Active Edge '04

[Simpleton]

Not quite 10 years.  The last Western Challenge was held in Dundurn SK in '96.  Not really all that long ago, and not nearly long enough for everyone to have forgotten how to run an Ex like that.  ;-)

Western Challenge in 96? Did it include all the CBGs in LFWA? What was the focus? Was it a reserve designed and run ex?

???

 

[beach_bum]

Yes, it did include all of the brigades in LFWA.  Instead of Wainwright (where is had been held before) it was in Dundurn.  If I remember correctly, the focus was defensive.

 

[tomhynes]

I also worked as a storesman for WSB during AE04, except Im a Supp Tech and I worked directly with 1 SVC BN and took part in most of the DP's and RP's. Many times it was a gong-show, to say the least. Me being a Pte didnt help much, but knowing that I could probably do a better job than most the brass there was concirning to me. First of all, WSB allocated ONE section of mod tentage for both Supply and Transport. That alone caused way too many problems to even start to list. There was alot of sitting around, waiting for orders when we all knew that you Combat Arms guys were out there suffering, especially when it wouldnt stop raining. Trust me if I had any kind of power Id at least attempt to change the system(fat chance of that happening).

The whole escort fiasco wasnt the main reason for the logistics being all messed up. Yes it proved to be a problem a few of the times, but it was simply a lack of supplies that made our taskings impossible. We'd go into camp to pickup IMP's and there would be none, thats over an hour of driving for nothing. The fuel supplies were the worst, we at WSB barely had enough naptha to get through the Ex.

After reading over this thread, there seems to be some bitterness between the Combat Arms and the CSS guys. Well let me just say this. I worked hand in hand with Reg Force truckers who do this 24 hours a day as a career. It was embarassing to hear them talk about how its really done in the "real" army. AE04 was a vacation to them, and they didnt even enjoy it. My point here is that we reservists can squabble all we want over whos better, but in the end we come nowhere near the Reg force guys. If you want to be all hardcore infantry, join the Regs. If you want to be all hardcore cook or supply, join the Regs. Reservists making fun of reservists is a joke in itself. Come on guys, lets grow up.

 

[pbi]

Not quite 10 years.  The last Western Challenge was held in Dundurn SK in '96.  Not really all that long ago, and not nearly long enough for everyone to have forgotten how to run an Ex like that.  ;-)

Actually, it was eight years ago, which means that almost nobody who was in planning or command positions for that exercise would likely still be there. All Regular Army staff would be long gone, most Reservists would have moved upwards, and the only consistency might be some class B desk officers/NCOs. As well, this year's exercise was put together largely by the staff of a single CBG: unless any of them were involved directly in the last one, I doubt the experiences of other staffs would  do them much good. IMHO we tend not to learn from PXRs and AARs very well. "Lessons Learned" should be renamed "Lessons Written Down and Shoved in A Drawer".

Cheers.

 

[GDawg]

After reading over this thread, there seems to be some bitterness between the Combat Arms and the CSS guys. Well let me just say this. I worked hand in hand with Reg Force truckers who do this 24 hours a day as a career. It was embarassing to hear them talk about how its really done in the "real" army. AE04 was a vacation to them, and they didnt even enjoy it. My point here is that we reservists can squabble all we want over whos better, but in the end we come nowhere near the Reg force guys. If you want to be all hardcore infantry, join the Regs. If you want to be all hardcore cook or supply, join the Regs. Reservists making fun of reservists is a joke in itself. Come on guys, lets grow up.

You are on the right track but...

Fuck hardcore!

Its about doing the job right. I went into Active edge to learn. I learned a bit, but I didn't notice it until later. What I did see on the ground was a trade vs. trade, reg. vs. res. grudge match. I hate to say it but we should have gone into this with a brotherly approach, where the reserves are the little brother and the regs are the big brother and we are there to learn and they are there to tell us how to do the job like its not just a weekend thing.  I really haven't been around long in the scheme of things but I think the rift between the reserves and the regular force is growing. Make no mistake about it, we need each other to exist. The reserves get alot of senior people who leave the regular force and the regular force gets the more militarily motivated reservists on a temporary or permanent basis. We need to keep this in mind...

 

[Infanteer]

So much for raising the bar....

PS:  Food is a crutch.

 

[Highland Laddie]

Actually, it was eight years ago, which means that almost nobody who was in planning or command positions for that exercise would likely still be there. All Regular Army staff would be long gone, most Reservists would have moved upwards, and the only consistency might be some class B desk officers/NCOs. As well, this year's exercise was put together largely by the staff of a single CBG: unless any of them were involved directly in the last one, I doubt the experiences of other staffs would   do them much good. IMHO we tend not to learn from PXRs and AARs very well. "Lessons Learned" should be renamed "Lessons Written Down and Shoved in A Drawer".

Cheers.

PBI - I concur with you Sir. I was in HICON for the ex, and I could share some rather interesting events with you, if your interested.

 

[pbi]

Fire away: this means or PM. Cheers.

 

[Simpleton]

PBI - I concur with you Sir. I was in HICON for the ex, and I could share some rather interesting events with you, if your interested.

I think we would all be interested.