A pair of 105-mm howitzers bark constantly as they turn plywood tank targets into kindling kilometres away on the windswept landscape of one of Canada91裸聊视频檚 largest military bases.
It91裸聊视频檚 a once-a-month weekend training session at Canadian Forces Base Suffield, 260 kilometres southeast of Calgary, for 158 members of 41 Canadian Brigade Group, composed of Army Reserve units in Alberta and the Northwest Territories.
They range in ages and include a high school teacher, the owner of a sewing company, a private investigator and a mountain guide.
Many have hopes of being deployed to the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Latvia and helping fend off Russian threats.
Col. Chris Hunt, commander of the brigade group, delivers a pep talk to reservists practising with C6 machine-guns.
91裸聊视频淔or those of you 91裸聊视频� just coming off your basic infantry course now, we91裸聊视频檙e going to need to fill two battle groups back-to-back in 91裸聊视频�27 and 91裸聊视频�28. So get as many qualifications as you can now,91裸聊视频� he yells over a howling west wind.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 going to make you competitive for deployment. We91裸聊视频檙e one bad newscast away from being full-time on active service for all of us.91裸聊视频�
CFB Suffield has been the site of military training in the region since 1972 and, at 2,700 square kilometres, is the largest military training area in Canada. There are rolling hills and knee-high native Prairie grasses as far at the eye can see and, for safety reasons, the artillery range sits 20 kilometres from other training areas on the base.
Capt. Peter Rosendal, 55, is being deployed to Latvia and promoted to the rank of major for a six-month tour beginning in December.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 very much looking forward to it. It91裸聊视频檚 my first deployment.91裸聊视频�
Rosendal belongs to Southern Alberta Light Horse, an armoured 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.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 actually a strange bear. I had to (do basic training) all over again,91裸聊视频� he says.
He says conflict around the world, including Ukraine, makes the training more urgent.
91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 a direct impact to what you91裸聊视频檙e doing.91裸聊视频�
Maj. Brent Peters joined the Canadian Forces when he was 17. He continues to serve part time with the King91裸聊视频檚 Own Calgary Regiment and has been deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina and Afghanistan.
91裸聊视频淭he new soldiers are really, really keen to get out and be on the armoured vehicles,91裸聊视频� says Peters, who in his civilian life works as a mountain guide.
Pte. Rhys Dunnill Jones, 23, says he comes from a military family and wanted to enhance his mental and physical strength.
He owns a company that sews and designs tactical gear.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 awesome to be part of a bigger, cohesive group. You get to play with machine-guns as well,91裸聊视频� he says with a laugh.
91裸聊视频淚 would absolutely love, if given the chance, to deploy.91裸聊视频�
At 18, Pte. Zachary Fowler is the baby of the group. Also coming from a military family, he is eager to serve overseas.
91裸聊视频淚 am trying to get all the steps I can done so I can,91裸聊视频� 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 university and would like to deploy one day.
91裸聊视频淣ow I do it as sort of a side hobby. It91裸聊视频檚 kind of fun,91裸聊视频� he says.
91裸聊视频淒efinitely at some point in my career, maybe when I91裸聊视频檓 a little older 91裸聊视频� maybe in five years.91裸聊视频�
Hunt, the brigade group commander, says reserve recruitment has been ramping up to turn out as many part-time professional soldiers as quickly as possible.
91裸聊视频淐anada has a long-term commitment to Latvia,91裸聊视频� he says.
91裸聊视频淭he army is going to be in Latvia for the long term. So in order to sustain that commitment, it91裸聊视频檚 going to take reservists working alongside our regular force colleagues.
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press
