Operation targets training
Rangers and RCMP learn the waterways from Hay River to Tuktoyaktuk
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, July 23, 2015
DEH CHO
A joint training operation between the RCMP and the Canadian Forces sailed up the Mackenzie River last week from Hay River to Tuktoyaktuk.
RCMP Sgt. Jay Buckner stands aboard the Police Vessel Mackenzie, a 2002 Zodiac Hurricane 920, on July 9. The previous evening, the PV Mackenzie had docked at Cooper Barging, after sailing into Fort Simpson with seven ranger boats. The Mackenzie is a buoyant, 30-foot rig that had its engines replaced last year with ones that are more fuel-efficient. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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Stopping in Fort Providence and Fort Simpson on the first leg of the journey, the maritime patrol gave both RCMP and Rangers a chance to train independently and as a team.
RCMP Sgt. Jay Buckner said the RCMP's half of the operation, Operation Gateway, allowed officers to gain experience on the water while also providing some service to their own detachments up the Mackenzie River.
As for the Rangers, Operation Nunakput allowed them to do collective training with Rangers from different areas.
"When something is needed in the North, whether it be a search and rescue or other operation, it's often an all-hands-on-deck situation. Everyone brings different expertise to the table," Buckner said.
"Often, when (people) need to work together, it helps to practise that - and not when it becomes urgent."
Having the two operations coincide with each other also creates a "water cooler network," which Buckner describes as interoperability.
"Rather than just writing a memo at the strategic level, it matters to have a face to a name," he said.
First Canadian Ranger Patrol Group (1 CRPG) Capt. Chris Carthew said as the Rangers reach different communities they change out some of their members.
"That way, we get maximum representation from all the communities along the river," he said.
The joint operation began July 6 and spanned 17 days.
Carthew said it gave the Rangers an opportunity to streamline their familiarity with boats and working on the water.
Seven boats in the Ranger patrol sailed into Fort Simpson on July 8, where they beached for the night. On the RCMP's side, the Police Vessel Mackenzie docked at Cooper Barging. Environment Canada also had a boat docked for the night. At that point, the operation consisted of 12 Rangers and three RCMP members, as well as two members from Environment Canada.
In Fort Simpson, the Rangers picked up Sgt. Sandy Kidd, Ranger Christina Holman, Ranger Chris Kingsbury and Master Cpl. Perry Rowe.
Carthew said that in previous years the Rangers have done reconnaissance on the water, but the operation was focused more on training than reconnaissance this year.
"Partly because we are spending more time doing our training, we had less time available on the front end to try to organize reconnaissance," he said.
"Every year, the coast guard does a great job marking out the channel. Given some of the size limitations of the boats, the larger boats have to stay in the channel anyway."
Low water levels did not affect the operation too much, although Carthew said the trek downriver from Fort Providence to Fort Simpson was drawn out due to the wind.
"So far, the difficult terrain we have encountered has been the waves. Mother Nature gets a vote and (on July 7) we had a longer day than expected getting (to Fort Simpson)," he said.
"We went until it was clearly not a good idea to go forward, and we relied on the experience of our Rangers to say, 'OK, this is no longer safe.' "
Although the operation was touted by the Department of National Defence as a chance to demonstrate "Canadian sovereignty capabilities," Carthew said the type of sovereignty in question is human security.
"People tend to traditionally think of sovereignty as borders - someone waving a flag and saying, 'This is ours.' But I think it also comes down to ... human security, and part of that is safety," he said.
"The RCMP have experts right now, locally, when it comes to boat safety and how to be prepared to work on the water safely. We're really leaning on the RCMP to share that knowledge with us and we will incorporate that in our future training."
Buckner said part of that human security component is good governance, meaning healthy and safe communities.
"Within that is a number of strategic priorities: national security, youth, aboriginal communities - human security falls under those umbrellas as well," he said.
"(This) meets a lot of those objectives."
