The Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre -Training for Afghanistan

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Canadian Maneouvre Training Centre | Photo 02

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The Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre is located in East Central Alberta near the small town of Wainwright.  The Canadian Forces Base is comprised of about 640 square kilometres of training area, encompassing all types of terrain, including the Battle River.

Camp Wainwright was established in 1941 as a military training facility in Western Canada.

The concept of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre was developed in the early 90s.  The centre was initially used as an equipment holding unit, which Reserve Units could use to conduct their weekend training. From it, a highly technical training centre evolved, which today is a state of the art training facility, which is possibly the best in the world.

The centre uses the Weapons Effects Simulation System, known as WES.  With its complex array of lasers, sensors, global positioning system, supported by six towers, throughout the training area, it provides the world’s most sophisticated training capability.

The system works like this.  A soldier is equipped with a vest he wears and a halo that is placed on his helmet.  Ten detectors are located throughout his/her body and there are four more detectors on the helmet.

Weapons are equipped with Small Arms Transmitters (SAT) that work in conjunction with the detectors to indicate firing vectors.  The Power Unit on the soldier will indicate to him whether he is wounded or killed.

All major weapons systems, from 25mm cannons on Light Armoured Vehicles, to tanks and artillery, are equipped with similar devices.  Major armoured vehicles have yellow strobe lights on them that light up when the vehicle is hit.  Again, the computerized system tells the crew what damage has been caused (i.e. Mobility Kill or complete destruction of the vehicle).

All of this is monitored on a computer by Operator Analysts.  Each individual soldier is identified on the computer, including vehicles.  The whole procedure is recorded for replay in an After Action Review.

While at the Training Centre, the troops are tested in most situations that they might encounter in Afghanistan.  This includes Improvised Explosive Devices, Convoy Drills, Cordon and Searches, Presence Patrols, Casualty Evacuation and awareness of suicide bombers.  Villages are set up, throughout the training area, and are occupied by civilians. These are hired for the duration of the exercise and are normally of Afghanistan background and wear the clothing of Afghanistan nationals. 

Media students are also hired for some exercises and they provide the media coverage, including local Afghanistan news. They also present Canadian media television reports daily.

In the field, Operational Control Teams (OCTs), consisting of a couple of officers, normally a Major and Captain along with several non-commissioned officers monitor the training of a Combat Team (in this case, an Infantry Company with its attachments).   They are the observers on the ground, while the Operator Analyst (Civilian contractor with military service- probably formerly a Lieutenant-Colonel, Major or SergeantsMajor) monitors the action on a computer and records relevant data.  The two teams co-operate closely to ensure that the best possible After Action Review can be prepared.  OCTs have the capability to take live movies shots of the actions going on.  These movies can be incorporated in the After Action Review.  There is also a capability to monitor Combat Team Radio transmissions with Mirra software.  This gives the ability to record sound bytes for Situational Reports and other radio traffic.

After each operation a Battle Group or Combat Team participates in an After Action Review.  If conducted correctly, there is active participation by all involved, at all levels and normally a self-critique is the best way to bring out the relevant lessons learned.

The author works at the Centre as an Operator Analyst.

For more technical detail Read This

A CBC video clip about the just completed Exercise Here