Island reservists practise peacekeeping skills in the small fishing community

October 27, 2005

By Daniel Mark Wheaton

The small village of Victoria-by-the-Sea was filled with men walking the streets, through fields, and along its shores dressed in camouflage and carrying automatic weapons last weekend.

The presence of members of the Canadian Forces was evident throughout the community, although there was no threat to its residents.

Members of The Prince Edward Island Regiment conducted a non-tactical peacekeeping training exercise in the fishing village.

The exercise was designed to prepare soldiers for the realities of modern peace support operations and the unique situations they may encounter while serving among civilian populations.

The reservists practised skills they would need when operating in populated areas, said Captain Don MacRae, adjutant of the regiment.

“How to talk to the public. How to deal with the public.”

Traditionally, the reservists had focused primarily on reconnaissance patrol training.

“This is their first real introduction to peace support operations.”

During the exercise, soldiers learned:

• interrogation techniques,
• how to manage hostile crowds,
• and proper methods of searching detainees.

Two subject matter experts from Nova Scotia were brought in to oversee portions of the training. They instructed soldiers on topics including presence patrols and vital point sentries.

The base camp established for the exercise was designed to resemble an actual Canadian camp being used on overseas operations.

At night, the soldiers gathered intelligence by speaking with senior members of the regiment acting as local civilians and informants. They used the information they collected to plan the following day’s operations.

Toward the end of the exercise, the unit captured an individual code-named “The Ace of Spades,” who was portrayed as the leader of a group of locals creating problems for the soldiers.

MacRae said the training achieved its objectives.

“Overall they grasped everything very well. The goal of the objective was definitely met.”