CFB Gagetown hosts 1,000 soldiers for military exercises

Over 1,000 Canadian Armed Forces personnel are in New Brunswickover the next two weeks to train in military exercises.

Common Ground II is being held at CFB Gagetown and includestraining for nine different careers in the military.

Captain Ian McIntyre,public affairs officer forthe combat training centre at CFB Gagetown, likensthe exercise to a soldier's final exam.

• Tanks and training will make for a noisy two weeks near Base Gagetown
• Base Gagetown gets $38M in federal funding
• Light armoured vehicle monument delivered to Oromocto

"We have individual training, we have collective training. What it does is it brings together a number of individual and collective training sort of events under one exercise," said McIntyre.

The training combinesclassroom, computer simulation and combat-like instruction.

"It gives the students a really thoroughfirst taste of how the different combat arms integrate, and who takes the lead in different situations. Andit really helps promote them to the next stage in their careers."

CFB Gagetown 'home of the Canadian Army'

McIntyre said the base is a great place to hold the exercise.

The combat training centre has very technologically advanced equipment and as well, the sheer size of CFB Gagetownis ideal for large-scale training exercises.

"We are the home of the Canadian Army. If you are in the army, there's a pretty good chance you [are] going to do your training in Gagetown,"

While some of the soldiers are already stationed at CFB Gagetown, the majority of them have just arrived. The first thing the soldiers witnessed was a demonstration including tanks and aircraft.

Even though it's early days for the exercise, McIntyre is pleased so far with the response.

"It was an excellent demonstration and I think it's really poising them well for the training they're going to do over the next two weeks."

Common Ground II is scheduled to last until Nov. 26.