typically use a version of the Bell CH-146 Griffon to practice tactics such as airlifting, while the trend overseas with allied countries is to use the CH-47 Chinook or UH-60 Black Hawk for air movements.