WAINRIGHT, Canada—Soldiers of the 786th Quartermaster Company from Provo, Utah, participated in Maple Resolve 2018, a multi-national exercise which ran from May 14-24.
Maple Resolve is the largest annual Canadian army exercise and is an opportunity for U.S. Forces to strengthen relationships, exchange information and share best practices among partner nations. This year approximately 6,000 troops from the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, France, and Australia participated.
In the first year of the unit’s involvement with Maple Resolve, Soldiers of the 786th QM CO were responsible for the central fuel point of the exercise. Two fuel bags totaling almost 24,000 gallons were filled with diesel and dispersed throughout the field to power equipment such as tanks, trucks, and power generators. Throughout the exercise, the Soldiers used ten tankers, each with a 5,000-gallon capacity. In addition, Solders also supported the transportation of aviation fuel to the airfield.
Twenty-Nine Soldiers also participated in convoy operations with Canadian tactical vehicles in combat simulation where they transported fuel to remote locations. 786th QM CO Platoon Leader 2nd Lt. Thai Welty noted that the most appealing aspect of Maple Resolve is that it is not a typical training exercise where troops are confined to a base.
“We’re going to be on the move, constantly supporting the fight and shifting the way that we train for the future,” Welty said.
The Soldiers moved tactically throughout the exercise training field, delivering fuel to various locations where they engaged simulated enemy forces along the way.
2nd Lt. David Rogers, also a 786th platoon leader, echoed this sentiment and citied enthusiasm for an opportunity to move beyond the classroom.
“We’re going to get out there and put hands on the equipment,” Rogers said. “It’s a lot more hands-on, a lot more practical, and we’ll be able to do our job in realistic way in an environment that is similar to what we would deal with in combat.”
The 786th began planning for the exercise in October 2017. Much of the preparation was coordinating resources and how to allocate troops with the Canadian Armed Forces. The 786th QM CO provided tankers, fuel pumps, hoses, fittings, and fire extinguishers while the Canadian Armed Forces provided the fuel bags. In addition, the Canadians provided safety equipment to prevent fuel runoffs as well as environmental protection experts to inspect and certify the operation.
Both of the platoon leaders credit their leadership, which provided the battle drills to focus on. Their leadership empowered them to personally create an appropriate training plan affording an opportunity to train to mission.
79th TSC Soldiers from the 650th Regional Support Group, 208th Transportation Company, 250th Transportation Company, and the 456th Transpiration Detachment also took part in Maple Resolve this year.