REGIMENTAL BRIEFING NOTE

Transcription

1 REGIMENTAL BRIEFING NOTE 56TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT, RCA MAY 2017 Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel Robert Christopher, CO MISSION 56 Fd Regt RCA will train to specific environments enabling force generation of artillery soldiers in support of Canada s domestic and international defence objectives. That is our mission, and force generation (FG) is a key component. One way to FG is to recruit. For now until 31 Mar 2018 we are expected to hire 24 soldiers. The regiment is having an Open House in Simcoe during the evening on 11 May and during the day on 13 May I ask that every Gunner in this regiment aim to bring at least one prospect to our Open House. If that is not possible, then refer your prospect directly to our recruiting Sergeant, Sgt McLaughlin, as soon as you can. A prospect can be a friend, family member, or someone you know who is looking for work. Sgt McLaughlin can be reached at x 7228, travis.mclaughlin@forces.gc.ca. The recruiting process has been stream lined and sped up. Anyone who joins our unit starts parading almost immediately, and trains with us while going through kitting, a medical, fitness test etc Recruiting is always an important priority. Under the new system which took effect 1 Apr 17 the regiment has more control and more responsibility to make it work. Send your leads to Sgt McLaughlin today! Congratulations to all the Gunners of this regiment who visited Vimy on the 100 th anniversary well done. Bdr Hoo was part of the 2 RCHA Vimy 21 gun salute for the Royal Family. Congratulations to 10 th Field Artillery Battery for acing the St. Julien s Day Parade. It was a spectacular event! Thank you to the 11 soldiers who volunteered to support Op LENTUS and assist fellow Canadians ravaged by flood waters. The regiment stands down for the summer on 18 May 17, and stands to on 7 Sep 17. During this period many of you will be away on tasks, training, and other duties. I wish you all success - Ubique!

2 1 Second-in-Command By Maj Ortiz-Sosa This month was a particularly important one. We kicked off the fiscal year with the Centennial of Vimy Ridge. The regiment was well represented in France with members from each battery in attendance. In the photo 54 Bty s Sgt Philpott places a poppy next to the name of his great uncle Pte A. E. Philpott, who died fighting the Germans at Vimy. Pte Philpott s name is carved into the stone of the monument. Dress and Deportment in the field. As your Unit General Safety Officer (UGSO) it is my duty to inform you on safety. This month s theme is dress and deportment in the field. As we prepare to go out on courses this summer let s keep in mind that we need to train as we fight, and that includes dress and deportment including simple items like wearing Ballistic Eye Wear (BEW), helmets, etc... Of specific note is the requirement that gloves are mandatory field wear. There are multiple incidents of soldiers injured in theatre because they are not wearing gloves. These soldiers may be in vehicles that suffer from Improvised Explosive Device (IED) or rocket attacks and the soldiers suffer flash burns or the soldiers have to try and pull someone out of one of these burning vehicles. Gloves will protect their hands. Consider our Field Dress Policy which states all soldiers will operate in a field environment with helmet, BEW, tactical vest, sleeves down and gloves on at all times. Let s do our part to train as we fight and adopt these safety measures. Ex CO-OP GUNNER 17 & RST The regiment stands down 18 May 17, and stands to 7 Sep 17. During this summer period soldiers in this unit will not parade at the regiment, but rather will take various courses to develop their artillery skills as Gunners. This is part of Force Generation, and it is our mission here at 56 Fd Regt RCA the generation of artillery soldiers in support of Canada s domestic and international defence objectives. The expectation at this regiment is that every soldier must commit time during the year, or during the summer period, to complete a course and or participate in a major field training exercise (FTX) like Stalwart Guardian. Doing this keeps our skills sets sharp and develops us into effective Gunners. If you are not meeting this expectation, then speak with your supervisor as soon as possible for guidance and advice on how to get course loaded, or assigned to an FTX. Speaking of FTXs, our Mar 17 exercise CO-OP GUNNER 2017 (CG 17) continues to generate very positive reverberations. At a recent 32 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG) Commanders Update Brief (CUB) Commander Col Zalvin singled out with positive special attention 56 Fd Regt RCA, in front of all the Bde s 13 COs and RSMs who were in attendance. He stated he was impressed with the outstanding work done by 56 Fd Regt RCA at Ex CO-OP GUNNER, and that the FTX was extremely

3 2 well executed. He then forwarded an from a CFLC participant who was an observer at CO-OP GUNNER, and it reads as follows: Col Zalvin: I d like to express my sincere gratitude for providing me with the opportunity to attend a live fire exercise at CFB Meaford. Our chaperons for the day (Cmdr Davies, Capt Fitzgerald-Sloman, MCpl Olken) and the many Reservists I met were extremely professional and were very kind to indulge my 100+ questions throughout the day! It was such a rewarding and educational experience and one that I will speak very highly of to my colleagues, family + friends. Thank you Sir, for all you ve done and continue to do for our great country. Sincerely, Jillian Forrow (Guest of Major John Stewart, 7 th Toronto Regiment). The FTX went extremely well. All the Reserve units came together and worked as a team. The combining of three artillery regiments into one (4 RCA) was almost seamless and totally effective. The support and participation of the Combat Service Support units such as signals or intelligence was outstanding. For next year s FTX CO-OP GUNNER, the 11 Fd Regt RCA is the lead unit. In closing, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all who participated in the FTX it was a job well done! LCol R. Christopher Background - CG 17 was a regimental Level IV Field Training Exercise (FTX) conducted at 4th Canadian Division Training Center Meaford on Mar Participating artillery units from 31 and 32 Canadian Brigade Group formed 4 RCA and included 7 Tor Regt RCA, 11 Fd Regt RCA and lead unit 56 Fd Regt RCA. Other units attached under 56 Fd Regt RCA s Operational Control included 32 Service Battalion, 31 and 32 Signals Regiments, 25 Field Ambulance, 2 Intelligence Company, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, and the Canadian Forces Liaison Council (CFLC). The FTX End State was met by our having completed three regimental missions. About 155 soldiers from all units participated on the FTX, and 100s of artillery rounds were fired. The numerous CFLC Executrek guests were very pleased and impressed. The FTX also received positive media attention. ( ). 56 Fd Regt RCA Association The 56 Fd Regt RCA Association (56 FARA) is looking to grow its membership. Benefits include receiving the 56 Fd Regt RCA Regimental Briefing Note and other regimental publications, having special access to the regiment s messes for unique occasions, receiving invitations to social and ceremonial functions, attending professional development events, and observing live fire field operations as a civilian. The annual membership fee is $10. Please mail your cheque and make it payable to the Treasurer 56 FARA, address 56 Fd Regt RCA, 18 Brant Avenue, Brantford, ON, N3T 5G3. 56 FARA will convene a planning meeting on 13 May at 3pm in the Officer s Mess at the Brantford Armoury, 18 Brant Street, Brantford, ON. All are welcome. The meeting agenda includes the following items: increasing membership and fundraising; a proposed three-pronged operating strategy for the Association; distribution of relevant information to members via the Association's list; holding periodic meetings of the membership in the Brantford Armoury for topical presentations; and arranging major special events at selected venues for our members and the general public. For information contact Col (Ret d) Wayne Shiplo at ont56fara@rogers.com.

4 3 Adjutant Capt David Vandevenne A reminder that with the end of the training year on 31 Mar 17, the Performance Evaluation Report (PER) season is once again upon us for the 2016/17 year. Every HQ from the Canadian Army on down will be tracking the completion rates of PERs using Monitor Mass on a weekly basis starting on 12 May, so it is imperative that BCs ensure all eligible members receive their PER in accordance with 32 CBG s directed timelines. The first batch of PERs (mostly Reg F, but also some senior officers and NCOs) was due at 32 CBG HQ on 8 May 17. PERs will be well written and will be reviewed prior to being signed. To help ensure that the process runs smoothly, the CO has directed that a PER Professional Development (PD) writing session be conducted on the weekend of May with BCs and other key appointments in attendance. It will be held in Simcoe, in order to coincide with the recruiting Open House. BC 10 Lt Pocuca A special congratulations to all the soldiers returning from France during our Vimy 100 th Anniversary RCA pilgrimage. The trip was very successful. On 22 Apr 2017, as part of great tradition, the 102nd anniversary of the Battle of St. Julien was commemorated with a parade and mess dinner at Lake Street Armory, St. Catharines. Over 150 people participated, including MP Chris Bittle and MPP Jim Bradley. The Reviewing Officer (RO) was renowned author and historian Mr. James Steel. The history of this great event is as follows. On 22 April 1915 in St. Julien, Belgium, the 10th Field Battery (10 Bty), with one section of guns reversed, kept up fire in two directions for four hours against the Germans. In their attack the Germans used massive amounts of chlorine gas. This was the first large scale gas attack in the history of warfare. 10th Bty s contribution towards stemming the German advance was a success and the Germans retreated, defeated. In closing, I would like to remind everyone in 10 Bty to acquire all the necessary paperwork before going to Regional Summer Training (RST) this summer. Remember the great contribution that we as a reserve force provide to Canada's security and sovereignty, as well as international stability. Good luck with your summer! Have You Read Any Good Books Lately? Padre, Capt Ken Webb All members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Regular and Reserve, are expected and encouraged to be constantly improving themselves, their skills and knowledge of their profession. We are expected to maintain standards of physical training, basic individual soldier skills, as well as those proper to our particular branch or arm of service. This expectation also holds true for the development and training of our minds: we should be reading and thinking about various aspects of the profession of arms. The Canadian Army Reading List is only one of a vast series of collections of recommended books for soldiers to read and study in order to improve their

5 4 understanding of the profession of arms and their role in it. To make the point, the forward to the 2009 edition of the list includes this observation: Soldiers today are faced with innumerable challenges in complex and punishing environments across the globe. Combined with seemingly unending revolutions and evolutions in warfare, technology, and society, now more than ever we require a thorough and in-depth understanding of our profession. We can never spend too much time learning it, thinking about it, and debating it. There is perhaps no better way to develop the knowledge and confidence required of the soldier s calling off the field than a disciplined and focused commitment to a personal course of reading and study. The ability to think about, analyze, evaluate and then decide on how to act in an increasingly complex and demanding operational environment demands that we have soldiers who are reading and thinking about the military profession how and why we do things, and how and why they were done in the past. A sustained personal program of reading on matters related to the profession of arms is an excellent way to equip ourselves for the challenges of the future. To quote from that forward again: The soldier s profession is unique, and we must all do our utmost to prepare for the heavy responsibilities and challenges of military service. We are all busy, with civilian jobs, family, and other commitments, and there is only so much time available in the day - but we do well to make our ongoing education and professional learning a priority. I would like to wish all the best to the members of the regiment as we go into the summer training period. Whether you are on course, instructing, on a tasking or just taking the summer off, be assured of my prayers, and don t forget to read a good book! Sgt Pynn - Incoming Chief Clerk Effective 24 Jul Fd Regt RCA will have a new Chief Clerk (CClk). A native of Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, Sergeant Terry Pynn joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 2002 as a RMS Clerk in St. John s NL. After completing BMQ and RMS Clerk QL3 training, he was posted to CFB Gagetown in 2004, where he worked as OR clerk at CFSME, Squadron Clerk for the Field Engineer Training Squadron and Sqn clerk with 3 ASG Sigs Sqn. From Gagetown, Sgt Pynn spent six years with recruiting, initially as File manager in Hamilton, and then to CFRG HQ as 2IC of the Orderly Room, Acting Chief Clerk, Standards and Quality Control, General Office Supervisor and National Events Clerk. In 2014, Sgt Pynn was posted to CFLTC and was promoted to his current rank of Sgt in Jul 16. In Jul 16, Sgt Pynn was posted to his current position as the Course Director for the Recruiting Clerk Course at CFTDC, responsible for ensuring delivery of high quality training, resulting in being awarded The Base Commanders Commendation for his work at RTC in 2015 at Cornwall. Sgt Pynn is an avid sports fan, enjoys playing hockey, golf, and baseball. Sgt Pynn is married to Valeria Cruz Pynn and has one daughter Thaila Pynn. On behalf of 56 Fd Regt RCA I welcome Sgt Pynn to our unit. The position of CClk is very important, and he will be at the centre of all the unit s administration. Welcome to the Guns! LCol Christopher

6 5 The Honorary Colonel HCol The Rev d Bryan Robertson For those members of the regiment who participated in the recent St. Julien celebrations, you will know by now that my promotion to Honorary Colonel (HCol) of the 56 th Field Artillery Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery finally came through and I was pleased to accept this honour at the parade in St. Catharines on 22 April. While I previously held the appointment of Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel (HLCol) from 2011 to 2014, it took quite some time to surmount the paper wall which seemed to obstruct progress toward my appointment as HCol. Not much seems to have improved in this aspect of the military in the 60 years that I have been associated with the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). By way of background, my name is Bryan Robertson and I was born and grew up in Simcoe. I joined the 56 Fd Regt RCA (69 th Field Battery) in May of 1957 and rose to the rank of Bombardier. I was commissioned as a Second-Lieutenant (8 th Field Regiment, 102 nd Field Battery, Dundas) in March of I re-badged as an officer in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry (Wentworth Regiment) in 1966 and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and commanded the RHLI from 1974 to I also commanded the Ancaster High and Vocational School Cadet Corps at one stage and was an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to Lieutenant-Governors the Honorable Pauline McGibbon and the Honorable John Black Aird. My employment as a civilian was initially as a secondary school science teacher in Ancaster and Stony Creek and subsequently as Director of Provincial Schools for the Ontario Ministry of Education. I am also an ordained Anglican Priest and Honorary Chaplain of the RHLI. I have been married to my wife Patricia for fifty-five years and we have four adult children Harry, Michelle, Carole, and Tracy and three grandchildren Lindsay, Julia, and Benjamin. That is enough said about me. The practice of honorary appointments in Canada dates back more than a century. Although the tasks and roles of units have changed over the years, it remains the role of the Honorary to serve as a link between the community and the CAF. The Honorary rank is honorary and advisory and does not confer any authority or command (even if the Honorary previously held a higher substantive rank than that of the Commanding Officer). The role of the Honorary is to serve as an advocate for the Regiment and the CAF, and to strengthen the military s bond with the community. Public relations is an important aspect of this role. The Honorary is expected to be an informed and respected representative of the Department of National defence, the same as every other serving member of the CAF, particularly to the media. One of the key responsibilities of an Honorary in the CAF currently is to promote diversity in the CAF, women, minorities, aboriginals, and greater civilian participation among other things. As one step toward this end, our current HLCol, Paul Williamson, a prominent business man and outstanding citizen of Brantford, is the first person without a previous military background to have been appointed an Honorary in our Regiment. The HCol is also the Chair of the Regimental Senate. The Senate currently is made up of the HCol, HLCol, former Commanding Officers, and former Regimental Sergeants-Major. One of my goals as HCol is to expand the Senate to include members with military backgrounds beyond the Regiment and not limited to former CO s and RSM s, as well as the addition of prominent civilian members of the communities of which the Regiment is a part, and possibly beyond. My target is for the Senate to meet twice yearly, once in May or June and once on the day of the Christmas Dinner for the Troops in December, with any additional meetings as necessary. I would also like to see the creation of a Regimental Foundation to build an endowment fund to support the financial welfare of the Regiment and its soldiers. We are very fortunate that past HCol Don Wilkin and his wife Joanne established a generous endowment fund with the Brant Community Foundation to support the Regiment with an annual contribution to the Unit Fund which assists the CO in carrying out activities which require funding beyond that provided by DND. That said, I am honoured to have been appointed as your HCol and will do my best during my tenure to promote the best interests of the 56 Fd Regt RCA and our fine soldiers. We belong to a great Regiment with a colourful history and proud heritage! Ubique.

7 6 56 Fd Regt RCA is Recruiting!!! Sgt Travis McLaughlin As you are all aware the regiment is looking to recruit 24 more soldiers. We currently have a healthy amount of applicants in the system, however, it always helps to get more. If you know anyone who would like to join, or has questions in regards to anything military related please feel free to give them my contact information below. As well, I hope you all invite friends and family to the Simcoe Open Houses being held on the 11 th and 13 th of May. If you have questions I can be contacted by phone at ext 7228 or by at Travis.McLaughlin@forces.gc.ca. Ubique! Capt Ohlke Transfers to the Regs I would like to say thank you for the wonderful experience I have had at 56 Fd over the past eight years. I started in 2009 with 10 Bty, and became the Non Public Funds Accounting Officer (NPFAO) at HQ sometime around the fall of It was always a challenge, though a rewarding one, to balance reserve service with my civilian career as a contract archaeologist. Being part of the regiment allowed me to develop and utilize some entirely different skill sets than the ones I used in my day job. In the fall of 2015, I somewhat accidentally went full time, going on Op PROVISION, which took me to CFBs Trenton, Borden, and Kingston. This led into a summer as 48 Depot Bty BK in Meaford in 2016, and then to a Class B administrative position in Borden beginning in Aug 16. For the past year I have not been at the regiment very often, as I now live in Borden, but I have been maintaining the regiment s non-public funds from a distance. At the end of May I will be taking the next step in my career, a plunge into the world of regular force logistics. Due to outstanding leave I need to burn before the end of my contract, my last day will be 12 May. As I am coming to find out is standard for the regular force, I am not yet sure what branch of logistics I will specialize in, or where I will be posted (I am hearing likely Newfoundland for the first go). Wherever I end up, I am sure the skills I learned and the memories I created at 56 Fd will serve me well. Although I am a Logistics officer by profession, I have always been made to feel a part of the gunner family at 56 Fd, albeit likely as the slightly eccentric cousin. I wish you all the best for the future. Ubique! On behalf of 56 Fd Regt RCA, I wish Capt Ohlke continued success as she transitions from the Reserves to the Regular Force. Her service to this regiment was outstanding, and she will be missed, but not forgotten. Ubique!

8 7 Family Support Group (FSG) Mrs. Pat Cooke FSG meeting at Crabby Joes in Brantford, Wednesday May 17. See recent news and events for May to summer on website. Gnr Dowd Promoted to Bdr at St. Juliens FIGURE 1 CWO RUSS, LCOL CHRISTOPHER, BDR DOWD, HCOL ROBERTSON, RO MR. JAMES STEEL