Canadians and Americans Have A Lot In Common
Story & photos by MAJ Philip Logan
Reserve soldiers from the Canadian Army’s 39th Brigade Group "invaded" Fort Lewis, WA, March 14th through the 22nd, for their annual spring exercise "Cougar Salvo". Members of the Washington Army National Guard’s Unit Equipment Training Site (UTES) and the 122nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment trained with the British Colombian soldiers during the exercise.
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Canadian Cavalry troopers were given an extensive look at Washington National Guard M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tanks, and the M3 Cavalry Fighting Vehicle by UTES personnel, and soldiers from the 122nd MPAD exercised with the Brigade Headquarters, Cavalry and Engineer soldiers in the field.
The 39th Bde. Group, a Canadian Reserve Force unit, consists of 1500 soldiers in 14 units across British Columbia, who came to Ft. Lewis to perform a week long tactical, live-fire, and demolition exercise.
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The Canadian Reserve system and the American National Guard are similar in many ways. According to Brigade Commander, Colonel W.A.S. White "Each spring, approximately 900 part-time troops train together - students, teachers, business people - our members represent almost every walk of life... we train to serve the community and Canada."
Like their Washington National Guard cousins, 39th Brigade soldiers are busy: "Hundreds of our people have served Canada’s international commitments in Cypress, Bosnia, Croatia and elsewhere. Others have left their homes at a moments notice to assist with snowstorm and flood disaster relief. They must be ready for action at any time," added Col. White.
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Washington National Guard soldiers who visited 39th Brigade Cavalrymen and Engineers in the field were immediately impressed by their professionalism and desire to train, despite the miserable weather...something else their southern cousins understand all too well.
For more information on the Canadian Army & Reserves, click here!
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