KANGIQLINIQ/RANKIN INLET
Canadian Forces personnel are preparing to roll into Rankin Inlet later this month for Exercise Trillium Response and, to prepare, a small advance party was expected to arrive in the hamlet on Feb. 8.

Members of the Arctic Response Company Group work together to pitch a tent in the snow in Borden, Ont., Feb. 1 as part of their preparation for Exercise Trillium Response, set to begin in Rankin Inlet later this month. - photo courtesy of Master Cpl. Don Pop, Canadian Army public affairs

"For the past few years, the Canadian army hasn't done a lot of winter training because they've been training to go to Afghanistan. So, now we're no longer in Afghanistan and it's time to bring back the skills that we haven't trained as much for," said Capt. Carrie Pluck, public affairs officer with the 4th Canadian Division.

"We live in Canada and we have winter in Canada, so a lot of the younger soldiers need to learn those basic skills to survive in winter."

Once the advance company arrives, supplies will start flowing into the hamlet until the rest of the expected 250 soldiers arrive, which should be on or near Feb. 15, she said.

This will be a two-part exercise, with roughly 120 members of the Arctic Response Company Group deploying on snowmobiles to patrol under the guidance of participating Canadian Rangers.

One of their objectives will be to travel about 100 km – likely either to Whale Cove or Chesterfield Inlet depending on weather – and be self-sufficient for three days.

"They have to have their food, their water, their fuel – all the supplies that they need for 72 hours," said Pluck.

Members of a domestic response company will stay at a camp to be set up near Rankin Inlet and participate in winter survival exercises, including patrolling, setting up and maintaining their camp and using weapons in cold temperatures.

The soldiers will stay in 10-man tents, which should be an experience for those like Pluck. This will be her first trip to the Arctic in winter, she said.