Army reserves practice emergency and disaster skills

By Greg Coulter

Over the past weekend, municipalities across Chatham-Kent were the sites for training of roughly 600 members of the 31 Canadian Brigade Group (CBG), an Army Reserve Formation of the 4th Canadian Division, headquartered out of London.

The Brigade’s area of responsibility reaches from Hamilton to Windsor and north to Owen Sound and Barrie. The Brigade has nearly 2,500 members, the vast majority of whom are part-time Reserve soldiers.

In recent years, the Brigade has deployed hundreds of soldiers on overseas operations in Afghanistan and to other theatres such as Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Eastern Europe. The 31 CBG has also deployed many soldiers on domestic operations, including flood control operations and providing soldiers to Operation PROVISION for the support of Syrian refugees in 2015-16.

Annually, soldiers from across 31 CBG deploy on northern sovereignty exercises in the Canadian Arctic.

Many of the Brigade members have full-time employment, regular day jobs, and take part in the reserve as necessary, with training sessions normally one weekend per month and possibly some nights and day weekend sessions. The Brigade is made up of 12 units, locally the Windsor Regiment, the Essex and Kent Scottish and the 31 Service Battalion.

Wheatley Arena complex served as a home base for 200 of these members. They arrived late Friday night, setting up makeshift sleeping quarters on the arena floor before heading out for various training duties on Saturday. They spent Saturday night back at the arena before departing for home on Sunday.

The primary task for those that remained in Wheatley involved doorto-door mock disaster

wellness checks of the residents. Groups of six or seven would meticulously explain their duties to homeowners and what residents may expect in event of an emergency disaster, such as fires, floods, ice storms, explosion and even chemical attacks, where specialized personal protective equipment is required.

This program is patterned like the Hurricane Katrina disaster where records were kept of accounted-for residents, non-responding residences or those in immediate need of assistance, whether it be medical, physical or evacuation requirements.

Members of the Brigade also took part in firearm drills and an obstacle course training at Cedar Springs.

Members on patrol were eager to explain their duties in hopes of being completely prepared in the event they are called to an actual emergency.

An Army vehicle makes its way down Erie Street South in Wheatley on Saturday, April 15. The 31 Canadian Brigade was in Chatham-Kent for the weekend practicing emergency preparedness. SUN photos by Greg Coulter

Alyssa McTavish with children Rowan and Titus and family pet Rex were enjoying a summer-like walk when they met up with members of the 31 Canadian Brigade performing their mock disaster wellness checks of Wheatley residents. Private basic Tracey Gauley, Georgian Unit — based out of Barrie — enthusiastically explained the aims and duties of her unit in the event of a disaster and what assistance residents can rely on from members of the brigade.