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Game on for Wainwright training facility for troops
By BROOKES MERRITT, EDMONTON SUN
Military officials in Alberta are quietly readying to open one of the world's most sophisticated armed forces training centres.
Brig.-Gen. Stu Beare will oversee development of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright - a state-of-the-art war games facility.
"By next year, more than 4,000 members of the Canadian army will be trained in combat tactics ranging from direct-fire weapons to chemical contamination, all in a live environment," Beare said.
The $500-million facility will train two groups of 1,000 soldiers each, twice per year. Special reserve forces will use it in the summer.
Beare said the facility is part of a larger strategy to transform the Canadian Armed Forces, preparing troops for foreign theatres in which terrorism and urban warfare are more prevalent.
"Two years ago we had 6,000 troops overseas; our military couldn't sustain that," Beare said. "By next year we'll be at 4,000. They'll be better-trained and we'll be acting in better accordance with our size."
Month-long training at the CMTC will see troops using a state-of -the-art laser tag system to simulate combat operations in populated areas, complete with non-English-speaking civilians, insurgent and coalition forces.
"This will be the jewel in the Canadian Forces crown," Beare said. "A posting in Wainwright will take on a whole new meaning."
By BROOKES MERRITT, EDMONTON SUN
Military officials in Alberta are quietly readying to open one of the world's most sophisticated armed forces training centres.
Brig.-Gen. Stu Beare will oversee development of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright - a state-of-the-art war games facility.
"By next year, more than 4,000 members of the Canadian army will be trained in combat tactics ranging from direct-fire weapons to chemical contamination, all in a live environment," Beare said.
The $500-million facility will train two groups of 1,000 soldiers each, twice per year. Special reserve forces will use it in the summer.
Beare said the facility is part of a larger strategy to transform the Canadian Armed Forces, preparing troops for foreign theatres in which terrorism and urban warfare are more prevalent.
"Two years ago we had 6,000 troops overseas; our military couldn't sustain that," Beare said. "By next year we'll be at 4,000. They'll be better-trained and we'll be acting in better accordance with our size."
Month-long training at the CMTC will see troops using a state-of -the-art laser tag system to simulate combat operations in populated areas, complete with non-English-speaking civilians, insurgent and coalition forces.
"This will be the jewel in the Canadian Forces crown," Beare said. "A posting in Wainwright will take on a whole new meaning."
