Hundreds of reserve soldiers from all over the Atlantic provinces are taking part in the biggest event of their training year as the Exercise Strident Tracer 2016 runs this week.
Reservists typically take part in training on a regular basis throughout the year, but the trip to CFB Gagetown each summer is known as the culmination of the work they’ve done over the previous 12 months.
“It is the most important exercise of the training year for the army reserve of Atlantic Canada,” said Major Ed Stewart of the 5th Canadian Division.
The valuable experience the part-time soldiers receive stems from the real world situations they’re put in.
Live fire training events as well as medical evacuation procedures via Black Hawk helicopter are some of the training exercises reservists take part in, exercises they can’t do anywhere else.
“They’re challenging, they really are,” said Master Corporal Leim Joe of the Cape Breton Highlanders.
“But it promotes teamwork, promotes diversity within different brigades and different units that we have and we work together as a team and we get the task done.”
Exercise Strident Tracer 2016 continues until Saturday at which time reservists will return to their home bases and share their experiences with fellow soldiers.