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http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/communities/Grimsby/article/229994
Rifle range being upgraded for training
Grimsby
Jan 09, 2009
New life being injected in the Winona Rifle Range will better prepare soldiers for operations abroad.
The range, located at 656 Winston Dr. in Grimsby, is being upgraded with a brand new repel tower, confidence course, troop shelter and an austere training centre that can simulate urban operations such as what soldiers are facing as they proceed with current operations in Afghanistan.
"This improved facility will help us prepare soldiers for the important tasks they face in Canada and overseas," said Col. John Celestino, Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, the Army in Southwestern Ontario. "With the growing mandate of the Army Reserve, Winona Rifle Range has never been more important to our local soldiers."
Maj. Peter Voyer of the 31 Canadian Brigade says the expansion of the facility will mean more concurrent training activities there. For example some can use the confidence course while others are shooting. It allows them to do more things at one time. Travel time will also be cut down for those training in the Niagara and Hamilton area.
"Traditionally soldiers have come from this area, they're local soldiers from the Hamilton area mainly that will be using the facility," he said. "What that does is they don't have to travel far, like up to Base Borden or Pettawa. They can just go from Hamilton to Winona to get some pretty good training there."
He added that it offers several main benefits. The range's close proximity and will cut down travel time and they can build up their confidence in their peers and team and equipment, which is critical for soldiers to do. It will also enhance their physical fitness and group cohesion, which in a military organization is critically important. By going through training over the obstacle course it enhances their self confidence and their confidence in others. It's great for team building.
"We can frame this in a very macro perspective, with the operations taking place in Afghanistan and round the world this kind of training will enhance and help the training that our soldiers will go through," he said.
Army Reservists have trained at Winona Rifle Range since 1938. The facility currently houses a small-arms rifle range and a number of service buildings. Some of the key improvements are already underway. All projects should be completed by 2011.
Civilian engineering officer Conrad Passant said the range was in desparate need of upgrades and is a testimony to how modern warefare has changed. When the upgrades are completed soldiers will learning about the so-called three-block war situation, where one block fights, the second offers medical treatment and the third offers humanitarian work, in some cases all from the same unit.
He said the forward operating base and the training village look exactly like what soldiers would be walking through on patrol in places like Kandahar, Afghanistan, where over 2,500 Canadian soldiers are currently serving. Soldiers in training will learn how to look for danger in these villages.
"We don't just roll over countries anymore, the Cold War is over," said Passant, himself a 20-year military veteran. "It used to be that the bad guys were on the other side of the wall, now they're on the other side of the door or it's somebody walking towards you. It's not a stand-off enemy anymore, it could be the guy coming towards you in the street and that's what we'll be teaching at the Winona Range."
Passant added that residents should be proud of the new facility and they should view as contributing to the military cause.
"I'm ex-military, but now I'm the taxpayer guy, and I kind of think that now at least our money is being used to better train our soldiers to survive and be confident when they go into a theatre."
Every effort will be made during the improvement phase to keep noise and traffic to a minimum. Once all the improvements have been made, residents should not experience any noticeable increase in noise or traffic associated with training.
"We pride ourselves on being good neighbours and good environmental stewards," said Major David DeVries, Commanding Officer of Area Support Unit London, the organization responsible for ranges in Southwestern Ontario. "Public safety and environmental protection are top priorities in everything we do."
A public information session concerning improvements to Winona Rifle Range will be held in the near future.
Grimsby
Jan 09, 2009
New life being injected in the Winona Rifle Range will better prepare soldiers for operations abroad.
The range, located at 656 Winston Dr. in Grimsby, is being upgraded with a brand new repel tower, confidence course, troop shelter and an austere training centre that can simulate urban operations such as what soldiers are facing as they proceed with current operations in Afghanistan.
"This improved facility will help us prepare soldiers for the important tasks they face in Canada and overseas," said Col. John Celestino, Commander of 31 Canadian Brigade Group, the Army in Southwestern Ontario. "With the growing mandate of the Army Reserve, Winona Rifle Range has never been more important to our local soldiers."
Maj. Peter Voyer of the 31 Canadian Brigade says the expansion of the facility will mean more concurrent training activities there. For example some can use the confidence course while others are shooting. It allows them to do more things at one time. Travel time will also be cut down for those training in the Niagara and Hamilton area.
"Traditionally soldiers have come from this area, they're local soldiers from the Hamilton area mainly that will be using the facility," he said. "What that does is they don't have to travel far, like up to Base Borden or Pettawa. They can just go from Hamilton to Winona to get some pretty good training there."
He added that it offers several main benefits. The range's close proximity and will cut down travel time and they can build up their confidence in their peers and team and equipment, which is critical for soldiers to do. It will also enhance their physical fitness and group cohesion, which in a military organization is critically important. By going through training over the obstacle course it enhances their self confidence and their confidence in others. It's great for team building.
"We can frame this in a very macro perspective, with the operations taking place in Afghanistan and round the world this kind of training will enhance and help the training that our soldiers will go through," he said.
Army Reservists have trained at Winona Rifle Range since 1938. The facility currently houses a small-arms rifle range and a number of service buildings. Some of the key improvements are already underway. All projects should be completed by 2011.
Civilian engineering officer Conrad Passant said the range was in desparate need of upgrades and is a testimony to how modern warefare has changed. When the upgrades are completed soldiers will learning about the so-called three-block war situation, where one block fights, the second offers medical treatment and the third offers humanitarian work, in some cases all from the same unit.
He said the forward operating base and the training village look exactly like what soldiers would be walking through on patrol in places like Kandahar, Afghanistan, where over 2,500 Canadian soldiers are currently serving. Soldiers in training will learn how to look for danger in these villages.
"We don't just roll over countries anymore, the Cold War is over," said Passant, himself a 20-year military veteran. "It used to be that the bad guys were on the other side of the wall, now they're on the other side of the door or it's somebody walking towards you. It's not a stand-off enemy anymore, it could be the guy coming towards you in the street and that's what we'll be teaching at the Winona Range."
Passant added that residents should be proud of the new facility and they should view as contributing to the military cause.
"I'm ex-military, but now I'm the taxpayer guy, and I kind of think that now at least our money is being used to better train our soldiers to survive and be confident when they go into a theatre."
Every effort will be made during the improvement phase to keep noise and traffic to a minimum. Once all the improvements have been made, residents should not experience any noticeable increase in noise or traffic associated with training.
"We pride ourselves on being good neighbours and good environmental stewards," said Major David DeVries, Commanding Officer of Area Support Unit London, the organization responsible for ranges in Southwestern Ontario. "Public safety and environmental protection are top priorities in everything we do."
A public information session concerning improvements to Winona Rifle Range will be held in the near future.
