The army wasn't called in to help with the 2022 Christmas storm in Chatham-Kent, but hundreds of soldiers will be in the municipality this weekend sharpening their winter emergency response skills during a mock drill in case any municipality comes calling for help.
Canadian Army Public Affairs Officer Lieutenant (Navy) Andrew McLaughlin said over 600 soldiers from 31 Canadian Brigade Group (31 CBG) based in London will be training in Bothwell, Wheatley, Chatham, Wallaceburg, Thamesville, Ridgetown, Blenheim, Merlin, and Tilbury from Friday until Sunday. McLaughlin said larger platoons will operate out of the Bothwell Area Sports Centre, the J.G. Taylor Community Centre, the Wheatley Area Arena, and the William K. Erikson Arena while smaller platoons will conduct drills in the other areas.
Soldiers will be responding to a simulated winter weather emergency after being called by the municipality for assistance, according to the Canadian Army. McLaughlin added the winter exercise scenario will include setting up reception centres, establishing command posts, a ground search and rescue with local authorities, and vehicle and foot patrols across the community.
He said the exercise will include deploying three Domestic Response Companies to Chatham-Kent along with an armoured squadron, a combat engineer squadron, an administrative support company, a communications squadron, and a command and control unit.
"The aim of the exercise is to practise the planning and execution of domestic support operations, which take place after receiving a Request for Assistance (RFA) from civil authorities during a crisis like a natural disaster or industrial accident," said McLaughlin.
There will be a “Meet a Soldier” event at the William K. Erikson Arena in Chatham on Saturday from 4-7 p.m. for those who wish to interact with Canadian Army personnel.
The public is also encouraged to visit the various locations and talk to the deployed soldiers.
Lieutenant (Navy) McLaughlin emphasizes that all Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members will be "completely unarmed" and will have no access to ammunition or pyrotechnics of any kind during the weekend training exercise.
"It is asked that the public use extra caution when near military vehicles, as the CAF takes every measure to conduct safe exercises with minimal impact on the people living in the communities we serve," McLaughlin said.
