[ninty]

These pictures consist of my recent trip to Ft. Lewis and McChord Air Force Base in Washington State, USA.

The exercise consisted of about 600 Canadian Forces reservists from 41 Canadian Brigade Group, which is the reservist Brigade for the province of Alberta. We had soldiers from all combat arms and support trades including Infantry, Armour, Engineer, Artillery, Intelligence, Medical, Military Police etc. I am in the Calgary Highlanders, which is an Infantry unit.

The exercise took place over this past weekend from March 26 - March 28.

We arrived at McChord AFB at about 10:00pm on Friday night. We immediately went to ground to get some rest. We slept in an assembly area, which is pretty much a forest that had the trees removed. It was raining pretty steadily all through out the night. We didn't set up any sort of tents or biv site because we'd be moving out pretty fast in the morning and it wasn't very tactical since an artillery barrage could have wiped out an entire company. happy:






[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-054-25A..jpg[/img]
This is a picture of some of the guys in my section. We're 11 strong, which is right around where the size of a section should be. 3 sections make a platoon. Here we are getting out MILES gear all set up. You can see the little black knobs on the webbing vest and the knobs on the field cap of the guy in the middle. Those pick up the laser when a shot is fired so you know when you've been hit. That was also the general area where we slept that night.






[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-052-24A..jpg[/img]
Ah, yes. This is me. Quite a shitty picture is I do say so myself. I don't know if its the cameraman (me), the camera (disposable) or other, but sorry for the blurriness of the exposure. You can see I’ve got the very beautiful Olive Drab rain gear on. I basically wore that all weekend cause the ground was soaked. You should also notice my bitchin' tiger stripe cam paint. Although I did need some touch ups on my neck. You can also see the miles gear on my field cap.






[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-050-23A..jpg[/img]
This is a picture of the Chinook helicopter that took A Company to the main camp. Too bad the picture is so far away.







[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-048-22A..jpg[/img]
This is a picture of the camp my section, "support", will be defending. We're support section because normally we're the C6 gunners. The C6 is the equivalent of the M60. It can be mounted on a bipod for a max range of 800m, tripod for fire up to 1800m or a vehicle. However, it was decided that support section would play the role of enemy force or "OPFOR" instead. Which is fine by me because then I don't have to lug around a C6 for miles on end. Anyway, you can see the concertina wire around the camp that the engineers put up before we got there. The camp itself is basically for communications and intelligence. It was manned by 6th Intelligence Company out of Edmonton. normally you would have a platoon size defending this position with out posts and listening posts, however since we were just a section, our main task was to provide security and time so that when an attack came, the 6th Int. guys were able to make last transmissions, and destroy all documents because realistically a Section is not going to hold back a platoon or two of infantry so close in. In addition the infantry attacking would have air support and artillery as well as engineers and reserves for the attack.

We set up trenches around the wire in about 6 or 7 locations. Again, I was impossible to cover all angles since we were so spread out, but we did a pretty good job. We had a contact post out by where those trucks are in some bushes, so they could report if they saw any enemy and challenge those who wish to enter the base. We also had a roving sentry whose task it was also to spot any enemy. We were told that an attack would come from the front, (generally from the top of the picture to the camera. The direction the trucks are facing) so that’s where we were looking the entire time. Our trenches were set up toward the front more than any other area of the camp. I guess someone screwed up on that one since all attacks came from the opposite direction. The first attack came at about 4:00pm on Saturday March 27. We spotted their recce (reconnaissance) patrol of 3 guys so the call goes out across the line to "STAND TO!!". Everyone goes to their trenches as quickly as possible. If you're not on contact point or sentry, then you're just eating or resting until its your turn to go out. Once were in our respective trenches covering our arcs, GRITS are given to determine where the enemy is. GRIT stands for Group: Which ever section you're talking to, Range: How far the enemy is, Indication: where the enemy is and Type of fire: only the section commander gives this order. So a grit would be: "Support, 100m, one fist left of center of arc” at that point the section commander would say slow rate or whatever to fire. Pretty cool stuff. It really gets your adrenaline going. We waited for about 15 minutes while the recce element went back and the full platoon came in for the attack. It was easy to spot them since it was in the day time. The enemy was 3 platoon A company Calgary Highlanders. Their about 30 strong and attacked in full force. However, everyone was using C7 rifles, so there was no machine gun support which is essential in an attack. They could have mowed us down with a 6 C9’s (2 per section) and 1 C6 (1 per platoon) and vice versa. The defence actually went really well. We killed every single one of them except for one guy. They bunched up at times and one part of their line was ahead of the other. They got in major shit for that. These guys are really good soldiers, but they fucked up big time on this attack. We easily wiped them out. My MILES gear did not go off during the attack, so I survived. Good effort all around. We then went back to patrolling the camp. It got dark at about 7:30pm and it was very difficult to see. In addition to that, we had a huge fucking generator powering everything. It was so friggin noisy we had no chance of hearing anything out in the forest. A fucking elephant could have walked by and we wouldn’t have known. They attacked again at about 10:30pm. This time they were ready. We absolutely got raped. We had no idea they were there until the first shots went off. Then came the pyro. They used explosives to breach the wire around the camp and effectively chucked grenades into our trenches. We were barley alive long enough to get a mag worth of rounds downrange. The entire battle lasted 5 minutes. We were all dead.

After that, we continued our patrols until 5:30am in which it was time to basically pack everything up and head home.






[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-046-21A..jpg[/img]
Here is a picture of some of the guys of support section. You can see they gave us some crazy looking camo jackets to wear. Their actually old garrison dress. There used to be a combat uniform and a uniform hat you would wear in garrison and a dress uniform. Now there is only the combat uniform and the dress uniform for special occasions. That garrison dress is weird because it has grey purple and green camo in it. You can also see the camp in the background.







[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-044-20A..jpg[/img]
More support section. You can see the MILES attachment on the end of the C7 rifle and the green MILES webbing.





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In this picture, I’m on the right with one of my buddies.






[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-040-18A..jpg[/img]
This is a picture of the camp near where we stayed the first night. We’re basically returning all the MILES gear and getting our shit together






[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-038-17A..jpg[/img]
From there we went to an assembly area at McChord AFB to wait for our plane back to Calgary. It’s US Air Force rule that you have to be at the base 3 hours before the flight is to leave. What’s funny is when we got there, the first thing we did was turn the TV’s on to ESPN. And guess what was playing… NHL hockey. That’s right. We watched Chicago VS St. Louis or slept. It was pretty boring there for 3 hours. MP’s started going through our shit because we weren’t allowed to bring back any MRE’s or ANYTHING from inside the MRE’s. Nothing at all could go back for some stupid reason. They checked all carry on bags and one guy in our regiment took a can of beans that was for dinner on the plane, put his underwear inside his carry on bag, and then dumped the beans inside his bag. He took it up to get checked and he told the person checking that he had an accident. It was fucking hilarious.





[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-034-15A..jpg[/img]
this is the tarmac of McChord. I was the work party which loaded the planes with all of our rucks and weapons, so I was able to get some shots. Too bad their kind of shitty. Too far away. But it was a pretty cool sight. This one base has more lift capabilities than all of Canada has.






[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-032-14A..jpg[/img]
I tried to take a picture of the whole long line of us marching to the aircraft to take us home, but as you can see, it didn’t work out all that great. But trust me, that line goes way far down. Basically 200 troops.





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This is a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III. Pretty cool shot.





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As a special bonus, I included a picture taken of myself yesterday after out Regimental Birthday. The Calgary Highlanders are 94 years old this month. A lot of history. What i'm wearing is called a "Glengarrie". It is part of our dress uniform.

A better picture of it is here:
[img]http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/uniforms/glen236bn.jpg[/img]
However, that is not our cap badge. That's the 62nd Regiment St. John Fusiliers, but you get the idea.

This is the highlanders cap badge:
[img]http://members.shaw.ca/calgaryhighlanders/orbad.jpg[/img]

What we normally wear is called a Tam-O-Shanter:

[img]http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/clartam.jpg[/img]
This is actually a Balmoral, which higher ranks wear. A TOS is that same except it's not slanted. TOS are worn when not in ful dress uniform. However in the field, they give way to field caps and helmets. biggrin:

I think thats all I have for now. If you read all that, good for you. Must have taken you quite a while. since it took me about an hour and a half to write up.

Airaghardt!

[imported_Fluffy_Bunny]

WOW ed:

Great pics!!!!!!!!!11

That must be so cool that you get to run around with laser guns rock: I'll have to get some pics of the navy stuff I got coming up. Interesting hat you have there too, I occasionally see some of the scottish guys from the seaforth Highlanders & they have almost exactly the same sort of hats.

[Nyck]

Originally Posted by ninty9

[img]http://members.shaw.ca/jpt0/wash/003581-R1-010-3A..jpg[/img]

rock: Cool shit right there man


but DUDE YOUR EYES ARE FUCKIN BUGGIN BIG TIME

That is FREEKIN me out!

They are seriously like 60% of your head

biggrin:

[TonyMontana]

ahh that looks like serious fun. good pics !

[ninty]

[quote="Fluffy_Bunny":e564f]Interesting hat you have there too, I occasionally see some of the scottish guys from the seaforth Highlanders & they have almost exactly the same sort of hats.[/quote:e564f]

Yeah, we're a Highland regiment so all of our traditions come from The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Their our sister regiment in Scotland.

[quote:e564f]but DUDE YOUR EYES ARE FUCKIN BUGGIN BIG TIME

That is FREEKIN me out!

They are seriously like 60% of your head [/quote:e564f]
LOL, yeah I know. Everyone tells me I have big eyes.

[Milla]

Believe it or not MILEs gear sucks, if you shake the weapon sometimes the laser shoots off, half the time it wont shoot through the rain, cause when the laser hits a raind drop it goes in every direction, you can shoot through bushes, and the beeping is the most annoying noise on the planet.

Great pics ninty, i need to get a scanner so i can get some pictures up again.

[1080jibber]

awsome pic's man

[ninty]

[quote="Capt. John Miller":78a19]Believe it or not MILEs gear sucks, if you shake the weapon sometimes the laser shoots off, half the time it wont shoot through the rain, cause when the laser hits a raind drop it goes in every direction, you can shoot through bushes, and the beeping is the most annoying noise on the planet.

Great pics ninty, i need to get a scanner so i can get some pictures up again.[/quote:78a19]

Yeah, I have heard stories of people sitting around picking off people by hitting the side of the rifle.

Also, I probably didn't get hit in my trench because there was so much brush around.

I didn't mind the beeping. I din't think it was loud enough, though. You can't really hear if your hit or not because everyone is yelling and there is so much noise. It would be cool if it vibrated or something when you got hit. biggrin:

[geRV]

Nice pics happy:

When is america's military gonna switch over the the m4 instead of the m16, cant help but think in those pics the m16 looks a little bulky and akward cause of its length. Probably get canada switching the "c7" as well for it.

[Maplegyver]

Nice pics ninty

[Milla]

Actually the M16 A4 is a really good weapon, the reason we dont have all M4s (well the Marine corp) is because we cant afford a drastic change like that, and the M16 A4 has longer range and the carrying handle can be removed like the m4, wish we did switch over though. The M4 is better for urban which is what wars are nowadays.

[ninty]

Originally Posted by Gerard

Nice pics happy:

When is america's military gonna switch over the the m4 instead of the m16, cant help but think in those pics the m16 looks a little bulky and akward cause of its length. Probably get canada switching the "c7" as well for it.

I'm sure that we'll never totally switch over in the near future. We do have a carbine version, exactly the same as the M4, called the C8. happy: A lot of guys overseas in Afghanistan and such use the C8 Carbine. However the standard rifle will be the C7 for a while in our military. It has a longer range, and is fine for what I use it for.

Why are we keeping the C7 you ask? Because their being upgraded to C7A2's. The A2 include a telescopic butt, just like th C8/M4 so you can adjust it smaller if you want.

Check it out here.

http://www.diemaco.com/c7a2.htm

I can't speak for the American though, I have no idea. Their probably pretty much done with the M16, aren't you guys?

Edit: Miller knows best.

[geRV]

[quote="Capt. John Miller":76f82]Actually the M16 A4 is a really good weapon, the reason we dont have all M4s (well the Marine corp) is because we cant afford a drastic change like that, and the M16 A4 has longer range and the carrying handle can be removed like the m4, wish we did switch over though. The M4 is better for urban which is what wars are nowadays.[/quote:76f82]

The irish army uses the steyr aug, which has the same barrel length as the m16 but because of the design its far less bulky, the barrels mainly inside the casing and only the last like 8-10 inches or so is really visable so because of that people think its a short barreled rifle. Barely any moving parts so it rarely jams, and the shell ejector port is located way at the rear of the rifle.

Fires semi and full auto i think, weird firing mechanism, the rate of fire is changed depending on how far the trigger is pulled in, all the way is full auto obviously.

[img]http://www.section6.fsnet.co.uk/images/mar_aug.jpg[/img]

[Maplegyver]

CS!!!

[geRV]

Originally Posted by ninty9

I'm sure that we'll never totally switch over in the near future. We do have a carbine version, exactly the same as the M4, called the C8. happy: A lot of guys overseas in Afghanistan and such use the C8 Carbine. However the standard rifle will be the C7 for a while in our military. It has a longer range, and is fine for what I use it for.

Why are we keeping the C7 you ask? Because their being upgraded to C7A2's. The A2 include a telescopic butt, just like th C8/M4 so you can adjust it smaller if you want.

Check it out here.

http://www.diemaco.com/c7a2.htm

I can't speak for the American though, I have no idea. Their probably pretty much done with the M16, aren't you guys?

Edit: Miller knows best.

That looks pretty good, i always though of the m4 as being like a rip of the car15. That new c7 has a pretty nice look to it though.