2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group embarks on Exercise Rugged Bear in Wainwright

Soldiers from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (CMBG) Petawawa, ON embarked on Exercise RUGGED BEAR at the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright, AB on April 3.

The 3,000 Canadian Army soldiers on this exercise will be sharpening their soldiering skills so that the soldiers of Task Force Tomahawk, achieve the necessary Battle Task Standard (BTS). This is critical for Exercise MAPLE RESOLVE 2017, conducted to prepare the soldiers for the unit’s Road to High Readiness.

“This training is the Canadian Army’s vital ground in terms of collective training. I am fiercely proud of the professionalism and proficiency of my soldiers. Exercise RUGGED BEAR is where they will demonstrate those skills to the Canadian Army, certifying that Task Force Tomahawk is able to function and fight as a cohesive unit before we conduct further training in May, and assume High Readiness in July,” said Col. Conrad Mialkowski, Commander Task Force Tomahawk.

Running from April 3 to May 4, Exercise RUGGED BEAR is a live-fire training event. Soldiers will be trained to a combat team standard. Although, combat team configurations can vary “but traditionally consist of a company of mechanized infantry soldiers in light armoured vehicles accompanied by a squadron of tanks and other enablers such as engineers or artillery,” according to a Canadian Armed Forces press release.

This exercise will train Task Force Tomahawk soldiers for missions in Latvia, Iraq, and Ukraine.

2 CMBG began training for the Road to High Readiness in July 2016. After the Road to High Readiness program is completed, Task Force Tomahawk will be prepared for any mission directed by the Government of Canada.

The unit will assume the mantle of the Canadian Army’s High Readiness Task Force in summer 2017.