The Rocky Mountain Rangers LCol Kevin Tyler, Commanding Officer December, 2013
Rocky Mountain Rangers Overview 1908 to present (fully activated in WW1 & 2) Army Reserve light infantry Unit of BC interior 75 serving members Kamloops, 50 in Prince George 30 members with Afghanistan service last 10 years 10 affiliated Army Cadet Corps Why? Army force generation Domestic operations response Current initiatives Build leaders in PG Revitalize Kamloops
Benefits of Reserve Service Teamwork attitude Leadership, problem solving, ethics & values development Practical skills (use of equipment, driving, bush-craft and wilderness survival) Exposure to broader Canadian and other cultures Representatives of Canada when serving overseas Financial remuneration & benefits (pay, tuition, dental, pension) Opportunity to assist one s community during emergencies
What is a Light Infantry Reserve Unit? Part-time soldiers: Infantry, Clerks, Supply Techs, Medics Small Arms, trucks, snowmobiles, light field equipment Annual cycle: Fall: Specialty training, Unit exercises Winter/Spring: Basic training, Unit exercises Summer: Full-time courses (Chilliwack, Wainwright, Shilo) Some off season full-time courses Parading Wednesday nights 1 x weekend/ month for trained soldiers 2 x weekends/ month for soldiers on course
January 2014 Kamloops 75 Rifle Company A : ~55 pers (45 trained, 10 awaiting training) Regimental HQ & Stores: ~20 pers (senior leadership, clerks, transport, stores) Museum & Archives (2 volunteers) Prince George 50 Rifle Company B : 40 trained, 10 awaiting training Goals 2017 Kamloops 80 Rifle Company A (60 trained, 10 in training Headquarters and Stores (20 trained) Museum & Archives (5 volunteers, community partnering) Prince George 75 Rifle Company B 60 trained, 15 in training Improved infrastructure More Robust Regt l Assn Sustainable
Request Process Aid to Civil Authority Municipality to Province to Federal Government Unit CO can move earlier only if life threatening 39 Cdn Brigade Group (39 CBG) organization for domestic operations 3 x Domestic Response Companies (DRCs) DRC 3 = RM Rangs and BCDs 1 x Battalion Headquarters, Logistics & Engineers Cougar Ready exercise series History 2003 Fires: 1200 troops from Western Canada RM Rang sustained 30 for a month 2013 Calgary floods: All AB reserve units reported to City Armoury which became base of operations Reconnaissance and reporting, heavy equipment, water purification, assisted running EOC, sandbagging
Time & Space Prince George (B Coy, Crown land areas) Williams Lake Valemont Edmonton (Western Area HQ, 1 Bde) Chilcotin --\ (trg area) 5 hrs fm Kamloops, 4.5 hrs fm PG Kamloops (HQ, A Coy, Vicars Armoury) I Ross Moore Lake (Crown land area) Calgary -- -- Wainwright (main summer trg location) Shilo (MB) Gagetown (NB) -+ Esquimalt Vancouver (39 Bde HQ) - Richmond/ Chilliwack (support)
Return to Prince George Closure 1967; Lobbying for return since thanks BGen Wynnyk decision July 2010 Initial planning & recruiting 2011 Meadow School interim Armoury Basic Training Jan to May annually Weds, 2 x weekends per month PT, use of personal gear, F/A, marching, C7, living in field Followed by another 8-weeks of full-time training in summer Other Unit-run courses: Driver Wheeled, Machine-Gunner, Basic Winter Warfare, Snowmobile Operator Goals Sustained strength of 80 Proper Armoury
Challenges (first three are internal Army management issues affecting reserve units across Canada) Federal Deficit Reduction Plan (DRAP) No growth officially Budget reductions and uncertainty Getting applicants through recruiting & training Reductions in the numbers authorized; Involved process Length of some courses Leadership Development Vacancies on Junior NCO courses Full time Staff Unofficially authorized three; two are filled Gaining formal establishment positions DND Connectivity at Meadow Armoury
Questions Kloshe Nanitch / Keep a Good Watch