Pte Guillaume Couture, C Company 3 R22eR, maintains a defensive position during Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014 near Sjøvegan, Norway on March 18, 2014.

Pte Guillaume Couture, C Company 3 R22eR, maintains a defensive position during Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2014 near Sjøvegan, Norway on March 18, 2014.
Photo Credit: MCpl Dan Pop / CAF

Canadian soldiers get ready for big winter war games in Norway

Hundreds of Canadian soldiers have arrived in central Norway for winter war fighting training with 13 NATO allies and partners during Exercise COLD RESPONSE 2016.

This biennial Norwegian-led exercise, which runs from March 1 to 9, includes approximately 15,000 soldiers from various countries including Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom and Norway itself.

The Canadian soldiers come from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2 CMBG) and 3rdBattalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (3 RCR) from Petawawa, Ontario, said Lt. Col. Will Graydon, the commanding officer of 3 RCR.

 The US Marines get to go through the ice breaking drill instructed by the mountain leaders from the UK Royal Commando in Norway.
The US Marines get to go through the ice breaking drill instructed by the mountain leaders from the UK Royal Commando in Norway. © Anna Elisabeth Martinsen / Norwegian Armed Forces

The Canadian Army is contributing an Infantry Battalion Headquarters, a Company Group as well as staff officers to the Swedish Multi-National Brigade Headquarters, said Lt. Col. Graydon who is also the multinational battle group commander during the exercise.

“Exercise COLD RESPONSE presents a great opportunity for Canada to engage with our NATO Allies and closest partners and further supports our excellent relations with Norway,” said Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan in a statement. “It also allows the Canadian Armed Forces to enhance its operational effectiveness in challenging winter conditions.”

To find out more about the exercise and the role Canadian soldiers are going to play in it, I reached Lt. Col. Graydon, a veteran of six operational deployments, including two tours in Afghanistan, on the phone just after his arrival in Norway.

(click to listen to the interview with Lt. Col. Will Graydon)

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