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No Card?, No problem, pick up your application at your Neighborhood Safeway and join the thousands of people earning AIR MILES ® PROFILE WEDNESDAY, August 26, 1992 1B PHOTOS BY TRAINI re os ae BRENDAN HALPER STORY BY JASON KEENAN The powdery dust filling the air com- bined with the 30-degree-plus heat transformed the hills of the Columbia River Valley south of Trail into a for- cign land. The river and the rolling hills were host to Western Challenge '92, a joint training session for reserve army mili- tary engineers from Washington, Ore- gon, British Columbia, Alberta, and Manitoba. “It gives the two nation’s armies the opportunity to work together,” said Colonel Bob Stanley of Vancouver, the exercise director for the Challenge. “We're basically practicing for some- thing that we all hope never happens,” said Major Wayne Price, deputy director of the exercise. “But, if it does happen, we need to be ready for it.” In terms of engineers, there were five Canadian and five American engineer- ing units gathered to work on various projects, including ding Casino Range Road south of Trail, building a temporary bridge across the fast-flowing Columbia, and demolition training on top of Erie Mountain near Salmo. The entire operation is organized and overseen by a joint US-Canada head- quarters. It’s a chance to implement the theory of military alliances. And it pro- vides the opportunity to get to know your comrades in arms. There were more than just engineers at the 's. A full comph of suppor divisions were along. ‘Phe army works on the theory of spe- cialization. Every one is trained in how to do a specific job, and their work is supposed to mesh in with everyone else's. There was training for the 349 Chemical Company from Seattle, a decontamination unit. Though they were there to practice their drills, they also Provided a roving shower service for the more than 750 military personnel in the area. The 45 Station Hospital from Wash- ington was along for two reasons. To test out their relatively new equipment, and to provide on site medical care for the large contingent of soldiers. The 907 Engineer fire fighting pla- toon from Clarkston, Washington escorted the 21 Field Engineer from Flin Flon, Manitoba on the demolition work being done on top of Erie Mountain. The fire fighters had to be there in case the demolition explo- sions set off any brush fires in the tin- derbox conditions. And the fire fighters, ad Tomy i - kes three - British members of the 671 Engineer Master Corporal Craig Holley. “Because we're army, we have to cover all aspects of fire fighting — haz- ardous material, wild land fires, struc- tural fires, and aircraft-crash rescues.” One of the major operations that took Company Assaut?Ribbon Bridge attached to two ramp-pieces to become ferries. Those ferries are so strong, they can carry the heaviest piece of military hardware, the M-1 Abrams tank. In working together to achieve the goals of Western Challenge '92, the mil- itary personnel of both coun- oR tries come to a more personal understanding. “We start out talking about the differences, and we end up talking about the similarities,” added Col. Stanley. That idea was echoed by Lieutenant Jayne Boulton, whose presence made the Operation a three-nation exer- cise. “It's very interesting to talk to the Americans and Canadi- ans and see the differences and Major Wayne Price was the assistant the similarities,” said Lt. Boul- director of Western Challenge '92 Place was a temporary bridging of the Columbi despite their ializati Ives jacks-of-all-trades. “It takes a lot more to be a fire fighter than a lot of the other army jobs,” said with a floating ribbon bridge. in Patrick McKay commanded the 671 Engineer Company from Portland, Oregon that constructed the ribbon bridge. The floating sections are linked together until they | can stretch across to | the other bank. j “This is the first time [we've tried to build the bridge) on fast water. We're usually on lakes, so this has been good training for us,” said Cpt. McKay. With the water Passing the bridging Site at just over nine- feet per second, the conditions were too fast. “After nine feet Per second you have to put in an anchored cable system to help hold it in place — there's a tremendous amount of force.” The only day the company were able to construct the bridge was Aug. 17, the only day when water speeds were below the nine feet per second mark. On the rest of the ‘ Corporal Pat Schulek, always shooting, but days, four bridge necessarily with a rifle. components were . ton. Most of the differences are matters of terminology and procedure. Lt. Boulton is a communications spe- cialist with the British equivalent of the reserves, the Territorial Army. The Sheffield native's role at Challenge °92 ‘We're basically Preparing for something we all hope never happens’ — MAJOR WAYNE PRICE Assistant Director Western Challenge '92 has been battalion Signal Officer with the joint command unit. She also cared to comment on the weather at the session. “It’s bloody boiling. It’s taken me a while to acclimate.” : an -.. Boulton ma territorial Army communications s; She has been attached to the American's 24 € pecialist Lieutenant Boulton made it a three-nation training maneuver: ngineer Battalion as a part of a British-American officer exchange program. Behind her Prepare to beach the ferry/bridge. Private Robert Forsberg is seen at work in the radio truck, keeping the far. until he rested and drank three litres of water. Wearing the full army fatigues, including helmet and equipment, it doesn’t take long for a soldier to sweat away fluids. All troop leaders are sup- Posed to ensure that their soldiers are drinking from the canteens they are car- tying. “Once it happens to you, you become very, very aware,” Major Manzano. It’s all a part of the safety consciousness that pervades the entire operation. “One serious injury or fatality would ruin the entire session,” he added. The main job is avoiding preventable acci- dents like strained backs from lifting, as well as knowing how to behave around With the mercury hovering by . alia ‘ ss in the mid-thirties most days, the heat was a major concern at Challenge "92. “Heat was a new variable for us,” said Major Leo Man- zano, personnel officer with the 124 Engineer Battalion (provisional) from Seattle, Washington. And Major Man- zano became one of the strongest promoters of a con- Stant intake of water by all the soldiers and civilians at the session. “I was a heat casualty.” After failing to drink water inn v%_ -flung military personnel in contact. all of the military equipment. “People are crunchable and the equip- ment is capable of crunching you.” Major Manzano said that the only prob- lems that occurred so far were a soldier with smoke inhalation from a brush fire, and a lot of soldiers who had suffered from heat and dehydration during the first few days of the operation. Western Challenge *92 was the first time that the engineers had been split off from the rest of the armed forces. Instead of combining for one large reservists training session in Alberta. This year the armoured and the infantry divisions went to Alberta, while the artillery went to Manitoba. Peerage for a few hours, he was Trucks and equipment are loaded onto the floating bridge sections, will unable to focus his vision be used as a barge, transporting the equipment across the Columbia River.