On the anniversary of D-Day, June 6, members of the U.S. army passed through Cranbrook Thursday, bringing news of another joint military exercise.
The 1041st Transportation Company, based out of Spokane, Washington, rolled through Cranbrook on their way home, and paused for fuel and refreshment at the Husky truck stop on Highway 3. The company had been invited to attend Exercise Maple Resolve in the Wainwright, Alberta, area.
According to the Canadian Forces website (www.army.forces.gc.ca) the joint exercise involved training with other elements of the Canadian Armed Forces, such as the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Canadian Forces Health Services Group, the Canadian Joint Operations Command, as well as the U.S. Army.
Jeremy Stevenson of the 1041st said they were integrated with Canadian units, used each other's equipment, and that everybody had a great time.
The company was travelling in two sections — the first section came through town a few days earlier. "They're home in bed right now," Stevenson said.
According to Capt. Bonnie Wilken of the Canadian Manoeuvre Training Centre in Wainwright, "M
ore than 3,000 soldiers were tested to the highest degree of training the Canadian Army delivers.
"A year of planning culminated into a gruelling final offensive at Ex Maple Resolve which saw one Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group successfully defeat a significant enemy force.
"The month-long training event focused on combined arms groupings in an environment that mimicked the realities of a deployment."
Exercise Maple Resolve, held annually at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright, is one of the final gateways before a Task Force is declared ready to deploy.