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Top military brass visit Rangers camp Simon Whitehouse Northern News Services Published Friday, February 3, 2012
Canada's Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Walter J. Natynczyk, and NORAD Cmdr. Charles H. Jacoby Jr. roared up from a boat launch aboard Arctic Bear Cats to a 1 Canadian Ranger Patrol Group encampment on Walsh Lake Monday.
The visit was part of a tour of Northern Canada which ended Tuesday.
Seven members of the Fort Providence Ranger patrol welcomed the dignitaries, showed them their camp set up, offered traditional foods and talked about the Ranger program.
"It is my first time in Yellowknife and I'm very impressed," Jacoby said, adding that when he left Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colo., Monday morning it was 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
He met up with Natynczyk, who travelled from Ottawa, later that day in Yellowknife.
"It think it is really important to see how tough it is as a Ranger and what the challenges are here," Jacoby said.
Also the commander of U.S. Northern Command, Jacoby said it had been his first time on a snowmobile but he wanted to see the unique aspect of the Canadian Forces.
"The Rangers have to watch the stretch of an entire continent and it is good to see the conditions. We have a lot of reliability on their knowledge and skills," he said.
Natynczyk said he wanted to continue to be exposed to the benefits that the Rangers provide the Canadian Forces as well.
"I have a tremendous respect and appreciation for the skills that the Rangers have," he said.
Jacoby said that he tries to be informed about the goings-on of the Rangers about three to four times a year.
He was in Yellowknife in January 2010 and also visited Resolute Bay to meet with officials at Op Nunalivut in April and Op Nanook in August.
Joe Lacorne of Fort Providence, who has been a Ranger for eight years, said the visit by the two dignitaries was welcome so that his fellow Rangers could share their knowledge.
"It is a good thing they come and visit to see our tradition and knowledge and learn about our skills and ways out on the land," he said.
Lacorne said the camp set up on the lake took about three and a half hours to construct on Monday and involved heavy shovelling and the use of cut two-by-fours to construct the tents and fire pit.
The Rangers also showed off an emergency fuel station and demonstrated ice fishing. Guests were offered tea and bannock around a roaring fire.
After the review of the Rangers camp Monday, Jacoby and Natynczyk toured the NORAD Forward Operating Location and then visited the Arctic Ram military exercise at the Sand Pits.
Jacoby left Yellowknife Tuesday afternoon and Natynczyk visited the 825 Royal Canadian Air Cadets Tuesday night.
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