Canadian armed forces committed to Maple Resolve 21 exercise.

From May 1 until May 11, approximately 2,500 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel are taking part in Exercise Maple Resolve 21 in Wainwright, Alberta. This is the Canadian Army’s largest and most complex annual training exercise. This essential event ensures our soldiers are prepared to deploy in support of Canadians in any capacity, including combat operations.
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A Canadian Armed Forces Leopard 2 of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) drives through the training area prior the start of exercise Maple Resolve 21, April 30, 2021, at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Detachment Wainwright (Picture source: Corporal Djalma Vuong-De Ramos)

In 2020, the Commander of the Canadian Army made the conscious decision to cancel Exercise Maple Resolve: the risk of perpetuating the spread of COVID-19 within the defence team and to Canadian communities was unacceptable in light of the ongoing public health crisis. This cancellation also allowed the Canadian Army to sequester and isolate personnel in order to provide personnel should provincial or federal requests for military assistance be approved (as later demonstrated by CAF deployments into Long Term Care Facilities during the first wave of the pandemic).

Major-General Michel-Henri St-Louis, Acting Commander, Canadian Army, said: “At any given time, the Government of Canada can call upon the Canadian Army to undertake missions for the protection of Canada and Canadians and the maintenance of international peace and security. Exercise Maple Resolve ensures that our soldiers are prepared to answer that call in the most complex and volatile of environments.”

Exercise participation has been reduced by about 50% this year, with most soldiers originating from and remaining in Alberta. Most soldiers participating in the exercise are from the 1st Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (1 CMBG) which has units in Edmonton, Alberta, and Shilo, Manitoba.

A CH-146 Griffon helicopter from 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron conducts a reconnaissance flight (Picture source: Corporal Connie Valin)

The Royal Canadian Air Force is providing an Air Task Force to support the Canadian Army training operations during the exercise. This includes two CH-147F Chinook and eight CH-146 Griffon helicopters, an MPN-25 radar and approximately 400 personnel. A CP-140 Aurora is also participating in the exercise, along with a detachment of three UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters from the Wisconsin Army National Guard. A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-130J Hercules and a BE-350 King Air are supporting the transport of personnel and equipment.

Approximately 260 soldiers from the Canadian Combat Support Brigade are participating, including elements from 21 Electronic Warfare Squadron, 4th Artillery Regiment (General Support), and the Canadian Army Intelligence Regiment.

While this annual exercise is historically a key event to practice interoperability with foreign partners, international participation is strictly limited this year. Roughly 30 air medevac personnel from the Wisconsin National Guard and a 150-person light infantry company from the British Army are participating. All foreign personnel have quarantined for 14 days and arrived in Canada with a negative COVID-19 PCR test.

A Master Corporal from the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals rides on a Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) III while in the training area at 3rd Canadian Division Support Base Garrison Wainwright in preparation for Exercise Maple Resolve on April 30, 2021 (Picture source: Sailor First Class Camden Scott)