Reserve-Stalwart Guardian 05
- Thread starter Jarnhamar
- Start date
Unless you're in charge of deciding what radios we get; not at all. In fact, when our CP picked the same hill to set up on as the RRB, a friendly sig helped us sort out our intercom boxes. I got no beefs with the sigs.
The core problem with the comms was that we weren't given the stuff we need. Recce needs good long-range coms. So there needs to be a 522 vehicle mount with amplifier in every vehicle, and a 522 manpack in every patrol for dismounted coms. We're also supposed to run land line from the OP to the OP base so that the OP can reap the benefits of the high-power, non-battery-limited coms in the vehicles. The CP needs 2 amplified radios and a mast.
These are *minimums*, not "nice to haves".
Instead we had no vehicle mounts for the 522s, some vehicles had 521s instead of 522a, the CP (when we had one) had no mast, and we had effectively no spare batteries, and bno field phones
So we lost on raw transmission power (vehicle mounts put out more power than running the 522 off batteries) and we got tied to battery capacity instead of running off vehicle power.
There's just no way this was *ever* going to work. Even if every single battery worked at 100% capacity, there still wasn't enough power to drive a 48 hour op.
If the Powers That Be learn anything from this ex, it should be this: Recce needs vehicle mounts for their radios and dedicated CPs with masts. If they don't get them, they'll be woking off FRS and cellphones.
DG
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 60
My Unit's Experience in Beechburg was an eye opener. I did not know how fun Recce could be. 3RTR was away from Brigade, our unit was far away from 3RTR and I was (relatively farther away than when I was Armour) far away from SHQ. The feeling of independance was exhilarating. (but we still want a BIG Gun).
Comms sucked - Yes but we had 77 sets and the 1st Thing I'll teach other people in my unit are Improvised Antenae. (Especially the Long Range - Uni Directional Patrol Antena).
The Iltises were on their last legs. But thanks to some enterprising crews, we kept them from going permanently VOR.
The AAR was a good feedback. But I thought the process was 1) Task, 2) AAR, 3) Same Task with the AAR improvements installed then go back to 1? We had some tasks were there was only 1 AAR and no chance to repeat it again. Last year's AAR was more engaging and had more iterations.
The ROEs were confusing in Beachburg. Are we at war or are we not? Do we have the right to Hunt down the BFAA or do we just keep an Eye out for them? What happens when we see the BFAA "harm" a Bluelander. Why do we still sling our rifles on a "presence" patrol when we have just heard updated news that Jiggs Casey and the Gang are headed our way? What happens when an "intruder" enters our Harbour - Can we shoot them/tackle them/make rude signals to them after sounding the alarm?
If the 3RTR Co's intent was to make the Bluelanders in Beachburg see that the CF as a better choice than BFAA, should we not Shoot a BFAA on Site or at least capture them? (Showing that besides being gentle and cudlier, we can kick any of the Bluelander's Enemies)
The confusion was not only evident of the Patrol Level, but we could not get answers from Squadron or Regiment.
There are alot of legacy equipment in Meaford. I'm sure if we ask nicely we can get them all.
Comms sucked - Yes but we had 77 sets and the 1st Thing I'll teach other people in my unit are Improvised Antenae. (Especially the Long Range - Uni Directional Patrol Antena).
The Iltises were on their last legs. But thanks to some enterprising crews, we kept them from going permanently VOR.
The AAR was a good feedback. But I thought the process was 1) Task, 2) AAR, 3) Same Task with the AAR improvements installed then go back to 1? We had some tasks were there was only 1 AAR and no chance to repeat it again. Last year's AAR was more engaging and had more iterations.
The ROEs were confusing in Beachburg. Are we at war or are we not? Do we have the right to Hunt down the BFAA or do we just keep an Eye out for them? What happens when we see the BFAA "harm" a Bluelander. Why do we still sling our rifles on a "presence" patrol when we have just heard updated news that Jiggs Casey and the Gang are headed our way? What happens when an "intruder" enters our Harbour - Can we shoot them/tackle them/make rude signals to them after sounding the alarm?
If the 3RTR Co's intent was to make the Bluelanders in Beachburg see that the CF as a better choice than BFAA, should we not Shoot a BFAA on Site or at least capture them? (Showing that besides being gentle and cudlier, we can kick any of the Bluelander's Enemies)
The confusion was not only evident of the Patrol Level, but we could not get answers from Squadron or Regiment.
There are alot of legacy equipment in Meaford. I'm sure if we ask nicely we can get them all.
S
Sharpey
Guest
My 2 cents on the Ex.
Not bad at all. No real complaints this year with the exception of the typical few that come with every ex. Comms is one. The 521's that worked occasionaly, one 522 in my Troop and once in the vehicles, the 77 sets that again, surprise, didn't work. So flying around in Ilti with maybe 2 working radios for the troop sucks, but I am used to it. The FRS's that say 3km range, as a future note, actually only means 500m!
Water was in short supply and at times food as well...no doubt not a Regimental problem but a higher one. We found that out the hard way after our Hel Op. Once the pilots dropped the infantry, instead of picking us up like they were supposed to, they decided to fly home, leaving us to hump about 6 km to an MLicopter LZ. On the way, we stumbled through the back door of an En poisition. They were kind enough to leave a large map model showing all their defences for us to few. Once we noticed the LAV down the hill by a pair of rockets, we decided to mosey on our way.
Of course, Pet is not like Essex county, and the hills and more hills drained our water supply fast and at the end, the troop was dry! Once the MLicopter finally came to our third pickup point that had been decided upon, we had a sigh of releif as they brought along a Medic and two water gerrys.
Hmm what else. Started the ex as E Ptrl Commander and finished as A! Quick way to learn the job by just throwing ya in the breech. I feel I handled it well as the OC gave me a personal "at-a-boy" after the Escort Fiasco we had. No comms was the route of the problem there. With no comms, and being the forward security element, you have no idea the convoy got cut off after a Truck crew member wondered into the woods and got lost after a T-flash whent off. Bumping into the advanced Recce kept my pace slower and ended up being jammed between an HL lumbering down the track behind me and the advance Recce. With a few other misunderstandings along the way, the convoy ended up at it's hide, end of story. Quick thinking from the OC I felt saved that fiasco.
In repayment, the next day 3 ARR did their own thing and whent force on force. Good job I say from both Regiments. To my surpise, a log in the road can really mess up a patrols day! All in all, it whent well, booseted our moral and got rid of that cumbersome ammo we had left.
SO to summerize:
cons: better / more radios; more available water
pros: valuable training not normally done at the Regimental level; depite Regimental "differences" we sucked it up and worked as a team
Not bad at all. No real complaints this year with the exception of the typical few that come with every ex. Comms is one. The 521's that worked occasionaly, one 522 in my Troop and once in the vehicles, the 77 sets that again, surprise, didn't work. So flying around in Ilti with maybe 2 working radios for the troop sucks, but I am used to it. The FRS's that say 3km range, as a future note, actually only means 500m!
Water was in short supply and at times food as well...no doubt not a Regimental problem but a higher one. We found that out the hard way after our Hel Op. Once the pilots dropped the infantry, instead of picking us up like they were supposed to, they decided to fly home, leaving us to hump about 6 km to an MLicopter LZ. On the way, we stumbled through the back door of an En poisition. They were kind enough to leave a large map model showing all their defences for us to few. Once we noticed the LAV down the hill by a pair of rockets, we decided to mosey on our way.
Of course, Pet is not like Essex county, and the hills and more hills drained our water supply fast and at the end, the troop was dry! Once the MLicopter finally came to our third pickup point that had been decided upon, we had a sigh of releif as they brought along a Medic and two water gerrys.
Hmm what else. Started the ex as E Ptrl Commander and finished as A! Quick way to learn the job by just throwing ya in the breech. I feel I handled it well as the OC gave me a personal "at-a-boy" after the Escort Fiasco we had. No comms was the route of the problem there. With no comms, and being the forward security element, you have no idea the convoy got cut off after a Truck crew member wondered into the woods and got lost after a T-flash whent off. Bumping into the advanced Recce kept my pace slower and ended up being jammed between an HL lumbering down the track behind me and the advance Recce. With a few other misunderstandings along the way, the convoy ended up at it's hide, end of story. Quick thinking from the OC I felt saved that fiasco.
In repayment, the next day 3 ARR did their own thing and whent force on force. Good job I say from both Regiments. To my surpise, a log in the road can really mess up a patrols day! All in all, it whent well, booseted our moral and got rid of that cumbersome ammo we had left.
SO to summerize:
cons: better / more radios; more available water
pros: valuable training not normally done at the Regimental level; depite Regimental "differences" we sucked it up and worked as a team
S
Sharpey
Guest
DG-41 said:
I experienced this after the ex while talking to a Coy Cmdr I work with on the Civvie side. Apparently, they had no idea we were on the ground and in some cases were suprised to see us on their LZ when they landed. Sounds to me like the way up's arn't talking to each other. In one scenario, our guys were patrolling and doing point Recce's for at least 24 hours before the Infantry sent in their own Recce to do what we have done the past day or so! Does nobody trust our ability as Recce or is nobody talking? I mean, Recce is all we do, and we are a Brigade Asset, we are the eyes for all arms! Or am I wrong?
And to support DG's comment. Some of our patros monitored en activity for 24 hrs + and infiltrated the positions, both the bridges and rear areas. Like my previous post mentioned, one position we ended up getting the location for the entire grid sqaure! Mine fields, OP's etc... If comms worked it all could have been passed up!
Communication!! Yes the ex whent well for 3ARR but it seems, we still arn't employed 100% the way we should be.
"The confusion was not only evident of the Patrol Level, but we could not get answers from Squadron or Regiment.'
- This an Ex? Okay, shoot a bad guy, claim self-defence, let the powers that be sort it out. If you want an issue resolved, then make it an issue.
- You should be issued Exercise ROEs in hard copy. If not, it is a command failure. In any case, an ROE cannot usurp self defence.
- " It is better to be tried by twelve than carried by eight."
Tom
- This an Ex? Okay, shoot a bad guy, claim self-defence, let the powers that be sort it out. If you want an issue resolved, then make it an issue.
- You should be issued Exercise ROEs in hard copy. If not, it is a command failure. In any case, an ROE cannot usurp self defence.
- " It is better to be tried by twelve than carried by eight."
Tom
1
1CP
Guest
As a first time poster, I'd just like to thank the good folks who made this available. It is truly a great resource. Keep up the good work.
As someone who is prone like most of us to find fault with most exs, equipment etc. I would like to say that I thought overall SG05 was a overall very well run ex for the most part and the objectives and timelines (well always very tight) forced people to think on their feet and adapt.
Recce was forced to picket the positions in the daylight, which makes things hairy, as well as at night to get decent information on the bad guys. Moreover, the enemy was well disciplined vs. the typical 4x QL-2s with a light-duties Mcpl sitting around a campfire trying to be found.
Kudos to the 1RCR guys for their siting, prepping and defending positions which proved to be very challenging to find, infiltrate and attack.
Of the 3 positions we attacked, only the bridge was at the grid we were given, I suspect largely because they could not pick it up and move it.
On the Bridge our company did, as was mentioned earlier, assault the bridge from both sides at once. The DS did kill a lot of our guys (wrongly as it turned out) because they saw some friendlies blazing away at a bunker and assumed it was a blue on blue. There would have been less casualties on the bridge but probably more in the firebase as the badguys spotted it and hit it with arty. Net-net it was probably a wash.
The window for getting a force across the other side was a pretty thin one, but fortunately our OC recognized the opportunity and put half the company across during our chopper rehearsal time the day before. Overall it worked out quite well I thought. The other neat thing was that we sent in engineers the night before in a 2-man recce boat to cut the explosives on the bridge which meant that the bad guys couldn't have blown the bridge if they wanted to.
With all good points, there are always a couple points to improve:
1) Comms - as usual it was abysmal. As most of us recognize sending anyone out more than a few 100 meters with a 521 and expecting to hear back is wishful thinking. The Recce Dets, PLs, Coy HQs, patrols, OPs etc all need 522s at least, which were in very short supply. We managed to snag a 77-set, which made all the difference but its tough if now one else has comms. There is no doubt in my mind it is a training issue for a good deal of it, but as they say it needs to be idiot proof because sooner or later an idiot will need to use it.
Given that we will likely have to deal with the problem for the foreseeable future I would recommend pushing comms trg at the units and not just the usual, strip/assemble and VP stuff. Try and get the soldiers to spend some time trouble shooting and prep some field expedient antennas and take with them so at least c/s 19 can talk to 0 etc.
As one of the prontos posted earlier, they were looking for a challenge. So maybe it would be a good idea to push some of those guys down to coy level to sort out some of the headaches and teach the rest of us how to make the maximum use of our kit.
2) We seem to have raised a number of leaders who have a hard time thinking beyond the rifle Pl/coy. The importance of support elements can not be understated. I'm not sure if it's just the lack of familiarity with what other c/s due or the attitude that we can do it all our selves. In our BN, one of the coys was actually offer a Recce Sect and refused! Having a full rifle Pl is nice but if no-one is there to guide them in or the same guy who does has to rush back and become part of the assault force you are going to waste lives.
3) The smoker - warm pop and cold pizza. Nuff said.
Overall a good ex. No doubt if I thought a little harder there would be more things to complain about, but as a teaching tool, which is what it was, I think the new troops were exposed to a great deal and the leadership was challenged.
1CP
As someone who is prone like most of us to find fault with most exs, equipment etc. I would like to say that I thought overall SG05 was a overall very well run ex for the most part and the objectives and timelines (well always very tight) forced people to think on their feet and adapt.
Recce was forced to picket the positions in the daylight, which makes things hairy, as well as at night to get decent information on the bad guys. Moreover, the enemy was well disciplined vs. the typical 4x QL-2s with a light-duties Mcpl sitting around a campfire trying to be found.
Kudos to the 1RCR guys for their siting, prepping and defending positions which proved to be very challenging to find, infiltrate and attack.
Of the 3 positions we attacked, only the bridge was at the grid we were given, I suspect largely because they could not pick it up and move it.
On the Bridge our company did, as was mentioned earlier, assault the bridge from both sides at once. The DS did kill a lot of our guys (wrongly as it turned out) because they saw some friendlies blazing away at a bunker and assumed it was a blue on blue. There would have been less casualties on the bridge but probably more in the firebase as the badguys spotted it and hit it with arty. Net-net it was probably a wash.
The window for getting a force across the other side was a pretty thin one, but fortunately our OC recognized the opportunity and put half the company across during our chopper rehearsal time the day before. Overall it worked out quite well I thought. The other neat thing was that we sent in engineers the night before in a 2-man recce boat to cut the explosives on the bridge which meant that the bad guys couldn't have blown the bridge if they wanted to.
With all good points, there are always a couple points to improve:
1) Comms - as usual it was abysmal. As most of us recognize sending anyone out more than a few 100 meters with a 521 and expecting to hear back is wishful thinking. The Recce Dets, PLs, Coy HQs, patrols, OPs etc all need 522s at least, which were in very short supply. We managed to snag a 77-set, which made all the difference but its tough if now one else has comms. There is no doubt in my mind it is a training issue for a good deal of it, but as they say it needs to be idiot proof because sooner or later an idiot will need to use it.
Given that we will likely have to deal with the problem for the foreseeable future I would recommend pushing comms trg at the units and not just the usual, strip/assemble and VP stuff. Try and get the soldiers to spend some time trouble shooting and prep some field expedient antennas and take with them so at least c/s 19 can talk to 0 etc.
As one of the prontos posted earlier, they were looking for a challenge. So maybe it would be a good idea to push some of those guys down to coy level to sort out some of the headaches and teach the rest of us how to make the maximum use of our kit.
2) We seem to have raised a number of leaders who have a hard time thinking beyond the rifle Pl/coy. The importance of support elements can not be understated. I'm not sure if it's just the lack of familiarity with what other c/s due or the attitude that we can do it all our selves. In our BN, one of the coys was actually offer a Recce Sect and refused! Having a full rifle Pl is nice but if no-one is there to guide them in or the same guy who does has to rush back and become part of the assault force you are going to waste lives.
3) The smoker - warm pop and cold pizza. Nuff said.
Overall a good ex. No doubt if I thought a little harder there would be more things to complain about, but as a teaching tool, which is what it was, I think the new troops were exposed to a great deal and the leadership was challenged.
1CP
Jarnhamar
Army.ca Myth
- Reaction score
- 7,046
- Points
- 1,160
Someone I spoke with brought up a good point.
If we were to have a smoker, with the ever evil substance known as alcohol, the leadership would have had to have 10 hour + briefings about how to identify drunk soldiers and deal with them.
You treat soldiers like kids and their going to act like kids, to spite you.
Treat soldiers like soldiers and that's what you'll get.
If we were to have a smoker, with the ever evil substance known as alcohol, the leadership would have had to have 10 hour + briefings about how to identify drunk soldiers and deal with them.
You treat soldiers like kids and their going to act like kids, to spite you.
Treat soldiers like soldiers and that's what you'll get.
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 110
brin11 said:
Not from the Maint Side, but from someone who had to go throught the Veh DAG.
The system that was set up this year over at 2 Service Btn was great, we were in and out with guns and everything VERY quick. Last year we sat on the Madawa all day waiting to pass through. So cudo's to whomever set that up.
B
bran
Guest
Hey guys, this might be a stupid question but im new to the military and have my Bn AAG just wondering what it is exactly?
thanks
thanks
George Wallace
Army.ca Dinosaur
- Reaction score
- 184
- Points
- 710
ONT said:Hey guys, this might be a stupid question but im new to the military and have my Bn AAG just wondering what it is exactly?
thanks
The Arrival Assistance Group. It is where you will get all of your Administration completed that will indicate your availability to deploy. You will have to bring in current documentation, such as Passport, Drivers Licence, Health Card, Needle Book, Dog Tags, 404's and ID Card, if you have them and ensure that they are not expired or expiring. You will check to see if your MPRR us correct. You will fill out a new PEN form, a Memorial Cross form, a Family Care form, a Physical Fitness form, a will if you haven't already, and perhaps a few other forms. You will be interviewed by your Platoon officer or WO.
It is just a lot of administration that has to be done on a regular basis to keep all your information current.
B
bran
Guest
Thanks for the quick reply, I guess it's going to be a very interesting night
- Reaction score
- 79
- Points
- 680
George Wallace said:
Don't forget to bring in any outstanding claims (i.e. Route Letters and Travel Orders) from the summer too.
Similar threads
