Hay River Reserve (Mar 14/05) - Soldiers on snowmobiles have brought a sampling of military life to a number of NWT communities.

The five military men from Edmonton made their first NWT stop in Fort Smith in early March and continued on to Yellowknife, making stops in communities along the way.

On March 5, they were on the Hay River Reserve, where they set up a display of weapons at Chief Lamalise Complex during K'amba Carnival.

"It's awesome. It's pretty cool," Peter Black, 22, of Rae said after he saw the weapons.

However, Black said he is not considering a military career.

Brad Steen, 17, of Hay River enjoyed seeing the weapons. "It's pretty sweet. I've never seen anything like this before."

While Steen said talking to the soldiers made him consider a military career, he will probably not join the armed forces.

The snowmobile trip, which began in Fort McMurray, was for both recruiting and public relations purposes.

"When we come to the communities, people seem to me to be more appreciative," said Master Corporal Mike Rude of the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in Edmonton.

Rude said young people are excited to handle the weapons they see on television.

Among the displays were two bazookas, a 50-calibre machine gun, a C-6 machine gun and a C-7 service rifle with an attached grenade launcher.

The five members of the military, including a pilot, also talked about their own experiences in the Canadian Armed Forces.

The team had planned to make a stop in Fort Resolution, but couldn't after one of their four snowmobiles had mechanical problems on the Slave River, north of Fort Smith.

The soldiers included members of Princess Patricia's Light Infantry and the reserve Loyal Edmonton Regiment.

A similar trek was staged last year, but only went from Fort McMurray to Fort Smith and back