Lorne Scots on Exercise Trillium Response
In February 2014, a platoon of soldiers from the Lorne Scots headed north to participate in EX TRILLIUM RESPONSE in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. The exercise put to the test the soldiers’ ability to live and operate in extreme winter conditions. The exercise included dismounted patrols, a dismounted ambush, live-fire ranges, as well as cross- training with the local Canadian Rangers throughout.
Although the exercise officially began on 14 Feb 2014, the weekends preceding EX TRILLIUM RESPONSE were spent in Borden and Meaford conducting preparatory training for the arctic. These exercises refreshed our skills in winter warfare and left us eagerly anticipating the final effort in the North.
The exercise began as our plane landed at Rankin Inlet International Airport. The realization that the training had begun came as the 737’s door opened and a blast of freezing arctic air filled the plane. We were then bussed from the airport to the massive hangars of the Canadian Forces Fighter Forward Operation Location in Rankin Inlet where from the majority of the exercise would be staged.
On the first night we set into the field to get used to moving with and setting up tent groups in extreme cold, extreme winds and on extremely hard, frozen ground. Needless to say the first up-pole was a slow, arduous process however over the course of the exercise our tent group routine adapted to the weather and the terrain exceptionally well.
The following day our platoon conducted a presence patrol through the town of Rankin Inlet. It was a fantastic experience, as the locals seemed genuinely excited to have us in their town and they were not shy to wave or strike up a conversation with us as we patrolled. I think everyone on the exercise would agree that despite being a part of Canada, Rankin Inlet was a huge culture shock and this patrol really gave us a sense of the customs that exists in the largely Inuit town.
After the patrol we settled into the hangar for a much needed good night’s rest, as the following day would prove to be the most physically demanding of the exercise. The day involved a good and long ruck march into a platoon hide where we conducted our regular stove watch as well as predator patrols throughout the night, which didn’t leave a lot of time for sleep! It was an early start to the next day as we conducted an ambush on a passing enemy snowmobile column before conducting a live-fire range that saw each soldier in the platoon fire C6, C7, C9 as well as the Remington 870 Shotgun. Following a devastatingly long brass cleanup we were back at the hangar for some rack.
Lorne Scots on Exercise Trillium Response
The next morning we loaded up onto a Twin Otter and were flown out onto the ice of Hudson’s Bay. We spent the day constructing snow defenses, “helping” the Rangers build an igloo as well as playing the part of enemy force in expectation of a Battalion-level attack the next day. The attack came the next afternoon, we all died gloriously, and it was a quick cleanup and teardown before hitching a ride on the back of the attackers’ snowmobiles back to the hangar. The rest of the time was spent conducting end ex drills and before we knew it we were boarding the plane back to Hamilton.
EX TRILLIUM RESPONSE was an amazing experience where each soldier’s abilities in extreme winter conditions were put to the test. It was also a great opportunity to trade job knowledge with the Rangers (although most of that knowledge was headed our direction) as well as experience the far north in the winter, something that many people may never get the chance to do. I’m sure each of the Lorne Scots coming back are proud to say it’s an experience they will never forget.
2Lt E.T. Simmons
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