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    Canadian soldiers play major role in US training exercise

    Canadian Soldiers play major role in US training exercise

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Michael Beck | Warrant Officer Peter Hoy, signal officer for the 33 Canadian Brigade Group looks on...... read more read more

    CUSTER, CUSTER STATE PARK, SD, UNITED STATES

    06.08.2015

    Courtesy Story

    129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

    CUSTER STATE PARK, S.D. – The Canadian Army Reserve is playing a major role in the 31st Golden Coyote training exercise, hosted by the South Dakota National Guard in the Black Hills June 6-20, by managing Forward Operating Base Custer.

    FOB Custer is one of five FOBs being manned during the exercise, which involves approximately 3,000 service members to improve their combat and trade skills.

    “Golden Coyote is one of the largest National Guard operated exercises in the country,” said Maj. Travis Eastman, Golden Coyote coordinator. “The South Dakota National Guard is proud of the 31-year history of this exercise, which continually draws units from across the country as well as units from allied nations year after year.”

    Canada is the only allied nation to manage a FOB in the history of the exercise, a task being supported by members of the 33 Canadian Brigade Group.

    While operating as the mayor cell for FOB Custer, the 75 members of the CBG will host eight other units from Denmark, Great Britain and the United States. FOB Custer provides housing, rations, command and logistics support for the units residing there for the duration of the exercise.

    Managing a FOB doesn’t come without challenges.

    “We have about 16 communications specialists on the ground currently, and all are busy working on the networks, which is a bit different than we are used to, since we are connecting through commercial providers,” said Warrant Officer Peter Hoy, signal officer for the 33 CBG.

    Managing a FOB during Golden Coyote is similar to missions the CBG would perform if activated for an emergency or to support overseas operations.

    “We will be training as we fight,” said Maj. Matthew Baxter, commander of the 33 CBG forces operating in FOB Custer. “We will be managing all of the engineer units, just as if we were operating a multi-national rebuilding effort after a conflict or disaster.”

    Golden Coyote provides an excellent opportunity to practice the interoperability of multiple branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and our partner nations, something that will be happening every day on and around FOB Custer, said Baxter. He also discussed the similarities the exercise has to a combat deployment.

    “We had to move [our people and equipment] long distances and set up operations in an austere environment, similar to a wartime deployment,” said Baxter.


    The Canadian Reserves are regular participants in the Golden Coyote exercise, with almost a decade of experience.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 06.08.2015
    Date Posted: 06.08.2015 18:11
    Story ID: 165900
    Location: CUSTER, CUSTER STATE PARK, SD, US
    Hometown: OTTAWA, ON, CA

    Web Views: 702
    Downloads: 0

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