A pair of 105-mm howitzers bark continuously as they turn plywood tank targets into kindling miles away in the windswept landscape of one of Canada’s largest military bases.
It is a weekly weekend training at Canadian Forces Base Suffield, 260 kilometers southeast of Calgary, for 158 members of the 41 Canadian Brigade Group, made up of Army Reserve units in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
They range in age from 18 to 49 and include a high school teacher, a sewing business owner, a private investigator and a mountain guide.
Many hope to deploy to NATO’s multinational battle group in Latvia and help fend off Russian threats.
Colonel Chris Hunt, commander of the brigade group, gives a pep talk to reservists training with C6 machine guns.
“For those of you… just finishing your basic infantry course, we’re going to have to fill two battle groups back to back in ’27 and ’28. So get as many qualifications as you can now,” he shouts over a howling westerly wind out.
“That makes you competitive for deployment. We’re one bad news broadcast away from full-time active duty for all of us.”
CFB Suffield has been the site of military training in the region since 1972 and, at 2,700 square kilometers, is the largest military training area in Canada. There are rolling hills and knee-high native prairie grasses as far as the eye can see, and for safety reasons the artillery range is located 12 miles from other training areas on the base.
Captain Peter Rosendal, 49, will be deployed to Latvia and promoted to the rank of major for a six-month tour starting in December.
“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s my first deployment.”
Rosendal belongs to Southern Alberta Light Horse, an armored reconnaissance unit, and was in the reserves from 1986 to 2000. He then worked as a high school teacher in Lethbridge, Alta., for 17 years before rejoining the military.
“I’m actually a strange bear. I had to do basic training all over again,” he says.
He says conflicts around the world, including Ukraine, make the training more urgent.
“There is a direct impact on what you do.”
Soldiers from the 41 Canadian Brigade Group prepare for live fire training with an automatic weapon from the C9 squadron at CFB Suffield. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Major Brent Peters joined the Canadian Armed Forces at the age of 17. He continues to serve part-time with the King’s Own Calgary Regiment and has been deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan.
“The new soldiers are really eager to get out and into the armored vehicles,” said Peters, who works as a mountain guide in his civilian life.
Pte. Rhys Dunnill Jones, 23, says he comes from a military family and wanted to increase his mental and physical strength.
He has a company that sews and designs tactical gear.
“I love being part of a bigger, tight-knit group. You also get to play with machine guns,” he says, laughing.
“If I get the opportunity, I would absolutely love to bet.”
At the age of 18, Pte. Zachary Fowler is the baby of the group. He also comes from a military family and would like to serve abroad.
“I’m trying to take whatever steps I can so I can do it,” he says.
Bombardier Raymond Chow owns a paintball field in the Edmonton area, works at the airport and is also a process server and private investigator.
Chow, 31, says he joined the reserves after college and would like to deploy one day.
“Now I do it as a kind of side hobby. It’s quite fun,” he says.
“Definitely at some point in my career. Maybe when I’m a little older… Maybe in five years.”
Hunt, the brigade group commander, said recruitment from the reserves has increased to provide as many part-time professional soldiers as possible as quickly as possible.
“Canada has a long-term commitment to Latvia,” he said.
“The army will remain in Latvia for the long term, so to deliver on that promise, reservists are needed to work alongside our regular colleagues.”
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