Just to further clarify why a seemingly lost Canadian Forces soldier was wandering around MRU, I'm almost certain he was doing his Battle Fitness Test.
Basically, once a year everyone in the CF does a 13km rucksack march while carrying roughly 55 lbs of weight. This includes your "full fighting order" which consists of the helmet, tactical vest and also the rifle. Rifle will have a magazine in it but there wont be any ammunition loaded. Further, there will be a BFA (should be bright yellow but they do fade) screwed into the end of the rifle to help alleviate any concerns the rifle can actually fire anything.
This test is what the big mob of soldiers you sometimes see walking along the Bow River are doing. Generally they will walk from Mewata to either near the Zoo or Edworthy Park, cross the river, and return back. Has to be completed in under 2 hours and 20 minutes. People have already discussed the whole "Freedom of the City" and the City is aware that these activities take place.
I'm thinking this particular fellow in question works at Currie Barracks, maybe with 41 Canadian Brigade Group, as a small part of the base is still in use by the CF. Probably missed when the rest of his co-workers went out and did the test together so he got stuck doing it alone today..
__________________
"Lend me 10 pounds and I'll buy you a drink.."
Last edited by FlamesAllTheWay; 09-21-2012 at 05:58 PM.
No worries, it would be just our 4th attempt at invading Canada and most likely another failure...
__________________
Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
Even here in the states seeing someone walking around the city with an assault rifle like the C7 or M16, M4 even in fatigues would be concerning. Even after the tornado and the National Guard troops with a full kit was kinda odd to see.
__________________
Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
__________________
Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
The Following User Says Thank You to PIMking For This Useful Post:
I believe Freedom of the city is more of a ceremonial term. St. Julien's is a big part of the Calgary Highlanders tradition and it is taken very seriously. That is why, rain or shine, snow or 100km/h wind, on one Saturday in April, streets will be shut down and soldiers will march through downtown Calgary.
And I can tell you it is a pretty cool experience.
I don't think freedom of the city has anything to do with the regular exercises that the different regiments do in the city. The city, the Police and the Army Regiments here have an understanding and work together in this regard. Canadian troops have free mobility to move around the city, they are not restricted to a building.
If you are at a downtown bar on rememberance day, St. Juliens or a few other Military holidays, there is a decent chance you might run into a soldier in full dress uniform.
The Calgary Highlanders meet every Wednesday night at 7:00pm at Mewata. If you want to see what happens, you can go down there and try to catch a glimpse. They do a lot of different things. Sometimes, you may not see them at all as they are doing classroom work or other things like that, but a lot of times they will be doing parade practice, cleaning weapons, doing PT etc.
If you are interested in joining, it might be a good idea to go down and see what is going on to see if it is right for you. There are a lot of good people there.
If you run into soldiers doing an exercise in the city and they look buys to you, don't bother talking to them. They are trying to work. They're just like you in that they don't like to be bothered when their trying to get something done. But if the soldiers don't seem to be do an exercise, by all means approach them and start talking. Most will be more than happy to talk to you and explain what they are doing.
It's kind of difficult to alert the public to exercises going on. It's not like the Army has thousands of dollars set aside to run newspaper ads or anything. They could probably do it through Twitter or Facebook, but again, the military has never been quite up to the new tech and these people have day jobs as well. Generally the exercises being run in Calgary are on the extremely small scale. They are done during weeknights, and are done just to keep the soldiers in that state of mind. These are reservists soldiers were are talking about. They train once per week at Mewata, and it's not like they have a huge area to do this training. You can't stay couped up in Mewata every time. Once per month weekend training is done and that is generally on base in Wainwright or Edmonton or other crown land around Alberta. This is where they would be using blanks and/or live ammunition.
And just a general FYI, in military terms, this is a gun (Howitzer 777):
Spoiler!
This is a rifle (C7):
Spoiler!
This is a Light Machine Gun (C9):
Spoiler!
This is a General Purpose Machine Gun (C6):
Spoiler!
__________________
The Following User Says Thank You to GreatWhiteEbola For This Useful Post:
I googled BOOB guns and got some very interesting pictures come up on moderate parental controls....
__________________
Thank you for everything CP. Good memories and thankful for everything that has been done to help me out. I will no longer take part on these boards. Take care, Go Flames Go.
I have been a long-time lurker, but this thread prompted me to register/post as I am employed full-time at 41 CBG HQ at Currie Barracks.
As FlamesAlltheWay points out, above, the soldier in question was completing his Battle Fitness Test. In this particular case, the soldier was carrying a rubber replica of the C7 rifle. This rubber rifle weighs the same as the real C7 rifle but actually weighs more than the newly-issued C7A2 rifle.
Usually, the test is attempted by approximately 30 personnel at the same time. However, due to work commitments individuals have to attempt the test at a later date and, sometimes, alone.
The Calgary Police Service is notified prior to each event because they do receive numerous phone calls. Typically, 41 CBG HQ conducts their test along the Bow River Pathway, from Shouldice Park to Crowchild and return.
The next test is scheduled for 4 Oct 12.
The Following 10 Users Say Thank You to Baron von Kriterium For This Useful Post:
In this particular case, the soldier was carrying a rubber replica of the C7 rifle. This rubber rifle weighs the same as the real C7 rifle but actually weighs more than the newly-issued C7A2 rifle.
Wow, how things have changed......
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993
I too registered to come on here and set the record straight but it seems my office mate has beaten me to the punch.
I can confirm that in fact, we called the CPS and let them know that there would be two people doing the march. I am guessing one of the two was completing it faster/slower than the other and you only saw one of them.
You may also notice a group practicing for the following test which is on the 4th, as stated above. These people are now up to the "full fighting order, helmet, rucksack and weapon" as you saw that morning.
The practice route tends to depart from the Currie barracks back gate, up Richardson way, right on 37th all the way down to 35th ave then back up via Sarcee road and Richardson all the way "home". If you drive by, feel free to send a honk of encouragement!
PS. If you ever feel worried about people running around with weapons, then by all means call the police. They will send out a cruiser to check things out. What if it wasn't a soldier that day and innocent lives were lost? You should never feel "wrong" using the services your tax monies pay for.
Last edited by ArmyGuy; 09-24-2012 at 01:28 PM.
The Following 6 Users Say Thank You to ArmyGuy For This Useful Post:
