Maine Soldiers overcome challenges in Arctic training exercise

Courtesy Photo | National Guard Soldiers from Maine and Vermont worked with members of the 35th Canadian Forces Brigade at Baffin Island, just north of the Arctic Circle, as part of Exercise Guerrier Nordique 2014. The event is an annual training for the Canadian response teams, who invited the Americans to take advantage of the opportunity to further their knowledge of operations in extreme cold conditions. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sean Keefe)  

AUGUSTA, ME, UNITED STATES

03.14.2014

Story by Sgt. Angela Parady 

121st Public Affairs Detachment

AUGUSTA, Maine - In the midst of one of the coldest and harshest winters in years, 13 soldiers from National Guard units in Maine and Vermont packed their bags, and reported to the armory of Les Voltigeurs de Quebec, Canada.

The soldiers worked with the 35th Canadian Forces Brigade who ran the training and the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain) and the Army Mountain Warfare School to test the tactics and procedures of American cold weather equipment and training from March 1-6.

Called Exercise Guerrier Nordique 2014, the training is an annual late winter event for the Canadian Army Reserve’s Arctic Response companies and aims to build the Canadian military’s operational capacity in arctic and sub-arctic environments. This event took place in the highest latitude for the exercise thus far, and maintains the Canadian’s ability to deploy response companies to the furthest reaches of Canadian territory.

“For the past 13 plus years, the United States has been focused on the Global War on Terrorism,” said Staff Sgt. Sean Keefe, a weapons squad leader with Company B, 3rd Battalion, 172d Infantry Regiment (Mountain), Maine Army National Guard. “Our ability to fully operate in the arctic has diminished, but it is important that the Mountain Brigade and Mountain school lead the way, and work on building those skills back up. “

For seven days they camped in Iqaluit, the territorial capital of Nunavut, located on Baffin Island, just north of the Arctic Circle. Some nights the temperatures dropped as low as -76, and the finicky Coleman two-burner stoves they used as heaters often went out for an hours at a time.

First Lt. Lane Wiggin, executive officer for the 172nd, said that the Maine soldiers were sent for the purpose of gaining experience in arctic combat conditions.

“The room for error in moving, clothing, logistical support, and priorities of work is much less in extreme cold and high winds,” he said. “We discovered that logistical support in the arctic is extremely vital to survive. Surviving becomes the first priority, ahead of operating.”

The Canadians taught the Americans how to set up their tent systems, how to move with their sled systems, and most importantly familiarization with the C7 rifle and shotgun, which is similar to the M16 that American soldiers are accustomed to, only customized for better efficiency in the cold, and for left hand shooters. The shotguns were intended to protect the American’s from the greatest threat, polar bears.

Along with learning the tried and tested tactics of the Canadian response teams, the American’s had their own training objectives.
“A lot of the internal training we did, consisted mostly of testing our medical equipment in these conditions,” said Keefe, who lives in Sanford. “We applied tourniquets and checked to see if it was still possible for them to stop a pulse with all of the winter clothing on, which it did, just after about five twists. We also found that the hypothermia kits were nearly useless as it took three hours for them to activate and give off any sort of heat. We also talked about how we would handle tactical situations, such as a casualty in -50 degree weather.”

In addition, the Americans attended classes on Canadian radio and snowmobile maintenance, and gave a class on mountaineering. They employed their skills to overcome ice cliffs and crevasses in icefall areas as they traveled approximately 60 kilometers on foot and snowmobile.

“Our biggest exercise was setting up an airstrip for a twin otter plane on the ice,” said Keefe. “During that time we were at a site located on Frobisher Bay, staying on ocean ice. The ice we stayed on rose and fell 20-25 feet with the tidal changes. We stayed there for three days.”

A senior arctic adviser with the group said that as international military and political attention increases on this valuable area, the U.S. military is going to have to focus more attention on preparing specific units for such operations.

Wiggin, a Waterville native, said training like this helps overall readiness for his soldiers.

“By exposing the maximum amount of personnel to trainings such as this will only increase our operational readiness in cold weather conditions.”

Keefe agreed.

“We owe it to our country and the Army to be highly proficient in cold weather operations. This past winter has proven that winter can be brutally cold, and we should be fully prepared to operate within our state no matter the conditions at the time. Also, as a state with members of the 86th, it’s important to have leaders who can attend this training exercise and bring the knowledge back to their units to increase their overall combat effectiveness.”

• Date Taken: 03.14.2014
• Date Posted: 04.06.2014 09:00
• Story ID: 124510
• Location: AUGUSTA, ME, US
• Hometown: SANFORD, ME, US
• Hometown: WATERVILLE, ME, US