More Canadians Train for Battle, Re-Building in Afghanistan
Canadian Armed Forces recently completed training at the Camp Wainwright base as they prepare to send another wave of soldiers for a tour in Afghanistan later this year.

Exercise Maple Guardian wrapped up at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright which saw more than just soldiers participating.

To ensure Afghanistan can be a self-sustaining country once Canadian troops have pulled out, Afghans need to be educated on what to do once the Canadians have left—which is scheduled for sometime in 2011—which means more civilians were in the mix this time around.

It’s all about preparing for action in Kandahar Province —be it on the battlefield with guns, or through dialogue with Afghans.

The training near Wainwright is considered by personnel at the base to be second to none, in addition to exposing the soldiers to situations they can expect to see once they reach Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. Practicing with the same equipment as used in battle is not unusual for the military, but including civilians and actors in the training gave this particular exercise a new face.

Camp Nathan Smith at CFB Wainwright is an imitation of the real base (by the same name in Afghanistan). It’s named after the first Canadian soldier who died in Afghanistan and that’s where the nearly 400 civilians practice interacting with Afghans.