Photo: Master Corporal Precious Carandang, 4th Canadian Division Public Affairs
Hundreds of Canadian Army soldiers will be arriving in Chatham-Kent this week to conduct emergency crisis training.
Over 600 members of the 31 Canadian Brigade Group from London will be conducting training exercises from April 14-16 in several communities around the municipality.
The aim of the exercise, entitled Arrowhead Response, is to practice the planning and execution of domestic support operations, which take place after receiving a request for assistance from civil authorities such as a municipal government. The brigade group will be simulating a response to a winter weather emergency.
The exercise will include a variety of training tasks and objectives, including the set-up of reception centres, the establishment of command posts, a ground search and rescue with local authorities, and patrols in the community by vehicle and foot.
Throughout the weekend, groups of 150 soldiers will be deployed at the Bothwell Area Sports Centre, the J.G. Taylor Community Centre, the Wheatley Area Arena and the William K. Erikson Arena. Smaller, platoon-sized groups will also operate in Wallaceburg, Thamesville, Ridgetown, Blenheim, Merlin, and Tilbury.
All of the soldiers will be completely unarmed during the training exercises, but the public is asked to use extra caution near military vehicles.
There will also be many opportunities for the public to interact with Canadian Army personnel during the training exercises, including a “Meet a Soldier” event at the William K. Erikson Arena on Saturday, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.
